Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-07-16
iiAB.ENl.HAN,
4 Game Played in Joseph's Tims
Adapted to Modern Idens.

= Gamc PIuyeu IN JOsepns IIme
Adapted to Modern Ideas.
Among the paintings upon one of Tho
Egyptian tombs is a reproduction OF
the hab-cni-han, or game of the vase.
However it was originally played, for
all that is known of it is the picture and
Its name, it can be played in a way 10
delight nineteenth century children
fully as much as II ever could have done
the ancient Egyptians.
To play the game it is necessary first
to make the target. To do this take a
sheet of paper about three feet squnre
or less-wrapping paper will do very
well, or even old newspaper-and draw
upon 1t with common writing ink IL
concentrlc circles at equal distances
apnrt. This Gun be done by driving
tack or large pin in the center of the
paper, tying string TO the tack and a
soft lead pencil to the other end OF the
strslfg.
When you have thus drawn the IL cir1
cles you can go over the pencil lines
with ink and number the spaces bel
tween the lines, tack your paper to a
drawing board, bread board, or any Hat
wooden surface, and your target Is
complete.
Let each player furnish himself with
dozen pins thrust through bits OF
cardboard or paper, upon each OF
which is written number or initial diff,
ferent from those of the other play
ers, and also with catapult, blow gun,
small bow and arrow or dart.
Standing off at whatever distance is
agreed upon from the target, each play
er in turn discharges whatever missile
Is used in the game at the target, and
he sets one of his pins In the circle he
strikes.
If he hits one Of the black lines he
loses his turn, but II he does not strike
the target at all, he is out of the game.
After. the first shot the player can
either remove n pin already placed into
the circle he has last struck, or set an
other of his pins in it, or, counting
from where any one of his pins are
stuck, can move the pin as many cir
cles toward the center as is indicated
by the number of the circle he has
struck.
If this brings him to the center and
leaves something over, he can use the
remainder to place a new pin or carry
another forward.
If while one player has one pin in a
circle another player can place two
pins in the same circle, the latter cap.
lures the pin already there and re-
moves it.
If, however, a player strikes circle
already occupied by two pins, he does
not lose his unless third pin other than
his own can be stuck in the same circle.
The circles are numbered from the
outside to the center. The game con-
sists in specified number of points,
generally from 25 to so, if two are
playing, or more, according to the ad.
ditional number of those engaged in
the game. When one of the players has
no more pins on the target the game is
ended.
Each player counts the number OF
his pins which have reached the center
and the number of pins he has captured
and he who has most adds to his the
number of pins left in the target.
1t is an'exciting game when two play
ers have each a pin in the same ring
and each pin is getting nearer the cen.
ter; the apprehension and interest in
crease with the danger that having
so many pins behind, one of the other
pins may by lucky shot capture his
The aim of the player is threefold-
to protect his pins by getting more
than one in the same circle, to gradually
win his way toward the center and to
be constantly on the alert to take his
opponents pins.
AS the taking Of one of the pins
counts for as much as getting one of his
own home, it is advisable to use every
endeavor to capture the enemy's
pieces, and this is done by keeping the
pieces behind them, so as to be able
to take any advantage that may offer.
The game can be played on table by
using dice or teetotum instead of ar
rows, darts, or anything of the sort
but playing in this way the element Of
chance takes the place largely of that
of skill, and makes it less interesting
at least to young folks.
1t is possible, however, that this was
the mannerin which the game was orig.
inally played thousands of years ago
when Joseph was prime minister in
the land of Egypt-Boston Herald.
|