An ancient pastime, Play Whe was known as Chinapoo; a numbers game played bypersons who where influenced by intutition , superstition, dreams and caprice. Brought to Trinidad by Chinese immigrants, Play Whe was traditionally called "Whe Whe".
No longer in its original form, it has been creolised, acquiring words (marks) like Jamette (#16 : Low Class Man or Woman), Crapaud (#13 Frog), Corbeau (#11: Vulture), Coco Bay (#24: Eye Infection ro Leprosy, from the name of the bay at Chacachacare where there was once a leper colony).It has retained one Chinese word, albeit corrupted, 'Tie Pin', correctly T'ai P'ing (#12: Heavenly Kingdom)
The Symbol of Play Whe is a drawing of the Chinaman jumbie, or Chinapoo. His anatomy is divided into some 36 segments, Each marked with either mark, partner or spirit numbers, depending on the chart.