CO

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GAMES ANCIENT AND ORIENTAL

AND

HOW

TO PLAY THEM.

BEING

THE GAMES OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS

THE HIERA GRAMME OF THE GREEKS,
THE LUDUS LATKUNCULOKUM OF THE ROMANS
AND THE

ORIENTAL GAMES OF

CHESS,

DRAUGHTS, BACKGAMMON
AND

MAGIC SQUAEES.

EDWARD FALKENER.

LONDON:

LONGMANS, GEEEN AND

AND NEW YORK:

15,

EAST

1892.
All rights referred.

16"'

Co.

STREET.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

I.

PAGE,

THE GAMES OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

II.

Dr. Birch's Researches on the games of Ancient Egypt

Queen Hatasu's Draught-board and men, now in the British

III.

Museum

22

The game of Tau, or the game of Robbers afterwards played

and called by the same name, Ludus Latrunculorum, by the

IV.

Romans
The game of Senat still played by the modern Egyptians, and
called by them Seega
The game of Han The game of the Bowl
The game of the Sacred Way the Hiera Gramme of the Greeks
Tlie game of Atep; still played by Italians, and by them
called Mora

V.

37

VI.

63

83

VII.

91

VIII.

103

CHESS.
IX.

X.

A new

Chess Notation
Chaturanga.

system of
Indian Chess

XII.
XIII.

XIV.
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.

XIX.

Chinese Chess

Japanese Chess
Burmese Chess

116

119

Alberuni's description of
XI.

139

143

155
-

177

Siamese Chess

191

Turkish Chess

196

197

217

225

229

....
.....

235

Tamerlane's Chess

Game

of the Maharajah and the Sepoys

Double Chess
Chess Problems

DRAUGHTS.

XX.

Draughts

XX

[.

Polish Draughts

XXI

f.

Turkish Draughts

XXIII.

}\'ci-K'i

and Go

The Chinese and Japanese game

of Enclosing

236
037
239

CONTENTS.

v.

BACKGAMMON.
PAGE.

252

XXIV. Backgammon
XXV. German Backgammon
XXVI. Turkish Backgammon
XXVII. Pachisi or Indian Backgammon

254
255
257

XXVIII.

XXIX.

263

Ohausar, and Chawput

Askta-Kashte

265

MAGIC SQUARES.
XXX.
XXXI.
XXXII.
XXXIII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.
XXXVI.
XXXVII.
XXXVIII.
XXXIX.
XL.
XLI.

XLII.

Appendix

I.

II.

III.

269

Magic Squares

Odd Squares

271

Even Squares, whose halves are even

Even Squares, whose halves are uneven
To form a Magic Square, beginning at any

279

289

296

301

Magic Squares in borders

Hollow and Fancy Squares, and Magic Circles and Pentagons

303

The Knight's Tour

The Knight's Magic Square The Knight's Magic Square, beginning

309

Magic Squares in

cell

compartments
-

319
at any cell

Indian Magic Squares

FIGURES

OF THE

Rules of the Egyptian Games

Addenda et Corrigenda
Lower Empire Games

305

KNIGHT'S

TOUR.

325

337

345

357

362
364

INTRODUCTION.

The present age is distinguished for discovery of the

records and monuments of antiquity, and for the wonderful discoveries of the secrets of nature

for searching

long past, and for making progress with

after things

These two studies frein

We study the
hand
hand
together.
quently go
buildings and the sculptures of the ancients, and the
paintings of the old masters, and we apply the principles
rapid strides into the future.

thus learnt to the requirements of the present day we

study ancient authors, not merely to improve our taste
;

and

intellect,

to the best

but also to enable us to exert our faculties

advantage in the

affairs of life.

The

past,

the present, and the future are woven together in all

As a healthy
the studies and occupations of man.
recreation from pursuits of more severe study, necessity
and usefulness, the following pages are offered in the

hope that some of the amusements of past ages

may

take their place among the relaxations of modern times.

The author directed his attention many years ago to
the

games of

chess, draughts,

the formation of

and backgammon, and

magic squares.

to

After the elaborate

INTRODUCTION.

works which have been written on the history of these

his
games, he feels, now that he proposes to publish
researches, it would be presumptuous were he to attempt
he has
to add to what has been already done so well
;

confined himself therefore exclusively to the practical

rules and principles of each game, so that anyone, with-

out further application,

games, as

if

may be

they were modern

able to play any of these

games invented for the

and he thinks it will be found that these

games which were established in years gone by, whether
of greater or less antiquity, contain merits which are
not always to be found in the new and fanciful conceits
which are brought out each day, and set aside by others
to be introduced on the morrow, which will again in
their turn soon be forgotten.
In the examples of games given for each description
of chess, the reader, and more especially the chesspresent times

player, will understand that the examples are merely

given to show the moves ; being frequently played by

friends

who were

learnt the

not chess-players, but who kindly

moves so as to enable the author to score the

game.

and backgammon, or games resemhave

been
bling these,
played in all civilized countries,
and at all times. In some instances there is little or no
Chess, draughts,

variation of the

same game

in different countries

in

is such as to constitute a new

and
game,
very frequently a game of great interest.
It is the object of this book to show some of these
varieties, and what is more, by giving examples of these
games to enable anyone to learn the games and play
them. We have not as yet found them in Nineveh or
Babylon, though we are convinced they were played

others the difference

INTRODUCTION.

but we see them depicted on the walls of Egypt

and the most ancient of all the games of chess, the
details of which are known to us, comes from India.
Kings and princes, bishops and laymen, are depicted on
there

ancient

monuments and

in mediaeval MSS., playing at

men in all ages have sought

Learned

these games.

relaxation in such pursuits, after hours of severe study ;

and to all of us as we advance in years a game at whist or

backgammon

relieves the eyes

the faculties of the

The

feebled.

their troubles
difficulties

membrance

and keeps us awake, when

mind and body have become

invalid

also,

and the

when absorbed

in

afflicted, forget
the intricacies and

and the excitement of the game.

of our friends

is

en-

The

re-

often associated with the

games we have played together sometimes even when

we have played only a single game, and have never
met again.
The formation of a magic square is an occupation
which we can enjoy when alone, as it presents countless
;

Men

varieties of ingenious solution.

in the present age

of necessity and practical industry are apt to look upon
such occupations as trivial, and as a waste of time;

but they forget that the mind requires relaxation as

well as the body; and that as some of the first wranglers
have been the first athletes and as the most illustrious
;

Greeks thought it their highest glory to be a victor

in the Olympic games
so Euler and other eminent
mathematicians have not despised the solution of such
;

problems.
" Deficiet sensim
qui semper tenditur arcus."

The

therefore

wrong in declaiming
such
recreations
as
a
waste
of time as much so
against
as when he affirms that classics and mathematics are
utilitarian

is

INTRODUCTION.

useless in this age of science.

Every man who has risen
to the highest grade of science will tell us that he could

not have been where he

is

were

it

not for the education

at college ; and in like manner a man who

has never looked into the works of a Greek or Latin

he received
author, or

worked a problem in Euclid, or solved an equa-

since he left school, will

tion in algebra,
O
*

acknowledge
O that

though he has never had occasion to apply these studies

in after life, he has found them of immense advantage
to him in improving and strengthening his mental faculBut whether
ties in the position which he occupies.

games are useful or not, they form the means of

rational amusement and social amusement far superior
to many of the amusements which are resorted to in the
and no apology therefore is needed either
present day

these

for the study or for the practice of

any of these games.

But of all these games chess is the most useful for as
mathematics is a handmaid to logic, and teaches the
lawyer to build up and establish his proofs before he
;

goes on

so chess teaches the soldier not merely the

science of attack, but instils caution in the mind of a
;

prudent general to avoid surprises, to fortify his base of

operations, and to despise no foe.
Talleyrand regarded
the pieces on a chess-board as applicable to mankind
:

things to

degree

be made use of, whether of higher or lower

and it is thus that priests regard the laity
:

"Les hommes sont, a ses yeux, des echecs a faire

mouvoir ils occupent son esprit, mais ils ne disent rien
:

a son coeur."

Of

late

years indeed

And

the Kriegs-spiel.

and necessary

to

us

it

has become the parent of

such habits essential

are not
all,
1

whatever our position of

M^moires.

INTRODUCTION.
life

may

to the

our

be, enabling us to concentrate all

accomplishment of the task before

us,

efforts

and to

stand on our guard constantly against all the temptations and dangers with which we are surrounded ?

Were we writing a history of chess and other games,

we should have to narrate how kings and emperors,
shahs and sultans, princes and bishops, conquerors and

and how provinces have

captives have played at chess
been staked, lives lost, and others saved only by the
delay in finishing a game how one who was summoned
;

to execution in the

and

middle of a game begged to

finish

it,

end of the game was proclaimed king and

we should be able to give many other anecdotes connected with the game but these have been narrated
many times and by better hands, and of late by Professor
at the

Forbes, from whose interesting history of Chess one

we

which Mr. Bland had however

previously narrated, and others before him.
"
Two Persian princes had engaged in such deep play,
that one of them having lost his whole fortune, was
rendered desperate, and staked his favourite wife Dilaram to retrieve it. He played, but with the same ill
success, and at last saw that he must inevitably be
checkmated by his adversary at the next move. Dilaram, who had observed the game from behind the
parda, or gauze screen that separates the female from
the male portion of the company, cried out to her
husband in a voice of despair
anecdote

will give,
1

" Ai Shah

do Hukh bidih, wa Dilaram ra niadih

Pil wa Piyada, pesh kun, wa zi Asp Shah-mat."
!

"

Prince, sacrifice your two rooks, and save Dilaram ;

Forward with your bishop and pawn, and with the knight give

checkmate."
1

Persian Chess,

p. 23.

INTRODUCTION.
BLACK.

WHITE.
Solution.

BLACK.

DILARAM.
1.

R. to R. 8th (check).

2.

B. to K. B. 5th (discovering check).

3.

4.

R. to R. 8th (check).
Kt's. P. gives check.

5.

Kt. to R. 6th (mate).

2.

3,
4.

K. takes R.
K. to his Kt's. square. 2
K. takes R.
K. to his Kt's. square.

one anecdote, however, connected with our

When the
history, which ought to be recorded.

There

own

1.

is

noble-minded, but weak and unfortunate King, Charles

I. received a letter to inform him that the Scots had

agreed to hand him over to the Parliamentary forces,

" Painful as the
he was playing at chess.
tidings must
have been to him, his countenance betrayed no change
;

1
The Bishop moves two squares always, with power of hopping over an intermediate square, whether occupied or not.
a
Black might have interposed Rook from his Q. Kt's. 7th to his K. R's- 7th, but

this

would merely have delayed the game one move.

INTRODUCTION.

and he continued the game with the same placidity of

manner and apparent interest, as if the letter had
remained unopened.
But it is our purpose, not to give a history of chess
and other games, but to give the games themselves,
1

with examples of games, so that anyone may play

them such examples being given, as we have said,
;

not for the superior play exhibited in such games, but

simply to show the moves, and the nature and genius
of the game.
"

thou whose cynic sneers express

of our favourite chess,

The censure

Know

that

its skill is

Its play distraction

science self,

from

distress.

It soothes the anxious lover's care

It

weans the drunkard from excess

It counsels warriors in their art,

When
And

dangers threat, and perils press

yeilds us,

Companions

when we need them

in our loneliness."

From

John Heneage

Jesse,

Memoirs of

the Persian, of

tJie

fin ul Mutazz*

Court of Enyland during the reign of the

Stuarts, 1. 405.
-

most,

Persian Chess, by N- Bland Esq., M-R.A.S., 1850.

II.

THE GAMES OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

illustration on front book-cover is from a photothe bust of Queen Hatasu in the Berlin Museum.
of
graph
and we shall presently
She lived about 1600 B.C.
describe her draught-board and other games. But these

The

games were played as early as the time of Kashepses

and we can trace them even to the fourth dynasty;
which we will leave to Egyptian chronologists to
determine whether it was three or four thousand
years B.C., or twice the age of Queen Hatasu before
the Christian Era. The illustration on back book-cover
is of the time of Trajan, A.D. 100, and thus we see
through what a long period these Egyptian games continued to be played, begin ing in the earliest ages, and
going down to the time of the Romans.
We have said that many of our modern games have
descended to us from ancient times, and that some are
depicted on the walls of Egyptian temples and tombs.
As Indians believed that the enjoyments of life with the
Great Spirit in the future state would consist in hunting;
as the

Romans placed

theirs in the

symposial enjoy-

ments prefigured by
by
the recumbent figures so frequently found on^ their
and as the Mahometans look forward to
sarcophagi
the lectisternium, as evidenced

the solace of houris, so the Egyptians are represented as

THE GAMES OF THE

10

passing their time in the future state in anointing (and

therefore we may conclude in previous bathing,) in
music, and dancing, and song, and in playing at various

What

games were will be seen by

the following paper which was given to me in 1864, by
the eminent Egyptologist, and founder of the Biblical
games.

these ancient

Archaeological Society, the late Dr. Birch, of the British

Museum, and which

We

have added the

will

be read with great

illustrations to

make

it

interest.

more

intelli-

gible.
li

B.

M.
1 April, 1864.

"

My

dear

Sir,

"Herewith

I send you the representations of the

of
games
draughts on the monuments, which I have

long promised you

"

"

The

ON THE GAMES OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

earliest

appearance of games

is

tomb of

in a

Bashepses, a scribe and functionary of the King of TatKa-ra of the 5th Egyptian dynasty. Amidst the diversions of

music and singing are seen two games

Lepsius, Denkmaler, 11.61,

"

A low

Tomb

16.

stand or table, 1 at each side of which is a

player seated on the ground, each placing a hand on
1.

About 16 inches

high.

E.F.

11

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.
one of

the.

These pieces, twelve in number, are

kinds, those of the player on the left

pieces.

of two different

being conical, while those of the player on the right

having a small cap or stud at the top of the cone. The

Each
pieces are placed alternately, plain and capped.
a
take
to
is
as
about
up
piece.
player
represented
over.
Above
the
are
written
Hieroglyphical inscriptions
board

vw *

i7 -o>-

is

'

"%^]j^
The word

maa

sent,

"see the

sen't,"

sent has many meanings in

here
written without any deterand
hieroglyphs,
being
It might be connected
minative, is very ambiguous.
with sen, a " robber," and if so, would be the latnmculus.
is.,

the game.

Over the player on the right

en"
(That
" sen't "

^VVWSA

"shamt"

makes)

~^ " ar

1\

is

.r/yx^

"m"

(three]

/^

(from)

evidently alluding to the pieces

board)
Over the player on the left is inscribed
" Fa "
Li ts "shamt"
:

(the

taken.

EP~ "l^^r

(three)

"
" sen"
"
" sen't "
(from)
(the board.)
(pieces) or two
"
2.
The other game represents a circular board

; '

The description
(placed upright in order to show it).
which follows is not very accurate, and the reader is
referred to the description of the

game

further on.

by Dr. Birch, makes

the two innermost rings pen-annular
but this arises

Prof. Lepsius's drawing, as noted

"

This word

is

not

(scndfj

(sendt).

*>

i'"""i (sten) as

wvwv

Now

the sense of

or rather

the- apparently

sometimes inaccurately written, but

__^__

"^

is

Ifc

..,..

also

^^ J\

kindred word

written

(sen)

has unquestionably

'

(moving from one place to another)' and in the Tablet of

Canopus is rendered in the Greek fj.era.Tl6r)ni, to alter, transpose, place differently.
The word sen has however another meaning (which may possibly have given the
passing,

'

name to

'

the game) viz. to remove, tttke away, cut off hence perhaps
game of take.'
This however does not appear to me as probable as the former, because the verb iu
this sense has usually the termination of
P. le P. RENOUF.
cuttiny'^z^,."
:

THE GAMES OF THE

12

or from
probably from an imperfection in the painting,
an intentional desire of the artist to give space for
" Above the board
drawing the hands of the players. )
1

is

The game

iar.

is

called

the jar.

han," the game of

board has great similarity

Hab em
a
t\ 8
A
*s3 _HH^ A
The arrangement of the
i]

Cretan

to that of the circular

labyrinth, as seen in the coins of Gnossus.

" Some other
3.
representations of the

first

game
They are of the

occur in the tombs of Beni-Hassan.

time of the twelfth dynasty.
On a low table of painted

wood (coloured yellow, with

the
men, twelve in number as
grey markings, E.F.),
before, are placed.
They are conical, and tipped cones,
the conical ones coloured yellow, the tipped
as before
;

ones green.
They are placed, as in the already described representation of the fifth dynasty, alternately
yellow and green, conical and tipped, along the board.

Each player

is

touching with delicate hand the piece

nearest to him.

"A

second representation has a similar board

but the green and tipped men are on one
side of the board, and five in number
while the yellow
4.

with players

Over them

cones on the other side are six in number.

written the

is

word

lfc\

q
leisure

aaseb,

which

ously translated
by Eosellini.
means some particular form of the game

is

It
:

errone-

probably

or possibly

Lost."
"

There

an historical representation of this

game. The monarch, Eameses III, or Maimoun, is
represented at Medinet-Haboo seated on a chair.
5.

It

is

is

also

hopeless to attempt interpreting the word, until

Mr. P, le P. RENOUF.

kind of context.

we

find

it

with some

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

" Before him

13

a female standing, supposed to be his

Between them2 is the table and board. The

queen.

is

with tipped heads, (but probably of

3
different colours, yellow and green ) each player lifts a

pieces are

all alike,

The men, (as in the last representation,) are

placed at each end of the board, with a space between
piece.

them. There are six close together on the king's side

of the board, and five on the female's, who has taken
1

II,

In his article published in the Trans, of R. Soc. of Lit. he quotes Herodotus

122, who says that Ramsinitus (Rameses III. the head of the 20th dynasty,

and founder of the palace at Medinet Haboo at Thebes) played (at draughts) with
Isis (Ceres) the wife of Osiris, and that sometimes he won, and sometimes he lost.

Rameses
his play.
2

is

often represented with his queen sitting behind him, and looking at
must therefore be either Isis, or his Queen, but not a slave.

It

Dr. Birch writes here

quite out of the question.

3

E.F.

" Between

them

is

a chess or draught table."

Chess

is

THE GAMES OF THE

14

up the fourth

piece.

This makes the

number of men

is probably an error in the drawing."

five men with a gap between them, and
has
(The queen
she has one piece in her hand while Eameses also has

eleven,

which

on the board, and one in each hand.

and he seems to show
fore is the winner

five

countenance.
6.

"

At a

He

there-

it

in his

late period, viz. in the

age of Trajan and

the Antonines, the game was still played, as appears

the caricature papyrus in the British Museum.

by

"

A lion is seated on a stool playing at the game with

a goat. On the board are eight pieces, four on each
side, with tipped heads on the goat's side, and flat
heads on the

lion's side.

Each player

piece with his right forefoot.

" Thus

it

will

is

lifting

up a

be seen that though the number of

pieces varied in the representations, the proper

was six to each player ; that the number of

number

squares on

E.F.

As Queen Hatasu's pieces are lion-headed, and as the name

some relation to a goat, it is probable that the caricature
between the two

sides,

of the pieces

abu has

merely represents a battle

in which the lion-headed pieces have
got the mastery. E.F.

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS,

15

each side of the board was six; and that the

pieces
were arranged parallel to the player, as in modern
When the game advanced, the pieces were
draughts.
side
The
played
by side, and probably took laterally.

move

too was, it appears, one of the end

pieces
or at least that was the favourite move.
first

7.

"Different from this

game

are those

shown on a

board

in the collection of (Dr.) Abbott.

"
On one side is a board formed of three lines

of

squares in width, the central one of which has twelve

squares in length, and the two side ones four squares
in length.

drawer underneath held the pieces, some

//

Iff

11

THE GAMES OF THE

16

"On

8.

other

the

side

is

a board of thirty com-

at each end. and ten

partments, having three squares
1

on each side.
" Another kind of
9.
game

is

said to have resembled

This game was also supposed

of draughts.
the
deceased in the future state.
to
to afford diversion
the

game

as those of a
pieces are found with different heads,
are
and
a
cat
;
man, a jackal, and
generally of porce-

The

lain or

wood."

In the following year Dr. Birch sent a contribution

on the same subject to the Revue Archeologique Vol. ix.
>

1865.

And

in

1866 he published a paper entitled " Adver"

in the Zeitschrift
saria ./Egyptiaca
states
Sprache, in which he
"
in the Revue

fur Egyptischer

In

my

paper

explanation of the word

Egyptian game

Archeologique I gave the

^^^^-^ as signifying the

of chess, and also that of

Q
ft

AAAAAA

han,

game of the vase. To this I will add the fi<g Jfef jjj^
"
tan or game of Bobbers," the prototype of the Latrunculi of the Eomans which is found in an inscription at
Thebes published by Mr. Brugsch in his Monuments
Egyptiens, PI. LXVIII f. h., and in Champollion,
the

From a comparison of
Notices Descriptives, p. 566.
these inscriptions it is evident that the hieroglyph ^^\
often in full texts represented chequered is really a
chess-board with the pieces arranged ready for the

game.
1

It will be noticed that the cells are sunk in each of these games, to keep the
In Queen Hatasu's board they are not sunk. E.F.

pieces in their places.

17

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

"The

text

in

It

reads

Brugsch.

l-J

O
s

xxm

delectatus

from that of

differs

Champollion

/VWSAA

hab

han

8tn-t

in

ludendo,

in

ludo vasis,

in

abaco,

m
n

t'au

an

rpa

ha

latrunculis,

fuit

dux

princeps.

of
necessary to correct the form
the Notice descriptive to s=>, the form in which it

"Here

it

is

occurs in the inscription published by Brugsch, while

the form in other passages is sn-t as already elsewhere
shown, which is the correct form, the s=* being the

and the phonetic complement as I

have elsewhere shown of the H or f|. In Brugsch
of

homophone
the text

is

larger.

" The text in

Brugsch,

PI.

LXVIII.

reads

f.

Jk

ma

bu

nefr

s%m

suta

visus est

locus

bonus

delectationis

valetudinis.

In

a
at

nefr-t

hora

ma
videntur

lies

ybt

urhs

cantus,

saltatio,

unctus,

nbt

hob

km

I O

omnibus,

ludus

in

vase,

=0=
(

ana

thura,

cum

yt
rebus

o)

JGL

han

(/VWVAA)

'
1

stnt

in

abaco,

in

We are indebted to Messrs.

G

tau
latrunculis,
Harrison

&

an
a (duce)

etc.

Sons for the use of this Egyptian type.

THE GAMES OF THE

18
"

That the game snt means chess in general, there

can not be a doubt from the evidence which I have
"
"
already given. That of the tau or Eobbers connects
it with the Eoman
game of Latrunculi which both by

name and probably as arranged had been derived from

This last game indeed is described as different
Egypt.
from that of the vase and the chess-board. Perhaps
future researches may throw some light upon its nature.
It is mentioned however as latrones and not latro in the
Egyptian texts."
In 1867 I received a copy of
Zeitschrift, with the accompanying
"British

this

letter

article

in

the

Museum,

4th December, 1867.

" Dear
Falkener,
" You can
keep the dissertations in the journal,
as other copies of the Zeitschrift are in

my

possession.

Some

years ago, about three as I remember, I wrote a

short paper in French in the Revue Archeologique
entitled

"Bhampsenite

et

le

jeux d'echecs."

In

it

showed that the unknown Egyptian word ^^^^meant chess and that the dead, or their spirits, were
;

supposed to play at it in the future state. Something of

this, as far as memory serves, takes place in the Greek

Eoman

Elysium, where the dead play at tali, or

knuckle-bones, an Elysian pleasure which I formerly
realized when a boy at school.
Since then Lepsius has
a
with
the
coffin,
published
very chapter of the Eitual
or

which I illustrated in which are depicted the chessmen. This time it is my intention to amalgamate the
two papers for the Royal Society of Literature in
;

English, and add

some additions and observations.

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.
" The

'

and the

19

'

game was played over a

pieces moved on concentric

Vase

represented on early tombs.

circular board,
It is

circles.

Revue
My
Archeologique is in Vol. xii, 8 Paris 1865, p. 65 and
foil.
No copies of my paper were sent me, or I should
have distributed them amongst my friends.
Yours very truly,
article in the

S.

BIRCH."

These two articles were incorporated together with

some additions in a paper read before the Eoyal Society
of Literature, Feby. 28, 1868, and published in its

new

Transactions, Vol. ix,

Here, in

4 preceding, he gives the signifi" consumed " or "

extinguished."

as

game No.

stated, Barneses

Game

1870.

game No.

of aaseb

cation

Kelative to

series, in

III.

No. 6 he thinks

5,

he mentions

as already

draughts with Isis.

" the
represent Bhamsinitus

played

may

that,

at

"

playing with Isis, on whose head was placed

a solar disk entwined with goats' horns. In the 17th
"
chapter of the Ritual for the Dead we read
Making

old lion

transformations at their will

and playing

at (draughts)

being in a pavilion, a living soul."

Lastly, in 1878, we have some further observations
by Dr. Birch in his notes in the second edition of Sir

Gardner Wilkinson's Ancient Egyptians

" The
board of the game was called r*^ es or
:

wv/w>

^^-

They generally played with six pieces,

and the set of each player was alike, but distinct from
The most ordinary form was the
that of his opponent.

'

sent.

cone or conoid, either plain, or else surmounted by a

but there were several
pointed or spherical head
:

varieties of shape.
2

A very

old type of porcelain in the

THE GAMES OF THE

20

human

head, and no
doubt expresses
the tau, or robber, the latro of the
jjg^
Roman draught-board, said to be made of glass, and

British

Museum, No. 6143*

is

supposed by some to be a single piece. Another type

was cat -or possibly dog-headed, B.M. 6414, and another
decidedly dog or jackal-headed, 64 14*, of black porcelain probably represented the kuon, or dog, as the
Greeks called their pieces. One remarkable one has
traced upon

it,

in darker colour,

the

name

of the

monarch Nechao, or Necho II of the 26th dynasty,

600 B.C. It is numbered 6414"." (It was originally
white

another 5575" is black. They are represented

the
former of full size, the latter of half size.)
below,
:

"The game was one

of the delights of the Egyptian

Elysium, and played in the future state, according to
the 17th chapter of the Ritual of the Dead and boards
;

and men

five of

one kind, and four of the other

are

sometimes represented in the sarcophagi of the eleventh

dynasty. The boards had nine squares one way. and
seventeen the other

in all

153 squares.

They were

The draught-men
alternately coloured red and black.
were called ab or abu" In another place he says
" The
chess-board had
black

Egyptian
and white," p. 259.

thirty squares,

21

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.
It

will

be seen that these remarks of Dr. Birch

extend from 1864 to 1878.

gress,

my

further pro-

labours as hopeless, and

attention to the Ludus Latrunculorum of

I then laid aside

turned

Making no

my

But there also notwithstanding all that

had been written on the subject by learned students
and antiquaries as no board had been discovered, we
had no clue to the game and the wildest theories were
advanced for its solution and we got no further than
the poets left us.
For the reader will have observed
from the foregoing that although numerous representathe Romans.

tions of the

Egyptian draught-board exist in Egyptian

wall-painting, no plan of the board has been so represented

neither have any remains of a draught-board

been discovered

very recently, although numerous

draught-men have been found from time to time. As
it was considered
probable, as stated by Dr. Birch in
till

the foregoing extracts, that one of the Egyptian games

was the prototype of the famous Ludus Latrunculorum

of the Romans, a game which is now lost to us, and of

which likewise we have no remains of a board, or even
a description which we knew to apply to this game, of
the number of squares or the number of men
the
;

reader will imagine

how when

years of
study, we had only got to the bare commencement of
our work, we were struck with startling amazement
after so

many

and joy when we read the following announcement in

the Times of June 22, 1887
:

III.

"

ANCIENT EOYAL EGYPTIAN EELICS AT THE

MANCHESTER EXHIBITION.
" In the
place of honour at Manchester

that

is

to

under the dome in the

say, on the dais, immediately
stands an Egyptiancentre of the exhibition building
looking glass case containing a group of relics described
" The
in the catalogue as
throne, signet, draught-board

and draught-men of Queen Hatasu, B.C. 1600."

" 1600
"
years
Draught-board and draught-men."
"

we shall now know the number of squares,

and the number of men: and it will be no difficult
matter then to find the game." But we must go on

B.C,"

I said

with the description by the Times Correspondent, for

the particulars are most interesting
" The date is

sufficiently startling, but,

due allowance

being made

for chronological difficulties, it is no doubt

As for the contents of the case, whether
fairly correct.
as regards their extreme antiquity or their historical
associations,

it is

not too

much

to say that they are the

most remarkable objects in the exhibition.

The throne

Specimens of ancient Egyptian stools and

unique.
some
chairs,
beautifully inlaid with marqueterie of

is

ivory and various woods,

European museums

but

in

may be

seen in

several

none do we find a Pharaonic

throne plated with gold and silver, and adorned with

the emblems of Egyptian sovereignty.
It is not, of

The

and back (which

may have been made of plaited palm -fibre or bands of
leather) have perished but a leopard skin hides the
course, absolutely intact.

seat

necessary restoration of these parts, and all that remains

of the original piece of furniture is magnificent.
The

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

wood

23

very hard and heavy, and of a rich dark colour

resembling rosewood. The four legs are carved in the
is

shape of the legs of some hoofed animal, probably a

bull, the front of each leg being decorated with two
royal basilisks in gold.

These basilisks are

the rise

erect, face

down to
forming a continuous
of the hoof.
Bound each fetlock runs a silver

to face, their tails

coil

band, and under each hoof there was originally a plate

of silver, of which only a few fragments remain.
The
cross rail in front of the seat

is

also plated with silver.

The arms

(or what would be the arms if placed in

position) are very curious, consisting of two flat pieces
of wood joined at right angles, so as to form an upright
affixed to the framework of the back and a horizontal
support for the arm of the sitter. These are of the
same dark wood as the legs and rails, having a border
line at each side
while down the middle, with head
erect at the top of the upright limb, and tail undulating
downwards to the finish of the arm- rest, is a basilisk
carved in some lighter coloured wood, and encrusted
;

with hundreds of minute silver annulets, to represent

the markings of the reptile.
The nails connecting the
various parts are round-headed and plated with gold,
thus closely resembling the ornamental brass-headed
nails in use at the present
day.

The gold and

silver

are both of the purest quality.

Of the royal ovals
which formerly adorned this beautiful chair of state,

only one longitudinal fragment remains. This fragment

measures some 9in. or lOin. in length, is carved on

both

and contains about one-fourth part of what

field of the cartouche.
may
Enough,
however, remains to identify on one side the thronename, and on the other side the family name, of Queen
sides,

be called the

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

24

The carving is
Hatasu, or, more correctly, Hatshepsu.
admirable, every detail even to the form of the nails
and the creases of the

finger-joints in part of a

hand

being rendered with the most perfect truth and delicacy.

The throne-name, "Ba-ma-ka," is surrounded by a
palm-frond bordering, and the family name, "AmenKnum Hatshepsu," by a border of concentric spirals.

The wood of

this

cartouche

is

the same as that of the

upon the arms, being very hard and closegrained, and of a tawny yellow hue, like boxwood.
Some gorgeously coloured throne-chairs depicted on
the walls of a side chamber in the tomb of Eameses III.
at Thebes show exactly into what parts of the framework these royal insignia were inserted, and might
basilisks

serve as models for the complete restoration of this

most valuable and interesting relic.

other objects in Queen Hatshepsu's case is a

fine female face
part of an effigy from a sarcophagus

"Among

lid

In

carved in the same rich dark

wood

as the throne.

not only bears a close resemblance

profile, this face

to the face of the seated statue of

Berlin collection, but

it

is

Hatshepsu in the

almost identical with the

grandmother, Queen Aah-hotep,

upon her sarcophagus lid in the

profile of Hatshepsu's

as carved in effigy

Boulak Museum.

It is a beautiful,

low-browed, fulllipped Oriental face, of Egyptian type pur sang, without

Is it a portrait of
the least touch of Semitism.
This question (which it is perhaps imposfor
answer) is one of no ordinary interest
Hatshepsu was not only a principal actor in the long

Hatshepsu
sible to

and splendid drama of Egyptian history, but she was

also one of the most extraordinary women in the history
A daughter of Thothmes I., she
of the ancient world.

25

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

appears to have inherited certain sovereign rights by

virtue of her descent in the female line from the old

Dynasty stock. Intermarrying with

her brother, Thothmes II, she ratified that Pharaoh's
succession, and after his death she reigned alone,

legitimate Xllth

literally as

Pharaoh, for

many

As Pharaoh, she

years.

represented in the garb of a king, crowned with the

war helmet, and wearing a false beard. She was one
is

of the most magnificent builder-Sovereigns of

her great temple

at Dayr-el-Baharee, in

Egypt
Western Thebes,
;

being architecturally unlike every other temple in

Egypt, and her obelisks at Karnak being the most

admirably engraved and proportioned, as well as the

loftiest,

known.

One

yet stands erect beside the fallen

The most striking incident of
fellow.

fragments of its
her reign was, however, the expedition which she
" Land of
Punt," now identified with
despatched to the
For
the Somali country, on the east coast of Africa.
this

purpose she built and

fitted

out a

fleet

of five

ships, which successfully accomplished the voyage and

returned to Thebes laden with foreign shrubs, gums,

spices, rare woods, apes, elephant- tusks, and other
treasures.

The departure and return of

this fleet, the

incidents of the voyage, the lading of the ships, and the

triumphal procession of the troops on re-entering

Thebes, are represented on the terrace walls of Hatshepsu's temple in a series of sculptured and painted
This is the earliest
tableaux of unparalleled interest.
instance of the fitting out of a

known

fleet,

or of a voyage of

Meanwhile, it may be
asked what route they followed. That the ships started
from and returned to Thebes is placed beyond doubt
discovery,

in history.

by the tableaux and

inscriptions.

It is incredible that

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

26

they should have descended the Nile, sailed westward

through the Pillars of Hercules, doubled the Cape of

Good Hope, and arrived at the Somali coast by way of

the Mozambique Channel and the shores of Zanzibar.
This would imply that they twice made the almost comIf we reject this
plete circuit of the African continent.
no alternative
remains
as
we
there
must,
hypothesis,
route except by means of a canal, or chain of canals,
The old Wady
connecting the Nile with the Eed Sea.
generally ascribed to Seti I., second
Pharaoh of the XlXth Dynasty and father of Eameses

Tumilat Canal

is

the Great; but this supposition rests upon no other

evidence than the fact that a canal leading from the
Nile to the ocean

is

There

is

his reign.

not have been

represented upon a monument of

really no reason why this canal

made under

the preceding dynasty,

and it is far from improbable that the great womanPharaoh who first conceived the notion of venturing

may

her ships upon an unknown sea may have also cut the
channel of communication by which they went forth.
The throne which is now to be seen at the Manchester
Exhibition, the broken cartouche, the exquisitely-sculptured face, the elaborate draught-men, may all, per-

chance, be carved in some of that very wood which the

Queen's fleet brought back from the far shores of Punt.
This, perhaps,

is

to consider the question too curiously

but the woods, at all events, are not of Egyptian growth.

"
These rare and precious objects are the propertj^ of
Mr. Jesse Haworth, and are, by his permission, now for
the first time exhibited."
In the catalogue of the Manchester Exhibition

is

the

following description of the objects, written previously

to the above, by Mr. A.
Dodgson of Ashton-under-Lyne.

27

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

"

THE THRONE, CARTOUCHE, SIGNET, DRAUGHT-BOARD

AND DRAUGHT-MEN OF QUEEN HATASU. DATE B.C.
These remarkable

1600.

the

relics,

workmanship of

royal artists 3,500 years ago, i e., before the birth of

Moses, are now being exhibited for the first time, by
the kind permission of their owner, Jesse Haworth, Esq.
Queen Hatasu was the favourite daughter of Thothmes
I.,

and

sister of

Thothmes

II.

and

III.,

Egyptian kings

of the XVIII. dynasty.

She reigned conjointly with
her eldeS^ brother then alone for 15 years, and for a
short time with her younger brother, Thothmes III,
;

She was the Elizabeth of Egyptian history

culine genius, and unbounded ambition.
she assumed male attire

was addressed

had a mas-

woman,

as a king

even

in the inscriptions upon her monuments.

Her edifices
"
are said to be
the most tasteful, most complete, and
brilliant

creations

which ever

left

the hands

of an

Egyptian architect." The largest and most beautifully

executed Obelisk, still standing at Karnak, bears her
name.
On the walls of her unique and beautiful

Temple
sent

we see a naval expedition

unknown land of Punt, the

at Dayr-el-Baharee,

to

the

explore
Somali country on the east coast of Africa, near Cape
Guardafui, 600 years before the fleets of Solomon, and
returning laden with foreign woods, rare trees, gums,

perfumes, and strange beasts. Here we have (1) Queen

Hatasu's Throne, made of wood foreign to
Egypt, the

most elegantly carved in imitation of the legs of an

animal, covered with gold down to the hoof, finishing

legs

with a silver band.

Each

leg has carved in relief two

Urasi, the sacred cobra serpent of Egypt, symbolical of
a goddess.
These are plated with gold. Each arm is

ornamented with a serpent curving gracefully along

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

28

from head to tail, the scales admirably imitated by

hundreds of inlaid silver rings. The only remaining
rail is plated with silver.
The gold and silver are each

of the purest quality.

(2)
fragment of the Cartouche
or oval bearing the royal name, and once attached to
the Throne
the hieroglyphics are very elegantly
;

with a scroll-pattern round the edge

and around one margin, and a palm frond pattern

carved in

around

relief,

the

About one-fourth

other.

the oval

of

remains, by means of which our distinguished Egyptologist. Miss Amelia B. Edwards, L.L.D., has been able
On
to complete the name, and identify the Throne.
"
side
is
the
one
Ra-ma-ka." On
great Queen's name,
the other the family name, " Amen-Khnum-Hat-Shepsu,"

With

commonly read Hatasu.

imperfections, it
is unique, being the only throne which has ever been
disinterred in Egypt.
female face boldly but
(3)
all its

exquisitely carved in dark wood, from the

coffin,

lid

of a

the effigy strongly resembling the face of the

Hatasu in the Berlin Museum the eyes

sitting statue of

and double crown are

in

Scarabseus,

lost.

(4)

The Signet
the

bearing

turquoise,

this is

Cartouche of

Queen Hatasu, once worn as a ring. (5) The Draught

Box and Draught-men the box is of dark wood,
divided on its upper side by strips of ivory into thirty
2
squares, on its under side into twenty squares, twelve
3
being at one end and eight down the centre some of
these contained hieroglyphics inlaid, three of which
:

remain, also a drawer for holding the draughts.

These draughts consist of about twenty pieces, carved
still

with most exquisite art and finish in the form of lions'

heads the hieroglyphic sign for "Hat" in Hatasu.
1

lower.

upper.

ambiguous

see p. 33.

QUEEN HATASU

DRAUGHT-BOARD.

29

little
standing figures of Egyptian men like
or
attendants, perfect and admirable specimens
pages
of the most delicate Egyptian art.
These may have

Also two

been markers, or, perhaps, the principal pieces. Two

1
sides of another draught box, of blue porcelain and
ivory, with which are two conical draughts of blue
porcelain and ivory and three other ivory pieces.
(6)

Also parts of two porcelain rings and porcelain

some unknown game. (7) With the

above were found a kind of salve or perfume spoon in
2
green slate, and a second in alabaster."

rods, probably for

RA-MA-KA.

AMEN-KNUM-HATASU.

(The throne name.)

(The family name.)

NUTAR HIMET HATASU.

The divine spouse,
(wife of the King.)
1

board.

[The coffin of Thothmes I., and the bodies of Thothmes II. and III. were
found at Dayr-el-Baharee in 1881 that of their sister, Queen
Hatasu, had disappeared, but her Cabinet was there, and is now in the Boulack
and " I

Museum,

have no doubt whatever," says Miss Edwards, "that this Throne and these other
relics are from that Tomb."]

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

30

The " dark wood bust," though not found with the
other objects, was supposed to be that of Queen Hatasu,
and to "strongly resemble the face of the sitting
statue of Queen Hatasu in the Berlin Museum," a
copy of which, in plaster, we have in our Museum but
I must acknowledge that I see no resemblance whatever
between them. Its identification being very uncertain,
;

Mr. Haworth did not present

Queen Hatasu
Karnak. Her

it

to the British

the

Museum.

magnificent obelisk at
father gave her the name of Mat Ka ra,
Queen of the south and the north, that is to say, of
the whole world.
erected

naturally went to Manchester immediately after

reading this account in the Times, but was disappointed
I

to find that the

"

"

draught-board

of a draught-board, and so

my

only the fragment

conjecture of the

is

Egyptian draught-board being a board of twelve squares

on each side could not be verified. It is broken off at
the end of the sixth square in length, and has only a
square and a half in width remaining, so that it is a
mere fragment. But the sixth square has the hieroglyph
1
good, upon it, and I take this as half the length.
The squares are about 1^- inch, and the ivory divisions
The squares are filled with porcelain,
nearly J inch.

T nefer,

and the black hieroglyph is burnt into the porcelain.

The board stands three inches high, with an inch and a
half porcelain pannel on each side, bordered with f inch
The dark wood squares under the porcelain are
ivory.
veneered on rough wood.
There are twenty pieces remaining of this game
1

The same

sign, nefer, is seen in three

ten

examples extant of the game of the

Sacred Way, which we shall describe presently, and which there seems to denote
a division in the board.

Q S

y s
D
ft

<

r
*

Q
55

QUEEN HATASU'S DRAUGHT-BOARD.

31

of light colour wood, and nine of dark wood, and one

These
of ivory; all these pieces have a lion's head.

heads are not all of exactly the same size one is

But
rather larger than the rest, and one is smaller.
there is not sufficient difference of size to lead t,o the
lions'

supposition that they were of different powers, though

Together
they may have belonged to different sets.
with these pieces are two reel-shaped pieces, one

and two upright draught-men of the form

represented in Egyptian paintings A one white, the

astragal,

other of blue enamel, and a dark wooden one a little

These are evidently the sole remnants of
larger.

another set or

sets.

double game was also found in Queen Hatasu's

tomb, similar to that formerly belonging to Dr. Abbot
of Cairo which is now in the Louvre.
It is inlaid or
veneered with dark wood like the draught-board and
the squares are divided in like manner by ivory slips.
It is 12 J inches long by 4
wide, and 2| deep with a
drawer in the middle to contain the men. On one side
;

the board has ten squares in length, and three in breadth,

the cells being a little more than an inch square.
On

row has twelve squares and the

"
of these " squares are of oblong

the other side the middle

sides only four.

Some

32
in-

ten in length
form in consequence of there being
This
other side.
game appears
stead of twelve as on the
other game
The
Sacred Way.
to be the game of the
Dr. Abbot's in having hieroglyphics
differs from that of
In a similar board discovere,
in two of the squares.

and exhibited by him in London

to
I and II, thus appearing
two squares are marked by
the two figures in one of
in 1

bv Mr

Petrie,

denote position, consequently,

in this

and the three figures in the next,

in Mr
II and III. The next square
example, denote
across it, thus dividing
Petrie's board has two diagonals
and the fifth square has the n*fr
it into four parts,
All these objects have been
(ood), as in this example.
and are now
the Nation by Mr. Jesse Haworth,
given to

these squares,

in the British

The reader
article

Museum.
will

have perceived from the preceding

indebted to the learning and

how much we

are

evidence
in collecting all the
research of Dr. Birch,
so as
more
the
of ancient Egypt ;
relative to the games
or one
from his belief that these games,
it

would appear

that he
of them, represented chess,

more

in Egyptian

was occupied

and Assyrian and Chinese

far

literature

"idle" amusethan in these so-called

that chess
No one can for a moment suppose
ments
times.
Draughts of some
was invented in those ancient
but as there ar
kind were certainly played then,

Td

antiquities,

in the present day-English,

various kinds of draughts
"

others-Bo

draughts

and many
Polish, Turkish,
were very different to the games
ancients
the
played by
of Latrunculi wai
the Eoman

we know.
known to

That

game

for granted
the Egyptians, was taken
of its being so is shown by
Birch, and the probability
sen
In his paper of 1864 he thought
his researches.

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS,
signified a robber,

But

and so he

identified

33
it

with latro and

paper of 1868 he identified the

Consegame of Tau (robbers) with the latrunculi.
must
mean
senat
else
and
accordquently
something
latrunculus.

in his

ingly he there gave a different interpretation of the

"
word, stating that seni means to traverse, or to open the

appropriate to
sen has

had some other meaning, more

our purpose, and indeed, he tells us that

Possibly

gates."

it

many meanings

in hieroglyphics.

In the inscriptions given us by Brugsch and Chama distinction between the games of
pollion, we have
Gjienat (" abacus

"

or

"

draughts

and Tau

"),

(robbers).

The word Senat is inscribed over Dr. Birch's No.

That therefore cannot be the game of Tau.
(p. 10).

It

be observed that the game of Senat is there coupled

with the game of Han or the Vase just as Dr. Birch's

will

No, 3 and No. 4 are coupled together, and as in a representation of the Egyptian game called Mora by the
Italians,

which we

shall presently consider,

two different

one where only one player

represented
games
throws out his fingers, while the other guesses the
other where both do so, and each guesses.
Nos. 3
are

and 4 therefore of Dr. Birch's description are different

games, though the board appears to be the same, with
the exception of the pieces being differently placed; and
so we may conclude that one is the game of Senat
("draughts"), and the other the game of Tau or
The word Aaseb written over the latter is
Robbers.
acknowledged by Dr. Birch to be of doubtful meaning.

From what

just stated that these grouped games

represent different games, we cannot accept Dr. Birch's
"
supposition that this word signifies lost," as being the
1

But

this

is

was a mistake, for the word here

is

differently spelt.

34

THE GAMES OF THE

conclusion of the other

sents the other

game

game

but rather that

of Tau, or robbers.

it

If so,

represee

we

that the board, like that of the game of Senat, or

"
draughts," contained twelve cells each way, or 144 in
all.
As these two games of " draughts " and robbers,

were played apparently on the same board, and are

represented in the paintings with the same men, it
would be impossible to tell in these paintings which
represented, where the name Senat or Tau is
not given, were it not from other circumstances, which

game

we

is

shall

In some examples we find

mention presently.

the men, instead of being placed in a continuous row,

are divided between the two players.
In Dr. Birch's

No.

(p.

12) that of Barneses III.

and

Isis,

or his

queen, there are ten men on the board. In No. 6

each side has four men remaining, while each player
holds a piece en prise, and the lion has a bag in which

he holds his captive pieces. In No. 4 one player has six

pieces, and the other five, but relative to this also
we will speak presently. We have seen that in 1878
Dr. Birch thought that " the board had nine squares
one way and seventeen the other, in all 153 squares."
This idea was evidently taken from the painting on

Mentuhotop's sarcophagus, published in Lepsius's

teste Texte.

%
ixnxi

8.

ixi T*I

ixi

ix

g g
K

ANCIENT EGYPTIANS.

35

On examining

Prof. Lepsius's work however it will

be seen that this painting is in the middle of a long
upright pannel, and that the so-called board is merely

a piece of diaper ornament figuratively representing a

The diaper is a mere
board, but not the board itself.
indication of the game, and goes for nothing in the
"
The
argument. In this same article Dr. Birch said :

Egyptian chess-board had thirty squares, black and

"
white," and
they generally played with six pieces."
Dr. Birch therefore cannot be trusted for the details of
the game.

Thirty also

terius, p. 60.

is

the number given by Sou-

IV.

THE GAME OF TAU

OR GAME OF ROBBERS.

AFTERWARDS THE

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM,
OR LUDUS CALCULORUM, OR PR(ELIA LATRONUM, OR BELLUil LATRONUM

OF THE ROMANS.

Salmasius, Historise Aug. Scriptores Sex

Souterius, Palamides
Bulengerus, De ludis

1620
1625

Veterum

1627

Seraptlebius, De alea Veterum

Severinus, Dell' antica Pettia

1667

HYDE, Historia Nerdiludii, h.e.d. Trunculorum

James Christie, Inquiry into the ancient Greek game

1694

Becker, Gallus

Van Oppen,

in " Schachzeitung," for

Herbert Coleridge, on Greek and Eoman Chess

in Forbes' History of Chess
L. Becq de Fouquieres, Les Jeux des anciens

1690
1801

1838

1847
1855
1860
1869

THE GAME OF TAU.

38

wonderful that this game should ever have

fallen into dissuetude, that it should ever have become
so completely forgotten, that the most zealous and

IT

is

learned antiquaries should have failed in restoring it to

The goodly array of names at the head of this
light.
article is evidence sufficient to

show that

all

has been

All
done which learning and diligence could do.
passages from ancient poets and historians have been
collected
the bones of the entire skeleton have been
;

put together, but there they remained the game was

not played, and it could only be regarded as an intercurious, but incomplete,
esting fragment of antiquity
;

and

useless.

Few

visitors to the British

Museum, previous

to the

present time, could have failed to notice on the wall of

the further staircase, the Egyptian caricature drawn
1

on papyrus, referred to in the first section, which represents a lion and goat and looking very much like our
famous lion and unicorn playing at a game which,
from the appearance of the pieces, might be easily
mistaken for chess. In the galleries upstairs may be
seen some wooden and bone pieces of similar appearance, viz., lofty pieces like chess-men, and not flat, like
Several references have been given
draught-men.

in the last section of Egyptian pictures of kings and

other persons playing at a game which seems in every

case to be identical.
pieces,

and there is a

The pieces are always upright

difference of colour, or else a slight
between the two

difference of form observable

In

these representations, there

discernible in each colour or side,
all

indicated with great precision.

1

It is

now removed,

in order to protect it

is

and

Thus

from the

it is

light.

sides.

but one form

this form is

evident that

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.

39

game so represented cannot be the game of chess

but a game like draughts. Some of the pieces in our
Museum, and of those in some foreign collections, have

the

the heads of animals

and

this

seems to connect the

game with the game played by the Greeks and Bomans,

the pieces of which were called dogs, Kuvee, by the
Greeks.
Such heads of animals are observable in
1

but in general the pieces represented in the Egyptian monuments were of cylindrical
form rounded at the top, or tapering pieces surmounted

Queen Hatasu's

pieces,

by a bead or knob.

Roman game were

the

name became

The

latrunculi or latrones of the

originally soldiers, but by degrees

significant of licentiousness and

audacity, as the soldier became a robber.

Just so in

own language the terms knave, brigand, villain,

have lost their original significance. But whether we
regard the pieces in the Boman game of draughts as
our

they are equally deserving of their

equally to guard against the strategies

soldiers or thieves,

name

we have

and the stratagems of thieves. Sometimes we

taken by superior force or by skilful
marshalling sometimes we find them stolen from us
when we least expect it. When most intent on taking an
adversary our enemy comes with subtlety and robs us of
our own piece.
It is a lively inspiriting game, and likely
to be a favourite in modern, as it was in ancient times.
In the preceding sections we have shown the probability of the Ludus Latrunculorum having its origin in
We have the myth of Thoth (Hermes) having
Egypt.

of war,

find our pieces

:

game of draughts we have inscriptions

and wall paintings from tombs of the 4th dynasty we
have the actual draught-board and draught-men used

invented the

Bulengerus says they were called BO on account of their impudence.

THE GAME OF TAU.

40

by Queen Hatasu shortly after the time of Joseph ; we

see on the wall-paintings Barneses III. playing the
game in the time of the Exodus; we find in every tomb

and sarcophagus, from the

earliest to the latest times,

evidence that the Egyptians believed that in the future

who were weighed in the balance and found

state those

worthy would play at these games; and from the

papyrus painting in our Museum we know that the
Egyptian game was still played in the time of Trajan
and the Antonines, say A.D. 100. We thus have
evidence that

it

continued to

Eoman

times.

Instead

its being an idle assumption, a mere hypothesis,

to connect the Ludus Latrunculorum of the Romans

then of

with the Egyptian game of Tau, it seems to be a most

strange, and unaccountable, and incredible thing to
imagine that a game with a history of say 3000 years,
and which, as we have seen, was played in the time of
the Eomans and early Christians, should not have been
continued in practice by them, though under another
name. But it is not another name for Tau and
:

Latrones or Latrunculi are synonymous; as are the dogs

called their S^oi, with the dogs,
(/cw/ee) as the Greeks
kilab, as the

Arabs

still

call their

draught-men.

The

upright form also of the Egyptian piece (1) was merely

(i)

(2)

1859.

(3)

1853.

(4)

1888.

41

LUDUS LATRUNCULORDM.

diminished in height by the Eomans, as we may judge

from the Grseco-Eoman latrunculus found by Mr.
Newton at Halicarnassus, (2) and now in the British
1

the numerous pieces found in the tombs

of Cuma, and other Etruscan cities (3) and from the
still smaller and shorter latrunculus found at Eome in

Museum

'^f;

(4), in

1888,

The

my

possession.
difference in size of these latrunculi is interesting

showing the habits of the various peoples.

as

The

Egyptians in the earliest times played the game sitting

on the ground, as we see by their pictures, whereas
the Greeks and Eomans sat on chairs.
It

that

is

therefore only through neglect of this evidence

hitherto not been able to determine the

we have

details,

and

to recover the

game

of the

Ludus Latrun-

culorum.
It will be observed that as the pieces diminished in

Other
height they became more difficult to handle.
forms were therefore devised, gradually advancing to the
reel-shape, so as to give greater stability, and greater
we
facility of handling, though even in the old shape

see this attempted in the latrunculi of

Cuma

already

given.

Sir Charles

Newton, K.C.B.

Bullet. Archeulog. Nap. N.S. 1883-

THE GAME OF TAU.

42

)
Those of

which

is

Cuma

were found in a tomb, the plan of

seen below.

It contained three graves, and

the walls were placed the latrun-

on the podium round

culi, ready for the dead to play with when they arose
No doubt there was the full
from their lethal state.

o g~

OG

OQ

TOMB AT CUMA.

number of them originally, sixty, but most of them

must have been taken away by the workmen or others,

43

LDDUS LATRUNCULORUM.
and sold to
visited the

It

travellers or dealers before Sigr. Minervini

tomb.

was probably with latrunculi similar to that of

No. 4 that Quadratilla played. 2

We

now proceed to connect

know of each. While we have only
will

ences to the

game by the Latin

together what we
disconnected refer-

poets,

but no represen-

Egyptian paintings and

a
have only
profile of the board, and

tation of the board

in the

hieroglyphics we
will
the name of the game, but no description.
therefore endeavour to discover the game by applying
the Koman description to the Egyptian board.

We

We

will begin

with the board.

There were two Egyptian games, the boards of which,

and the pieces of which appear to be the same. The
Senat, as
of

we have
"

<(

Draughts

seen, was supposed to be the game

and the Tau the game of Bobbers.

Museum we

see pieces of various forms,

it is important to bear in mind that in the paintings
the boards are always in profile, and of the same size,

Although

in our

and the boards and pieces are alike.

The games are represented also in hieroglyphics,
"
In a Cuman tomb of
thus describes these objects
construction were found the objects we publish, of the size of the original
1

Sigr. Minervini

In
Roman
.

There were several hemispherical pieces of three different colours, white, yellow,
With these were found two dice, with fragments of a carved
and black
and similar fragments are seen in
ivory box, in which probably they were kept
the work of the chev. Fiorelli's Monumenti Cumani, tav. ii, No. 6." The Brit.

....

Mus. has no copy of this book.

tinues

" e che in
gran

numero

reservienti al giuoco de

Pollux, Ovid, Martial,

Speaking of these hemispherical pieces, he conda altri sepolchri, a me pare siauo da riputarsi

f uori

Cahull

o Latrunculi."

and Sidonius

Apollinaris,

He

then refers to the passages in

lastly to the poem by Saleus

and

"
Non saprei giudicare quai movimenti si additassero
Bassus, and then concludes
Nuova Serie, del P. R.
dal latino poeta." Eullettino Arckeologico Napolitano.
Garucci e di Giulio Minervini, anno primo, 1853.
2

Pliny's Letters,

vii,

24.

THE GAME OF TAU.

44

general the board appears as a block with men on it

this will be seen in the hieroglyphic description in p. 17.
:

The hieroglyph did not pretend to indicate the exact

number of men, but merely a board with men upon it.
But in larger hieroglyphic paintings the board is repreThe men are
sented with a greater number of men.
sometimes all of one height, and sometimes of high and
low pieces placed alternately and in the double group
of the Benihassan tomb, p. 12, we find these two
distributions of the men.
These therefore are the two
left
will
The
be seen to be the same
games.
group
as the left group in Eashepses' tomb p. 10, over which is
:

the

name

"

The

Senat."

must be the Tau.

It

is

hand group therefore

which we are now con-

right
this

sidering.

It will be observed that, unlike the other

game, the

men

prior to

are placed in close ranks on either side

commencing the game.

The

larger hieroglyphics represent the board with

Where the men are of
six, eight, ten or twelve men.

unequal height there was a reason for this, as we shall

presently see but where they are of equal height, we
may hold it as certain that the painter or engraver
would never take the trouble to show more men than
:

were necessary.
greatest

was the

We

may

number shown
full

number.

conclude then that the

in such hieroglyphs, twelve,

This number, twelve,

is

the exact

number shown

in all the
The Egyptian
paintings.
therefore was a square of twelve,
having 144

board

men do not

represent the number of men

played with, but the number of cells on each side of
the board. Thus in the papyrus
cells

for the

Burton

in

the British

Museum we

see a fictitious board

represented,

LTJDUS
of six

by three

45

LATRUNCULORUM.

squares,

and having

over the six squares.

Eustathius and Hesychius, as

we

six

men on

the top

learn from Pollux,

us that the Greek game, grammismos, or diagrammismos and from this we may draw the inference
tell

had

its

Eoman game we

are treating of, though it

to the Greeks as
origin in Egypt, was known

that the

Romans

was played with many pieces

and
r)0wv), Hesychius says sixty, (e&'j/covra),
(TroAAwv
of
it
had
certain
that the plinthion or board
parts

well as the

called a city (roXtg), applying probably to groups or

masses of pieces in different parts of the board, so firmly

intrenched that their opponents could not touch them.

Thus if the board was twelve-square, and there were
thirty

men on each side, and the men were placed, as with

on alternate squares, they would occupy five rows

and this number, five, is what is shown in right hand
group of Benihassan painting, and in that of the Lion
and Goat. 2 There would then remain only two vacant
:

us,

rows, so that the pieces would soon come in medias res.

Here we find the fragment of Queen Hatasu's board
of use: for

if

the sign nefer

I,

on the sixth square, marks

the half of the board, it is probable that the other half

was marked in the same way and thus we have the
:

two vacant rows of the Ludus Latrunculorum indicated.

One of the meanings of the word I nefer, given us
by Mr. le Page Eenouf in his letter which we will give
presently, is door which probably may mean here open.
If so, its appearance on these two lines would be very
;

The left hand figure appears to have six men : but on examining it we see
that the artist had drawn five only but finding he had left too wide a space
between two of them, he endeavoured to rectify it by squeezing in another to
1

fill

it
2

up.

Four on the board, and one

in each hand.

THE GAME OF TAU.

46

appropriate, to designate the open space between the

two armies at the commencement of the batt]e and
this again would constitute a further argument both for
the size of the board and the number of the men. In
;

the

of the Sacred

game

Way, which we

shall consider

further on, we find the same sign nefer again used to

mark a division in the board.

We

see

now

that Barneses III, and the lion and the

game of Tau; not the game of

goat, are playing at the

"
Senat^ or
draughts."

As

Dr. Birch collected

all

the authorities for the

Egyptian games, without discovering the games themso Dr. Hyde brought together all the passages
selves
from the Latin poets without discovering the Ludus
;

But we are equally indebted to both

these writers for their diligent and learned researches.
The following are the chief materials collected by Dr.
Latrunculorum.

Hyde, though his work will be found to contain many

more of philological and antiquarian interest.

Sive latrocinii sub imagine calculus ibit,

Fac pereat vitreo miles ab hoste tuus.
Ovid. Ars Amandi,

Cautaque, non

stulte,

207.

ii,

latronum proelia ludat

Unus cum gemino

calculus hoste perit.

Bellatorque sua prensus sine compare bellat,
JEmulus et cceptum saepe recurrit iter.
Id.

iii,

Discolor ut recto grassetur limite miles,

Quum medius gemino calculus hoste perit

Ut mage

357.

velle sequi sciat, et revocare priorem

Nee, tuto fugiens, incomitatus

eat.

Id

Trist.

ii,

477

LUDDS LATRUNCULORUM.
Sic vincas

Noviumque Publiumque,

Mandris

et vitreo latrone clauses.

Mart. Epig.

Hie mihi

47

bis seno

vii,

numeratur tessera puncto

72.

Calculus hie gemino discolor hoste perit.

Id, xiv, 17.

Insidiosorum

Gremmeus

si

ludis bella latronum,

iste tibi miles, et hostis erit.

Id. xiv, 20.

Vultisne diem sequentern, quern plerique omnes

abaco et latrunculis conterunt .... a primo
lucis in ccense

tempus.

Macrob. Sat.
Calculi partim ordine moventur,

Ideo

i,

5.

partim vage.

alios Ordinarios, alios

Vagos appellant.
At rero qui omnino moveri non possunt Incitos
dicunt.
Isidor. Orig. xviii, 67.

But the principal authority adduced by Dr. Hyde is

the following panegyric to Calpurnius Piso, for his
efficiency in this game ; written by Saleius Bassus
Te

forte juvat studiorum pondere fessum,

languere tamen, lususque movere per artem
Callidiore modo tabula variatur aperta
si

Non

Calculus, et vitreo peraguntur milite bella :

Ut niveus nigros, nunc ut niger alliget albos.

Sed

tibi quis

Calculus

non terga dedit

Mille modis acies tua dimicat,

Dum
Qui

f ugit, ipse rapit

stetit in speculis

Audet,

Quis

Aut quis non periturus

et in

ille

te

Duce

cessit

perdidit hostem
petentem

longo venit

ille

recessu

hie se committere rixee

prsedam venientem decipit hostem.

Ancipites subit

ille

moras, similisque ligato,

hie ad majora movetur,

prorumpat in agmina mandra,
Clausaque dejecto populetnr moenia vallo.
Interea sectis quamvis acerrima surgunt.

Obligat ipse duos

Ut

citus et fracta

THE GAME OF TAU.

48

tamen ipse phalange,

spoliata milite vincis,

Proelia militibus, plena

Aut etiam pauco

Et

tibi captiva resonat

Which may be thus

manus utraque

turba.

freely rendered

When

wearied in the studious hours,

yet you would not idle be,
Tabula invites your skill

And

The
The sly latrunculi to move.
The vitreous soldiers see engage
The whites by times a black ensnare
The blacks again a white destroy.
But who is there can play with thee ?
And under you what knave can yield ?
:

See

how

in death their foes they slay,

For in a thousand ways they fight.

That calculus pretends to fly
But lo, his follower he slays.
There comes a man from his retreat,
Who ever has been on the watch.
See there a man who boldly comes
His laden foe to intercept.
:

And

there one braves a double foe,

That dying, he two more may slay.

See how that man from conquests fresh,

now proceeds
how he breaks the ramparts dense,
And now the (city } walls lays waste.
To

other conquests

Swift

But though

in such fierce contests held,

Thy phalanx

And

still

remains

(The victory now,

And

intact,

scarce a soldier hast thou lost.

King?

is

thine

!)

each hand rattles with the captive crowd.

Now

from these passages all that writers were agreed

upon was that the pieces on each side were of different
colours, and that a piece was captured or held in check
1

13.

98.

Pollux, Onom,

ix, 7.

Segm.

The conqueror

in the

game was

He is

called

Dux

called

Dux, or Imperator. Vopiscus, Procul.

poem and the same word dux is

in the sixth line of this

given by Champollion in his Notices Descriptives,

p.

556.

See p. 17.

49

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.

when an enemy attacked him and held him in on each

This is supposed by some to be understood by
side.
the word alligatio and the piece so bound is supposed
;

by some to be able to escape capture if there is an

empty cell adjoining into which it can move while
others supposed that the piece so bound is incitus, unable
to move, like the check-mate in Double Chess, only so
:

But neither of these supposilong as it is thus bound.

for the board is too large, the men
tions can be correct
:

and so the game could never come to an

end, if there were so many means to escape capture.
"
The " alligatio then occurs when two opposite pieces
then each
are in contiguous squares on the same line
is joined to, and attacks, or is attacked by the other.
"
But when a piece is " alligatus by an enemy on each
"
side, it is
incitus," unable to move, and consequently
is slain, or dead
too

numerous

Fac pereat

vitreo miles

ab hoste tuus.

Ovid.

A. A.

Unus cum gemino

Quum

calculus hoste perit.

Id.
medius gemino calculus hoste perit. Id. Trist.

Calculus

Me gemino

and the piece so

slain is

Dum fugit,

discolor hoste perit.

taken

Mart.

off:

....

ipse rapit

Et tibi captiva resonat manus utraque turba. Bassus.

Ludi hujus ars est, comprehensione duarum
tesserarum

concolorum,

and
and

alteram
Pollux.

tollere. (dvaipelv}

discolorem

Onom.

ix, 7.

98.

shown in the Egyptian painting of Rameses

and in the caricature of the lion and goat,

this is
Isis

seen to hold a bag full of captive

pieces in one paw, and to take up a piece in the other.
Much confusion has also arisen relative to the moves

where the lion

as described

is

by S

t-

Isidor.

some of the pieces move

"
forward line, as in Ovid
E
:

He

appears to say that

in a right, or " straight

THE GAME OF TAU.

50

Discolor ut recto grassetur limite miles.

and some in a wandering, supposed to be a diagonal

line: and he appears to accentuate this by calling the
pieces by different names according to their moves
"
"
ordinaries
and " vagos." Accordingly more than
one recent writer on the games of the ancients, suppose
that the men on either side consisted of inferior and
but, as we have seen, there is no
superior pieces
authority for this.

One

writer indeed supposes that,

was first a line of

as in chess, so in this game, there

eight pawns, which he calls infantry, and behind

them a

on an ordinary eightthe word vage means diagonally,

line of eight queens, or cavalry,

square board.

But

if

then they would be like bishops, not like our queens.

But even with this lower power, imagine eight bishops
on either side fighting against eight pawns. What
chance would the poor pawns have ? and what a fierce
battle it would be between the bishops
It would be
!

Antioch and Alexandria, of Constantinople and Ephesus fighting against each other, and
But I doubt whether Isidor
ravaging their flocks
meant anything of the kind for after mentioning the
like the bishops of

and the " vagos," he describes the

"
Now if the pieces had
incites," or dead pieces.
different moves and different powers, we should not, if
we had taken two of each, say we had taken four
"
"
shut up
but two bishops
captives, or four
pieces
and two pawns, or names denoting the respective
"ordinaries"

powers of such pieces.

apprehend therefore that the

all the pieces move both in

passage merely means that

an ordinal or straight line, forwards, sideways, and

backwards, and in a diagonal line and that those that
"cannot move" are called by such a name, and are
;

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.
then taken
is

That the pieces can move backwards

off.

shown by Ovid
.

coeptum ssepe recurrit

et

51

Ut mage velle
With these data

sequi

sciat, et

iter.

revocare priorem.

we began the game but we soon

we
made several trials, that as we
found, although
moved up the pieces we arrived at a dead-lock. For if
two

advanced on either
we thus came to a

solid lines of twelve pieces are

side,

not a

stand-still,

man
and

Some

missing.

could advance

so felt convinced that something was

pieces with increased power, like the

would have got over this

but
Hatasu's
draught-men being all
difficulty
queen
alike, as those are also which have been found in
Etruscan tombs, we see that there was no such differbishop, as above suggested,
;

ence of power between the pieces, and that the pieces

were

all alike.

was thus on the point of giving up the game in

But fortunately I remembered that Dr. Birch
despair.
I

stated that the

name

of the Egyptian

was db A, and I perceived that

draughtman

this sign is exactly like

the representation of draught-men in Egyptian paintings,

and like the draughtmen themselves so frequently seen

Museum, and Museums abroad, and three

of which, two white and one black, were found in
Queen Hatasu's tomb with the twenty lion-headed
and on making
pieces, forming pieces of another set
enquiry, I found that this word db means to leap. But
I must here give Mr. le Page Renouf 's letter
in the British

"
"

DEAR SIR,
"The hieroglyphic

may

call

18 August, 1887.

representing what we
a draught-man has the phonetic value a&, and
sign

52

THE GAME OF TAF.

'

'

'

the meaning of the Egyptian ab is leap/ jump,' hop/

hence play/ The heart in Egyptian is called db on
account of its motion, just as our own word heart/ the
'

'

German
and

herz, the Latin cor (cord-is), the Greek /ca/oSt'a,

other Indo European words have their origin in a
'

root skard, which signifies spring/

Sanskrit kurd has these meanings.

'

play/ The
The Greeks, as we
'

hop/

know from the Etymologicum Magnum, were aware

of the sense of Kpa&a, a-n-o TOV KiviiaOat. They called the
extremity of the branch of a tree the dancing part

and an especially lively dance was called Ko/oSaH,

a word which in Egyptian would be rendered by
KpaSri,

The Egyptian name of the piece in draughts, thus

drawn from a verb of motion, is analogous to our own
pawn, or the French pion/ or the German laiifer/ (for
'

'

the bishop in chess). It is, I believe, quite true that

the original word for pawn was paon (peacock), but
this does not alter the fact that the idea of motion in

connection with the

minds

game was

so strong in people's

as to obliterate the original signification derived

from the shape of the piece.

*

The Egyptian word

beautiful/ and hence

T
*

'

nefcr originally signifies fair/

It is used as a substangood.'

tive in the sense of a youth, a damsel,

cow, and even of wind (fair wind).

were called ncferu.

a pony, young
Festal robes

There are other meanings nefer is once found signifying door/ and once in the sense of fire.' A string
is also called nefert.
Nefer u also signfiies corn, but
:

'

'

this is probably only a

The
and

its

undoubtedly a stringed instrument,

neferit looks as if it were connected with

object I

name

form of the more common nepru.

is

LUDUS LATBUNCULORUM.
the Semitic bj or the Greek

was

But

it

means

'

One of the Egyptian constelstringed.'

called the Lute-Bearer, t' ai-nefert.

probably the
lations

va/3Xa.

53

Believe me,

Very

faithfully yours,

P. le P.

RENOUF."

This solved the difficulty, and completed the game.

Each piece was an ab, and therefore all the pieces,

though moving only one square at a time in any

direction, could leap over an adversary occupying a
contiguous square, provided the next square were open,
as in draughts, but without taking it.
I then tried a
game, and the following is the result
:

193

54

THE GAME OF TAU.

GAME

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.

55

White.

Black.

White.

Slack.

6162
6253
4455

4958

2636

3847
4725

108107
1190109

Here BlacHs 25

is lost

neglecting to cover 46

9577+66,

77

3635

but 58 comes up to the rescue, and White

45, it jumps from 47
45, and takes 35,
:

thus releasing his partner 25.

Audet,

et in

Hie se committere rixse

venientem
prsedam
decipit hostem.

9787
69-78

10998

3948
4826
2617
19019
293390
39039

1727
2738
493590

3929
5848
4826
1917
Here by moving 17 to 18 four moves ago, White gradually
detached a piece from its support, and must have inevitably lost it,
had it not by good fortune eventually found shelter in 193.
Bellatorque suo prensus sine compare bellat.

Nee, tuto fugiens, incomitatus

eat.

THE GAME OF

56
White.

TATJ.
Black.

8786
7867
6756+46
1434+45

3414
3625
3948
1412
8676
7666
5654
White's piece 55 is here hemmed in.
It cannot move into 44, 46,
or 64, without losing 34 which would also be lost eventually if it
moved into 56. In 45 or 65 it would be taken immediately. Its
only escape is by leaping into 53. It is to such a position as this
;

that Seneca alludes in Epi&t. 117

Nemo

qui ad incendium domus suse currit, tabulam latrunculariam perspicit, quomodo alligatus exeat calculus.

LUDUS LATRUNCULOUUM.
White.

57

THE GAME OF TAU.

58

The preceeding game was played before we had

discovered the game of Senat, and consequently before
we knew that a piece voluntarily going between two

We

is not forfeited.
therefore give another
to
the
this condition as it
of
game, subject
example
may be regarded as certain that the same law would

opponents

be

common

to each game.

GAME
White.

II.

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.
White.

59

60
White.

THE GAME OF TAIL

LUDUS LATRUNCULORUM.
as

^
Y~Y~[

shown

an(^

in

the beginning

^ ne P mnm g n
i

61
of the game,

two pieces

as indicated in the last part, are

In the latter case if one of
pretty moves.
the pieces moves, the other is taken captive.

even from this

tised players,

first effort
it is

But

at a game, and with unprac-

evident that the

unlike any other game, but that

variety of movement, and
of the pieces, these moves

game
it

not only

is

possesses great

owing to the leaping power

come upon us quite unex-

as indeed the name of

pectedly, like those of a thief,
it
so
that
the game indicates,
requires the greatest
attention and circumspection to prevent an attack.
Cautaque, not

And

stulte,

Latronum

Proelia ludat.

we have seen from

Seneca, and as we
Scholiast in Juv. Sat. v. 109, people
were accustomed to stand round the tables to watch
thus, as

learn from the

the players, especially when men like Novius or Publius

Like all other
or Cneius Calpurnius Piso played.

games of Oriental origin it is somewhat long but this

''Vultisne
agrees with what we are told by Macrobius
diem sequentem, quam plerique ormies abaco et latrun:

....

a primo lucis in ccensB tempus."

The above game occupied about two hours but no
doubt with the celerity with which Orientals play, it
culis

conterunt

might be accomplished in half that time, and indeed, it

would be wrong to play a game like this, as if one were
playing at chess, fearful of making a wrong move for
the game would then become very tedious but the
;

players should be expected to play rapidly, as if at

Atep, or Mora and to laugh at the mistakes that are
;

made, instead of lamenting them, especially when the

THE GAME OF TAU.

62

ardour of conquest has so carried us along, that we

forget our own danger, and find ourselves taken captive.

But

this does not invalidate the

maxim we have

just

the game must not be played carelessly or ignorantly, but with quickness of eye, and

quoted from Ovid

intelligently.
It is to be

hoped that Egyptian students will now be

some interpretation of the word n
fl

able to find

<j\

It cannot
aaseb, having connection with this game.
be, as Ur. Birch supposed lost, for the game as depicted
is not yet begun.
Rosellini's interpretation, leisure, if
correct, has

some meaning, denoting

it

as a

game

of

leisure or recreation.

The game can be played,

as an experiment,

upon a

paper board, or paste-board, with thirty bone counters

on each side of different colours, or with gun-barrel
wads, some

we

white, and others blackened over

ourselves have played the game.
left

as

V.

11

"!

THE GAME OF SENAT

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN GAME.

SEEGA

Dr.

Hyde

E. "W.

Lane

De

THE MODERN EGYPTIAN GAME. 1

ludo dicto Ufuba

Wa Hulana,

Manners and Customs

of the

1694.

Modern
1846.

Egyptians,

H. Carrington Bolton, Ph.D.,

"
Field,"
Seega, in

June

1,

1889.

The modern Egyptian game of Seega has been lately

again brought to our notice by Dr. Garrington Bolton,
of New York.
It is described by Lane more than forty
years previously, and is mentioned under another name
by Dr. Hyde, two hundred years ago. The Wa-Hulana,
1

Dr. Riou, of the British Museum, says the word Seega

and that it seems to be a local name.
;

native Lexicographers

is

not noticed by

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

64

or people of Hulana, appear to be natives of the lake

district in Equatorial Africa, like

Tusi,

Tfa-Ima,

the PPa-Humas,

P^a-Witu,

TFa-Chevezi,

Wa-

T^a-Nyassa,

and other tribes mentioned by Stanley, who describes

them as being the finest race in Africa, and all speaking
the same language.
There can be no doubt that this was a very ancient
game. As the ancient Egyptian games of Draughts
and Robbers were very large games, and played with a
great many pieces, it is evident that such games would
be inconvenient and unsuitable to the

who
is

generally play at short

probable that this game,

common

people,

and simple games and it

and that of Dabs, were
:

played by the lower orders among the ancient Egyptians.

Lane tells us that many of the fellaheen of Egypt

amuse themselves with the game of Seega.

They dispense with a board by scooping holes in the
ground or sand and stones, or beads, or beans, or
pieces of wood of different colours serve as pieces, which
freo^ently

they

call Kelbs,

or dogs, as the Greeks called the men

game of Robbers or Latrunculi.

in their use of the

The mode

of capturing a

man

also in

similar to that of the ancient

game

Seega

is

precisely

of the latrunculi,

namely by confining him, or manacling him on each

side, and thus taking him prisoner.. But here the
There are no diagonal, or " wandersimilarity ceases.
"
ing moves and the men are not arranged, at starting
the game, in two hostile bands.
;

The following
"

is

Lane's description of the

Seega consists of a

number

game

of holes generally made

of five
of five holes

in the ground, most commonly

rowp
in each, or seven rows of seven in each, or nine rows of

nine in each

the

first

kind

is

called the

Khams-awee

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

Seega, the second the Seb-dwee,
1
will take the first.
awee."

We

4
3
2

the third the

65
Tis-

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

fi6

to place any one of his kelbs in such a situation that there shall be, between it and another of his,
is

kelbs,

one of his adversary's kelbs. This, by so doing, he

takes and as long as he can immediately make another
capture by such means, he does so, without allowing
;

his adversary to move. (4)

These are the only rules of
the game. (5) It will be remarked that though most
of the kelbs are placed at random^ (2) foresight is

requisite in the disposal of the

remainder.

Several

Seegas have been cut upon the stones on the summit of

the Great Pyramid by Arabs who have served as guides
to travellers."

Remarks on

this description.

Dr. Carrington Bolton says the Bedouins usually

begin with 3, 3, and 4, 4 followed by 2, 2, and 1, 1.
1.

They appear to be placed at random, and moved

random but by experience and practice they know
which are the best positions, and which to avoid.
2.

at

In the games which we have played we have not

and we .would suggest
met with this necessity
reading and the latter must do so by moving one of
3.

his

own

4.

we

pieces.

By

studying

Dr Carrington

are able to define this

piece, the

same

piece,

player

more

may make

provided

if,

by

Bolton's example,
On taking a
clearly.

another move with the

so doing, he can take another

piece.
5. An additional rule suggests itself in the necessity
of not allowing a player to make the same move more
than twice, when it occasions a "see-saw."

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

The Rules

The

first

move

to be

therefore are

67

determined by

lot.

Each player places two kelbs alternately.

able to place these two kelbs on opposite

It is desirsides of the

board.

The

central square is to be left open,

other squares are to be filled in.

The kelbs move perpendicularly and

and

all

the

horizontally, not

diagonally.

A
if

taken by placing one on each side of it, as

manacling it but a kelb so placed in filling in the
kelb

is

squares before beginning the game, is not lost and a

kelb can, in the game, go between two hostile pieces
:

without being taken.

On

taking a piece, the player may make another

move with the same piece, provided if, by so doing, he
can take another piece.
If a player cannot move any of his pieces his opponent plays again.

When

a see-saw takes place, another

made by the attacking party.

A
come

move must be

player surrounded by the enemy, and refusing to

out, surrenders the game.

If both parties are blocked up,

It will

possible

a drawn game.

be seen in playing this game that

able to get
:

it is

command

of as

and Game III

will

many
show

it is

advis-

outside squares as
the advantage of

This is often done

enclosing the enemy if possible.
even when each party has the same number of pieces.

F8

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

68

Dr. Carrington Bolton devised the following game in

order to show the moves, and to accomplish certain
ends whereby " White's first move being most unfor:

gave Red the power of forcing nearly

White's moves."

tunate,

GAME

all

I.

Placing.

Red.

White.
34,

42, 52

33

12, 22

31, 30

23, 21

43,

53, 51

24, 40

44, 20
10, 54

13, 11
14,

41

50

Playing.

Red.

4333+23,

32

1323
23

22+32 nnd

12

+ 13

2434
1424
4232+33
3242
4252+51
3182+33, and 31+21

3444
3020
31_32+22
41_42 + 43

4454+53
2030

1020

1110+20.

Game.

In this game White made several bad moves, in

but the game was prepared
addition to a bad starting
show
the
moves.
to
We will now accept the
merely
:

placing' which we may presume

and play Whites men differently.

is

in favour of

Red

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

GAME

69

THE GAME OF SEEGA.

70

But we

will

now not

only accept the placing of the

Whites " most unfortunate first

game, but also

"
Field
move," as it is described in the
still wins the game
first

;"

and White

GAME
White.

3332
2232+33
3222
2212+11
1213

4143
5444
1323+33
5354
4342
1011
4443
4333
4232
3222
2131 + 32,41
3132
5352
5242
4241
4131
3121
2122
3323
3424
3231+41
3141
4140+30
4030
5150+40
1110
2212+11

III.

Red.

4333+23,

1323
2313 + 12
1323
2333
3332
3233
1413
4232
3222+23
1312
2223
2313
1323
2313
3132+22
1222
2212
1323
2313
1323
2313
1323
2313
24-14

4041
3040
4030

5040
1211

32

THE GAME OF SENAT.

Red.

White.

1312

1211
2313+12

1312
2414+13
From

the examples

71

1413
Game.

we have given

it is

evident that

game is one of great variety and interest, and one

that requires a quick eye and close attention.
will now show the connection between this and

the

We

THE GAME OF SENAT.

We have

seen in the description of the amusements

of the blessed in the future state, that among the

games they were then supposed to play were the Senat

"
and the Tau. The "Tau means Robbers. We have
identified t&e Tau with the Ludus Latrunculorum of
the Romans.
The other game, represented on the left
hand of the tomb-painting at Benihassan, p. 44, and on
the

Tomb

of Rashepses, p. 10, has the

attached to

it.

name

of Senat

THE GAME OF SENAT.

72

The game " Senat," (Birch, 1, 3) was at first translated chess, and afterwards draughts.
Certainly it
and there is no reason whatever
could not be chess
:

except that

We

it

not chess

is

will therefore

merely

for calling it draughts.

Senat.
In this game

call it

we

observe that the pieces are not separated, as in the

game of Tau, half on one side, and half on the other
;

but they are all mixed together. The pieces are represented as of different sizes alternately, and of different
colours.

We cannot for one

player played with

neither can
ones

moment suppose

tall pieces,

that one

and the other with short

we suppose

that this difference of

size was merely to distinguish the different sides

for
the difference of colour would be quite sufficient to
:

so distinguish them.

This difference of size therefore

We

must have some other

have stated
interpretation.
that the picture of the game of Tau, p. 44, represents the
It
position of the pieces before the game begins.
follows that the picture of the game of Senat must also
represent the position of the men before beginning
the game.
Instead then of placing the men in two
opposite camps as in the game of Tau, the pieces are

placed on the board, one by one, or two by two, alterthus having a confused
nately, as in the game of Seega
;

and promiscuous appearance, as if seen in perspective

and the game is represented in the picture as it would
appear when all the pieces are thus placed, and the
;

game is about to begin.

Lane tells us that Seega
on " boards of
squares."

Now

five,
it is

played by the fellaheen

seven, or nine rows of so many
curious that in the sarcophagus of
is

Mentuhotop we have boards depicted of

1

Lepsius, Die Adteste Tcste dcs Todtenbuchs Berlin, 1867.

>

nine, eleven,

THE GAME OF SENAT.

and thirteen

pieces, representing

the number of squares

under each of which is the word " Senat."

be objected as we ourselves have already

in each board
It will

73

that in the smaller hieroglyphics the artist's

"
intention was merely to show a
draught "-board,

stated

without indicating the exact number of squares. No

doubt this was generally the case and so on different
;

monuments we should expect

to find that the artist

represented the board with a greater or fewer number

of squares, as he chose at the moment
but here we
:

same artist has represented boards of different

numbers of squares on the same sarcophagus and we
find the

are justified therefore in attaching a motive for his thus

treatin them.

JMnJlnJlnil
(i)

JUflrJlnJMnJlnll
(2)

(3)

1.

Oil left hand, inside the sarcophagus.

Two others with checkered diaper

On inside, right and left.
On inside of lid of sarcophagus,

3.

and on right hand

under.

inside.

These different representations of the game then

would seem to indicate that the ancient Egyptians had,
like the present fellaheen,

boards of different

sizes,

intended for more or fewer pieces, and consequently

for longer or shorter games, according to the time
they

had to spare. Thus it is evident that while the full

game was played on a board having eleven or thirteen
squares on each side, the principle of the game consisted
only of having an odd number of squares, so as to
have a vacant square in the middle and thus the same
:

THE GAME OF SENAT.

74

pieces, and less

reducing it to squares of

game could be played with fewer

trouble, and

less

time,

nine, seven or five cells.

by

This proves the identity of

the two games.

find a similarity between the two games of Tail
and Senat in the mode of taking namely, by confining

We

man on

each side, as soldiers march off a deserter

but in Senat we. do away with the necessity of leaping,

in the

game

of Robbers,

by placing the men promiscu-

ously on the board in starting.

There remains only the difficulty

of

the board

appearing to be the same in each game, (Birch, 3 and

4,) though one game requires a board of an even

number of squares, and the other of an odd number.

But though we have supposed the boards to be represented by the men, the artist of the pictures considered
he could not give a greater number of pieces to one
so he was obliged to make
player, than to the other
;

them
odd number

equal in

number, though the board

itself

had an

of squares
while the scribe who wrote the
hieroglyphics considered that he could not make the
;

figure of his board lop-sided

one

side,

by having a

and a short one on the

other.

tall piece

on

and thus

in

the larger hieroglyphics we have given it will be seen

that the game is represented with an odd number.

Though the two games appear to be so much alike in

some particulars we have mentioned, in others they are
very dissimilar. In one the pieces jump, in the other
they do not in one the pieces are arranged in two
;

serried phalanxes, in the other they appear in a confused

melee ; in one the game is played with 60 pieces, in

the other with 24, 48, 80, 120, or 168.

But it will be asked what sort of game would

it

be

THE GAME OF SENAT.

if

played with so

many men

So

thought

75
I

would

As I anticipated, the
give the result.
of pieces on the board gives an opporOn
tunity of taking a great many pieces at one move.
it will be seen that the captures
the
game
examining

try

and

greater number

were not only very frequent, but that two, three, and
even four pieces were sometimes captured at one move.
The game occupied an hour and three-quarters, including
scoring; say an hour and a half without scoring.
There were about a hundred and thirty moves on each
whereas in the game of Latrunculi there were
side
:

about two hundred and twenty on each side, occupying

about two hours. The full game of thirteen squares is
1

THE GAME OF SENAT.

76

a very different game to the smaller one of five squares,

because the game of thirteen squares is played rapidly,
from there being so many pieces whereas the game of
:

five squares is

played very cautiously, step by step, and

with careful calculation. The smaller game therefore

will be the favourite in the present
day when time is

more valuable than

powers of steam and

was before the properties and

electricity were discovered.
it

PLACING THE MEN.

Red.

White.

Red.

White.

44, 128

157,

13

31, 146

55, 125

79,

78

48, 161

102, 103

20, 136

1,

169

29, 114
17, 110

105,

52

27,

143

134,

4,

166

18,

126

7,

164

38,

148

34,

122

15,

154

81,

82

92

139, 152

40, 117
66, 130

120, 121

131,

24

142, 156

90,

91

135, 147

77,

11, 159

163, 168

104,

53

133, 150

132,

64

59,

60

56,

57

42,

54

45,

58

123, 124

2,

127

43,

113

80,

97

21,

5,

115

118,

39

94,

10

6,

41, 129

138, 140

3,

23

119, 106

145,

93

67, 141

22

30,

155

107,

37

16,

153

83,

74

68,

62

49, 165

61,

63

76,

51

35,

36

70,

72
95

14,

167

108,

19,

137

149, 151

12,

158

26, 144

46,

47

111, 112

69

100, 101

50

71,

162, 116

73,

28,

65

88,

89

75,

109

96,

84

160,

25

32,

83

99,

87

86,

98

THE GAME OF SENAT.

THE GAME.
Red.

87

White.

86

77

THE GAME OF SENAT.

78

White.

Red.

141140+153

130+152

151152
152151 + 150

127128

150+137
137+136

164163+150
123136

163150+149
IGij

164+163

128115

136

123

+ 122

122+109
109+108,110

J
\

-110+97

135136

115102+103
24

37

12

25

35

36

39

38+37
39+26

52

51

95

12

50

37

+ 11

39_ 38+37
H7_148
136123+122

143185
135122
146147

159146+147,183
159

134133 + 132

146+145

+ 158

120133+146
120+119
119 + 106

144145
145144

94107
160147
162149 + 148
139138
149150

159158
107108
105-106+107
105+92
81

94

82

81+80
82+69
69+70

137186
79

80+67
79 + 66

66+53.

53+40
108 and 53 appear to have been Red instead of White, by mistake.

THE GAME OF SENAT,

Red.

150137

79

White.

54_

+ 68

67

54+55

147134

136149
149150+137

12

25

25

26

38

63

50

48

10

11

23

39+26
49+50
10+9

11

24

27

40

24

25

13

26

38+51

36

37+38
27+14

151

25

166153
153140
140139
104117
139126
164151
161148
151152 + 153
102115
115128

40

143142
151138
142141
138139+126
141140
140153
27

14

101114
65

78

154_153

49

62

153

HO

62

63

64

51

37

50

128127
117116
116103
127128
152151
128127
127114
148135
114115
151150
135122
150151
151164
164151

+ 138

113126
123136
114115
115102
125138
39

52+51

88101
112113
78

91

124137
110123+122
137150
139152
152153

THE GAME OF SEN AT.

80

White.

Red.

151164

126127+140
128+115

155142
28

91104+103
153154
154167+168
167166
138139
150163
163164+165

27

142129
164165
165152
152165
129142
27

40

14

27+40

15

28

27

14

15

121134
158145 + 132
134133

134133
133132
142129
129130

104-117
53
40+27

28

27

15

28

29

28

42-

29

28

27

29

42

17
31

16

30

4
3

27

28

15+28

+ 16

17+16,30

4+5
5

30

31

43

18

31

30

28

27

43

19

18

32-^ 19+18,20

27

28

14

27

28

29

27

28+29

30+31
43+44
30+31

118131 + 132,144
117130+129

131132
130129

Game.

We have thus,

we

not only discovered the

Ludus LatrunculorumoftheBomans, which has hitherto
believe,

been the puzzle of antiquaries, but we have identified

this game and that of the supposed modern game of
Seega with the two Egyptian games depicted on monu-

THE GAME OF SENAT.

81

ments of the earliest antiquity. And it is interesting

to see how an idle Egyptian caricature of a lion and a
enable us at
goat, of the time of the Antonines, should
the same time to discover the origin of a forgotten

Koman game, and

assist us to discover the

meaning of

obscure Egyptian hieroglyphic of the remotest antiquity, representing a game that the patriarch Joseph may

tin

have played as an ancient game in his time and again

how watching the fellaheen of the desert making holes
:

sand for a game with twenty-four stones, and

hearing the name which they called the stones, should
in the

enable us to discover the meaning of another obscure

hieroglyphic representing a game played with 120 or

1G8 pieces, according to whether the board was a square

of eleven, or a square of thirteen.
In the accompanying gem, formerly in the possession
of the Due de Luynes, and published in the Bullet.
Archeol. di Napoli, we see two figures playing at a
game, the board of which has five squares in width,
1

and, owing to the difficulty of perspective, only four in

It is evidently intended to represent a game
length.
It
of five squares each way, and therefore the Senat.
and
the
GraBco-Roman
be
of
thus
to
is
period,
appears
interesting as representing a medium between the

fourth Egyptian dynasty, three thousand years B.C.,

from which all these games appear to date, and the

present time

when the

fellaheen of

Egypt play the

how
the game has
and
consequently showing
game
been handed down. It represents the ordinary and
favourite way of playing the game, on a board of five
The interest attached to the game is indicated
squares.
two
the
figures in the back ground intently looking
by
;

Tav.

viii. 5.

THE GAME OF SEN AT.

82
at the

board.

It will be seen that the squares are

marked by double lines, showing that the squares were

sunk in, to keep the pieces in their proper places,
and that a bag is
similar to Dr. Abbot's board
;

suspended under the board, probably not merely for

keeping the men, but for holding the stakes in playing
and here again this gem affords another proof that the
:

pieces were placed on the squares,

as has been supposed.

and not on the

lines,

VI.

n
1

vt\

\xA.

SAB EM HAN.

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

We have no extraneous aids for determining the

mture of this game, as we have for those of Senat and
Tau. We have indeed nothing but this picture, and
name of the game. But however puzzling it may
look, we think the difficulty may be solved by com-

the

with the other Egyptian games.

Evidently it was a game of great interest

paring

it

for spec-

tators are seen looking on, which we do not see in the

other Egyptian games, as represented in the tomb

though we find them represented in the

Koman intaglio at the end of the game of Senat, and
we find them referred to by the poets in their description

paintings

of the
1

Ludus Latrunculorum, the Egyptian game of

but in the picture it is

generally described as the game of the Vase
represented as a bowl, for the greater facility of putting in pieces, and taking out
the stakes.
This

is

G2

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

84

Tau.

It always formed one of the supposed recreations

"
of those in the future state who had been
weighed
in the balances,

The

artist

and

(not) been

has represented

found wanting."

it

upright, like a target,

with a bowl standing on the top of it, because he

could not represent it in profile as he represented other
games. It was played on a circular board, having a

in the middle, containing the stakes for which the

game was played, as also the pieces which succeeded
home ; and this would account for the
in

bowl

getting

and excitement shown by the spectators who

As it was a game for money,
are watching the game.
This is proved by
it was evidently played with dice.

interest

the hieroglyphic sign for this game, Q, the bowl for

holding stakes, appearing between the two games of
Atep, given us by Sir Gardner Wilkinson, as
see in a following game.

we

shall

pieces were entered by throws of dice, and had

to begin at the outer rim, and to proceed gradually to

The

the centre as their home.

THE GAME OF THE BO^L.

85

The pieces were taken, as in the games of Senat and

Tau and we are justified in believing in this analogy
by attacking them on each side. Being in a circle, a
piece would operate all round the circle, whether to the
right or left.
will suppose a player has entered one of his
On his adversary having the same throw, he
pieces.

We

would enter a piece in the same ring on his side. Each

of these pieces would then attack the opposite one.
Whichever side next entered a piece in the same ring
would take the opponent's piece for he would have two
pieces to his opponent's one, and one of these would
attack it on the right side, and the other on the left.
But should his opponent have two pieces already
entered when he enters his first piece in the same ring,
he will not lose such piece, as he put it voluntarily in
that position and his opponent must enter a fresh
This
piece in the same ring before he can take it.
in
which
we
the game of Senat,
accords with the rule
are bound to consider.
;

We

will

now

discuss the dice.

The ordinary

dice

and the tarsal bone, called a cube and an astragal by the

Greeks, and a tessera and a talus by the Romans, were
used for games of chance, for purposes of gambling,
and for divination and other purposes, from the earliest

The astragal from its form may be regarded

antiquity.
as a double or elongated cube ; and among the Romans
it was occasionally numbered 1, 3, 4, 6 ;' leaving the
ends unmarked.
their
1

Or

it

game

The

dice which the Indians use in

of Pachisi are elongated cubes with the

numbers according to whatever side was uppermost, the
the convex or upper, 4 ; the right side 1, and the left 6.

signified these

concave or bottom 3

See Hyde, Hist. Nerdiludii,

p. 143.

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

86

numbers

1, 2, 5, 6,

on their four

But the

sides.

astra-

not numbered, the flat or

Egyptians
concave side probably counting for one and the convex

gal of the

is

side

as

two,

or

vice

versa.

They were frequently

imitated in ivory, and one such is observable in the group

"
"
of Queen Hatasu.
of draught-men
may con-

We

clude therefore that astragals were used in this game.

The pieces would enter, or move, two at a time, as
at Senat^ into the ring indicated by the throw of the
This would cause a constant state of exciteastragals.

each of the two players had a piece in the

same ring, and each piece was getting near the centre,
they would each be in the greatest apprehension, lest,

ment, for

if

having so many adversaries behind his piece, the other

should throw the exact number and take it up.

Thus the aim of each player would be two-fold. He

would endeavour to protect his pieces by getting
always two or three in the same ring, and then graduand he would
ally moving them up towards the goal
;

be constantly on the watch to take his opponent's

pieces
It will be seen that several pieces would be taken on
either side.
cannot suppose that these pieces
.

We

would enter again, as in Pachisi and Backgammon

but that they would be slain as in Senat and Tau, and
Chess, otherwise there would be no end to the game, or
If this, however, were the
at least it would be too long.
would
then
consist
the
as all the pieces on
case,
game
each side would be in action, or expected action in
getting out first, as in the games we have mentioned
but we must assume rather that the game would
resemble the kindred games of Tau and Senat in
which the pieces are killed outright.
;

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

87

In the picture before us we observe that the left

hand player has seven pieces, the right hand player
These are the pieces which have successonly three.
reached the innermost rings, notwithstanding all
There were therefore,
the dangers which beset them.

fully

so we may conprobably, twice as many at starting

clude that the number of pieces on each side originally
was a dozen. It would appear that the artist's inten:

was to represent the moment in the game immediIf so,

ately before taking off by entering the home.

tion

has the advantage, although his

for the game is
pieces are two rings further backward
which
all
side
enters
his men first
determined, not by
the player on the

left

home

might be the weaker side,

having the fewer number of pieces to take off, but by
which side has entered the greatest number of pieces,
and taken most men by the time one side is out or
in other words, by which side has the greatest number
of warriors come out safely from the battle, and which
into the

for this

has taken or slain the greatest number of the enemy.

As, therefore, the taking a prisoner counts the same
as the getting a man home, it is desirable to use every
endeavour to take pieces and this is done by keeping
;

behind the opponent's pieces, and so being able to take

"
"
he is obliged to make.
blot
advantage of any

Having thus marked the enemy's

pieces,

he can now

push on his advanced forces to enter into the citadel

or home, before he can get there.
We have divided the board into sub-divisions of
No doubt
three rings each, for facility of counting.
the Egyptians thus marked the rings, either by thick
lines, or

by colours,
most probably the

as yellow, green,
latter.

and red, alternately;

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

88

THE GAME.
Black.

White.
Throws. Enters.
1

2
1

1
1

2
1

2
9

Moves.

Takes.

Throws. Enters.

Moves.

Takes.

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

89

THE GAME OF

90
White.
Throws.

Moves.

Out.

Takes.

+
1

TIIK

BOWL.

VII.

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

THE HIERA GRAMME
OF THE GREEKS,

LUDUS DUODECIM SCRIPTORUM

OF THE ROMANS.

As the Egyptian game of Tau, or Bobbers, and the

Roman game of the Latrones or Latrunculi, or Thieves,
were incapable of solution when considered separately,
and resisted all attempts of the learned to explain
them though each has explained the other when the
;

references to the

Roman game were

applied to the board

of the Egyptian game

so the Greek and Roman games
we are now about to consider have remained up to the
:

present time mere abstract ideas, known only by name

while the Egyptian game, when seen in our Museums,

was known only by form.

But no sooner do we com-

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

92

pare the two together, than we find

same thing and are thus enabled to
;

gible

and thus, as

in

them one and the

make each intellithe games of Tau and the

Latrunculi, in finding out

The Egyptian name of

one game,

this

game

we
is

discover two.

not known, but

we have many examples of the board. One is in the

Louvre which was obtained from the collection of Dr.
Abbot of Cairo

it

measures 28

ins.

by

and was
the Revue

7 ins.

and has been published in

Archeologique in 1846 by M. Prisse d'Auvennes.
Another, which belonged to Queen Hatasu, was presented by Mr. Jesse Haworth of Manchester to the
British Museum.
Another, which also belonged to
Queen Hatasu, and which, like it, has the squares
inlaid with green porcelain, in now in the Salle Historique of the Egyptian gallery of the Louvre, and is
described by M. Paul Pierret, in his Musee du Louvre,
1873.
Another, which belonged to Amon-mes, an
found in Thebes

the Egyptian Court, who lived possibly in the

2
time of the Judges, about 1215 B.C.,' is in the Salle
officer in

Louvre and is published by the same

3
Two others are
author in his Etudes ]gyptologiques.
in the Museum at Boulak, and are published by
4
Mariette Bey in his "Monuments Divers," one of
Civile of the

which we will give presently. Another has lately

been discovered by Mr. Petrie, the eminent excavator of Egyptian monuments, in the Fayourn, and
was exhibited by him in London in 1889. Lastly,
an Egyptian Treatise on the game is said to exist
in

the

Museum

at

Turin.

Armoire C.

6] 6,

The date

Huitieme Livraison, Deuxieme Partie.

Evidently therefore,

1872,

of

King Amon-mes.

pi. 51, 52.

1878, p. 81, 82.

it

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

93

was a very common game among the Egyptians.

The game, however, is not referred to in the Ritual
of the Dead, nor is it represented in any tomb-sculpor in hieroglyphic inscriptions.
the Egyptian games, we have no
whatever.

tures,
all
it

Nor, as

In

fact,

like

description

we have mentioned, have we much

of

informa-

We

name, of the Greek or .Roman games.

are told however that they were played with dice,
tion except in
1

not the astragal), having numbers, 1-6, on

four sides only
that the central line of the board was
(icu/Bciac,

called the Sacred

Way

(upa

ypvpftii),

that the pieces

on this line were called kings, as in our game of draughts

and that pieces could be
pieces are said to queen
taken off from this Sacred Way.
This is all we knew
;

indeed, so little did we know, that it was supthat

the board consisted of six lines crossing six
posed
lines, thus making twenty-five squares, or thirty-six

of

it

points.

Let us then begin by studying the Egyptian board.

The board has three columns. The side ones have

"Dice were used by the Egyptians in the reign of Rhamthat monarch, according to Herodotus, being reported to have played
Plutarch would lead us to believe that dice were
with the Goddess Ceres
1

Pollux, Onon.

sinitus

a very early invention in Egypt, and acknowledged to be so by the Egyptians

themselves, since they were introduced into one of their oldest mythological fables :
Mercury being represented playing at dice with Selene (De Is. s. 12) previous to

the birth of Osiris, and winning from her the five days of the epact, which were
added to complete the 365 dayu of the year." Sir Gardner Wilkinson, Anct. Egypt
ii,

62.

Dr. Birch, however, contests this.

He

"
says,

No

dice have been found in

Egypt older than the Roman period nor have they been recognized in inscriptions
and texts nor are there any representations of playing at dice in the earlier or
;

older sepulchres."

Notes

to ditto.

However, we have found the

2

Theocritus,

vi, 18.

Schol.

dice, as

we

shall see.

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

94

only four cells,

accords with all

game

and the central one twelve.

This

we know

of the Sacred

of the requirements of the

Way. It has a central line, and

this central line has twelve cells

and as no other
boards comply with these requirements, and as other
of the Egyptian games were handed down to the Greeks
;

and Romans, we may conclude that this also is the

game which was played by those nations. All these
Egyptian boards we have described like our backgammon boards consist of two games and each of these
games has three columns, and therefore a Sacred Way
and consequently they must be variations of the same
game. The principal game, which we have already
described, is the uppermost one, and is determined by
the position of the drawer which contains the pieces.
The lower game consists of three rows of ten cells.
;

In all these boards, with the exception of Dr. Abbot's,

one of the side columns has four cells marked
with hieroglyphics.
In Queen Hatasu's board,
in the British

marked on
and the

first

it

Museum, the second

;

cell

the third has three

and fourth

cells are

has two

men

wanting.

men

s^a/

I/I

I/I

1/1

Queen Hatasu's board in the Louvre, and that of

also, have two men in the second cell:

Amon-mes
but

the

third

cell

has

three

birds,

forming

the

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

word Ba-a

(spirits),

95

and the fourth has the sign of

has the sign

the two latter boards having three ncfers
nefer
Mr. Petrie's board, however, instead
instead of one.
water.

In

the boards the

all

fifth cell

of having hieroglyphics, has the simple numerals II

and III on the second and third cells, and the fourth
cell divided by two diagonal lines, to signify four.
There can be no doubt therefore that these four cells
were known as 1 2, 3, and 4.
Queen Hatasu's board in the Louvre and that of
Amon-mes and those in the Boulak Museum are further
distinguished by having all the plain surfaces, and even
some of the cells, filled in with hieroglyphic inscripOn one side of Queen
tions, precatory and laudatory.
Hatasu's is her cartouche name, on the opposite her
throne name, Ra-ma-Ka and at one end is an embryo
,

On the corresponding space of Amonfigure of Ptah.

mes' board is a representation of himself playing the
game, and moving one of the pieces. M. Pierret states
and ninth cells of Queen Hatasu's
marked
with hieroglyphics, which he
way
"
importance particuliere :" but no
thought had some
doubt they are of the same nature as those on Amonmes' board, on the fourth cell of which Mr. le Page
that the

first,

fifth,

are

centra]

"

Favoured by the good God ;" on the

Commanding officer of the Royal Court ;" and
eighth,
on the twelfth, his own name, " Amon-mes ;" which is
also seen on the first of the right lateral row
and on

lienouf reads
"

the

of the left lateral the words,

signification of which is uncertain.
first

Evidently

pieces each,

che-en-hap," the

materials we have to construct the game.

was a game for two players, who have four
and the central column was common to

From these
it

"

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

90

both players. This was the Sacred Way, on entering

which each party would strive to take up the other's

and

pieces,

men

There being so few

arrive at the goal.

w ith, the game would soon come to an

end if the prisoners were not made use of by the victor.
to start

Accordingly they were entered in the cells 1, 2, 3 or 4,

as those numbers were thrown by the four-sided dice.

which gives interest to the game.

One of the players may be reduced to one piece, and
the game then be considered lost but with this piece
It is this feature

he takes one of his opponent's, and then another, and

by entering these men as his own may eventually win
the game.
It will be asked

why

the

cells

3,

2,

and 4 were

marked on the lower game, and not on the upper ? I

suppose it was because these four squares on the upper
.

board speak for themselves. Again, why only four

cells were thus distinguished on the lower game?
It

was probably because the earlier dice had only four

numbers and the nefer on the fifth cell did not mark
;

a number, but only the termination of the series of

re-entering cells.
Since this was
directed

my

written

attention to the

Professor

two boards

Maspero
in the

has

Boulak

Museum, published by Mariette Bey, one of which has

the fourth cell of lower game divided off from the
remaining six

cells

by a broad

line,

thus seeming to

confirm this supposition.

But not only is there this broad line of separation,
but it will be observed that the cells beyond these four
are divided from each other

four cells and

by four

lines.

all

by two

lines,

while the

those of the central line are divided

There were two forms of pieces found

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

97

tomb of Ak-Hor, some of the ab shape, and

in the

some of reel shape. Many of these, we are informed,

"
were stolen, and sold to travellers but no draught "board for the game of Tau or Senat was found, We
:

suppose therefore that the reel-shaped pieces

stood upon the cells outside the four cells, and that
these reel-shaped pieces had not the power of re-

may

This board is remarkable also for combining

entering.
in itself the two games for which all other boards
of this description were intended.

An

n
'

It could be used

<i\

In

ni

in

in

/^rt

l(

[rA^5rf

for

the upper

game

of the usual board, and with four

or it could be used for the lower

ab -shaped pieces
game with both the aft-shaped and the reel-shaped
but in this case there would be twelve cells
pieces
;

instead of ten as usual.

Fortunately one dice

served of this game, and this

is

is

is

pre-

highly interesting as

of oblong form having only four

numbers, as

it

we

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

98

surmised was the case, in consequence of the

numbered

As

all

1, 2,

games

and

cells

4.

increase in interest as there

is

greater
opportunity for the exercise of skill and reasoning and
the calculation of chances, we will imagine that players

were not obliged to move unless they chose.

The game would consist, not in getting out
in having the greater

number

first,

but

of pieces at the end of

the game, whether home or on the board, or prisoners

as recruits not even entered ; and the end of the game

would be when one of the players has no more men to

play with.
It has been surmised, but on insufficient evidence or
consideration for the word scribo may be equally

understood to draw spaces or squares, as to draw lines

that the pieces were placed on the lines, not in the
for we may take it for granted that the
custom in each country would be maintained throughout.
Thus, in China, both the game of Chess and the
It is true that
of
Enclosing are played on lines.
game
in Japan they play Chess on squares, and their game
of Enclosing on lines but the latter game was not
We may
their own, but was borrowed from China.
and
that
the
Greeks
Romans
therefore feel assured

squares

game as the Egyptians played it. Now

it is evident from Queen Hatasu's Tau- board that the
game was played on the squares, and it is evident from
the Roman gem at the end of the article on the game
of Senat that that game was played on the squares
and it is evident again from the painting of the game
of Han, that that game also was played on the squares.
But independently of this analogy, it is certain that
would play

this

this

game was played on the

spaces, from all these

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

99

Egyptian boards having the hieroglyphics or numbers

painted on the squares, and not on the lines and still
more conclusively by Dr. Abbot's board having the
cells sunk in order to hold the
pieces and if we accept
;

these boards as representing, and being identical with

the Greek and Roman games, then all doubt is at an
end for the " duodecim " of the latter is represented
by the twelve squares of the former.
;

We will now give an example of the game, which we

think will show that it is a very exciting game, exhibiting great changes of fortune, and sometimes ending
with one player having

all

the eight pieces.

The

which the pieces are often taken

unexpected way
up, or removed from the Sacred Way, accompanied by
the expression, <c/vetv TOV aty iepas, I remove this from the
Sacred (Way) passed into a pro verb just as we should
in

speak of anyone being

"removed from the stage of

life."

In the score of the following game the squares on

1, 2, 3 and 4 are lettered A, B, c and D ; and
the Sacred Way numbered from 1
12.
the sides

GAME.
(A

tf)

i
White.

Black.

Blaclc.

D A

189

B
B

2 -

2 -

A
A

4
3

B A

1344
4488

58

Theoc. Id.

White.

j<*

3 3

3 3

1344

Out

are 6 to 2 in favour of Black.

Kal rbv oirb ypa^nfjs Kti/et \iOov.

246
167

The odds now

1

45
D

vi.

224
1

A
A

134
4

THE GAME OP THE SACRED WAY.

100

c:

Black.
7

10

1011
11

C
C

A
A
C

A
8

911
1112

.*

THE GAME OF THE SACRED WAY.

The game at

the back,

101

of three by ten squares.

merely a variety of the same game. The

central line is still the Sacred Way but as each player
has ten pieces instead of four, and the game thereby
This

is

lengthened, the Sacred

The

Way

is

made

to correspond.

then between the two games would be,

that they chose either the short game or the long
game, according as they had a shorter or a longer time
difference

to play in ; or, if there was no option of playing in

this game, they preferred a game more entirely of
chance.
And this accords with what we have seen in

the game of Senat, and its modern name of Seega, in

which larger or smaller boards were used, as they were
disposed to give more or less time for their amusement.
The nefer or nefers merely mark, as in Queen Hatasu's

Taw-board, or the Ludus Latrunculorum, a division in

the board, and confine the entries of new men or
>risoners to the squares 1 to 4.

VIII.
8

_
THE GAME OF ATEP
A

fl^iJ

DACTYLON EPALLAGE (Finger-changing)

MICATIO, MICARE, DIGITIS

MORA

MIRARE

THE GREEK GAME.

THE ROMAN GAME.

THE ITALIAN GAME.

is another game invented by the Egyptians,

down to modern times. We have shown
handed
and

This

that the double group of Benihassan (p. 44), represents

two different games, the Senat and the Tau so here
:

One group
there are two varieties of the same game.
represents two women playing the double game, in
which both players throw out their fingers at the
same time, and each guesses the other represents two
men playing the single game, when one throws out
;

The illustration
his fingers while the other guesses.
is from Sir Gardner Wilkinson ; but unfortunately,
although he states it is from Thebes, he does not tell
us whether he took it from any other author, or

whether he copied it from the monument itself. The

women will be distinguished by their hair, by their

THE GAME OF ATEP.

104
faces,

by their

more

delicate bodies

tunics,

and by their smaller stature, and

the men simply wear drawers.
;

man with

It will be observed that the attitude of the

folded arms

is

that of the two

similar to

exactly
game of Han

that
(p. 83) thus showing
he is merely guessing, and not operating with his fingers.
The vase in the middle shows that in each case they
are playing for stakes and thus confirms our conjecture
spectators of the

We

Han.

cannot say
whether an inscription exists above the groups but
Champollion gives us several other groups from Beni-

relative to

the

game

of the

hassan, accompanied with inscriptions from which we

some fresh particulars of the game as practised
by the Egyptians. In one group we have, written
" Let it be said" or as we
over the group, the words,
might say guess ; or how many ?
;

learn

In two other groups we have the name of the game,

ATP. In one a player who is operating with one
hand, conceals it behind the palm of the other which

he places on the forehead of the other player, to prevent

and
his seeing how many fingers he is stretching out
:

The

translation of these inscriptions has been kindly given

me by

Mr. Kenouf.

THE GAME OF ATEP.

105

on his making a guess, withdraws his hand. The

inscription is, "Putting the Atep on the forehead."

In the other the fingers are concealed as before in

the palm of the other hand, and then placed on or
under the opponent's hand and the inscription is,
:

"Putting the Atep on (or under) the hand." Unfortuso we

nately, the hand in this case is destroyed
cannot see how it was placed.
:

THE GAME OF ATEP.

106

In another group we have the two players seated

back to back so that they cannot see how many fingers
In this case a third
their opponent stretches out.
;

party would watch the game, and declare the odds.

~3

Another group exhibits a player prostrate on the

ground on his hands and knees, while two other players
thump him with the fleshy part of their fists. In this
case the game is not played for stakes, but is played for
forfeits.

player

The
for

evidently a defeated
clenched with the thumb

prostrate figure

his

hand

is

is

extended, exactly similar to the hands of the other

1
players, and to those of other groups.
1

Dr. Birch, however, gave

different

interpretation

of

this

group

the

He says,
inscription over which however, Aa wa em aSja, he could not explain.
"
Analogous to the game of Odd and Even was one in which two of the players
number of shells or dice in their closed hands, over a third person who
knelt between them, with his face towards the ground, and who was obliged to
guess the combined number ere he could be released from this position ; unless,
held a

indeed,

it

be the Kollabismos of the Greeks (Pollux, Onom.

ix, 7),

in which one

person covered his eyes, and guessed which of the other players struck him.
Note to Sir Oard. Wilkinson, vol. ii, 59.
"

The men that held

It was possibly from their thinking of this last game that
Jesus blindfolded him, and struck him on the face, and blasphemously asked Him,
"
Luke xxii, 64.
saying, prophesy, who is it that smote Thee ?

THE GAME OF ATEP.

As the Thebes painting shows, the game was not

fined to men.

107

con-

In the accompanying playful illustration

THE GAME OF ATEP.

108

we

see

two young Egyptian

with the

enjoying the game

They stand upon a

girls

animation.

greatest

vase, to denote that they are competing for a prize.

The vase is chequered to show that, like the chequered

boards of

Tau and

the whole

Senat,

it is

game

of pleasure

and

surrounded by a purse with an outside

pouch, in which to carry off the prize. It was, with
the game of the Sacred Way, already described, found
in the tomb of Ak-Hor.
is

In the Greek game another feature

A long

rod

.is

held

by

ea,ch

is

observable.

player in the left hand,

while the game is played with the right hand. It

2
appears from the following beautiful vase painting that
the rod was pulled away by the winning side from the
opponent's hold. Possibly the rod was numbered with
divisions, and the finger was advanced or withdrawn

one mark or number at each correct guess or bad guess,

as the case might be.
If so, the lady on the right is
evidently winning for she is seated securely on her
vase, and holds the rod firmly, and has a considerable
length of it behind her.
cupid floats in the air
above, holding a tsenia or fillet, and having his head
:

adorned with a myrtle wreath

and a female most
attired
stands
behind
with a corona
the
winner
richly
;

or wreath
prize.

her rich attire showing the value of the

are indicative of stakes as usual ;

The two vases

though the

ladies appear to be playing for love or

honour.

Another beautiful vase painting represents a lady,

possibly the same lady, richly apparelled, reclining on
a rustic couch. She is evidently a celebrated player in
1

Mariette Bey, Monts. divers, 1872, p. 51.

Inst. Archeologico di Roma, Auncdi, 1866,

p.

326.

O
K
W 6
H X
Z P
< z

THE GAME OF ATEP.

109

decorated with a chaplet, and

a cupid is flying towards her about to crown her with
a wreath, which is drawn in perspective so as to fit the
In front of her is a cupid sitting on a rock,
head.
the

game

for

her hair

is

with wings extended on each side of him and facing

him is another cupid holding a wreath while behind
the lady is a group of Eros and Anteros playing the
They each hold the rod firmly with the left
game.'
;

Their
showing that their forces are equal.
that
as
this
are
to
teach
us
faces
and
smiling
placid
lady played, gentleness and sweetness should always
be present at games of play.
They are crowned with
myrtle, and are sitting on rustic seats in imitation of

hand

the feet of animals, covered with their clothes.

Another example, given in the Annali? represents an
old

man

playing the

game with a woman.

The man

is

standing, supporting himself with a staff; the object

of the artist apparently being to show that old age,

with failing eyes, dull perception, and stiff fingers, has

no chance at such a game, against a woman's quick eye,
or the activity of youth.

All three paintings are in

red on a black ground.

The

Mora

is thus described
by Mr.
combined
with
chance,
skill, still
common in the south of Italy, where it now goes by the
name of Mora. (Varro, ap. non. s.v. p. 547. Suet.

Rich

Italian
"

game
game of

of

Aug. 13, Calpurn. Eel. ii, 26). It is played by two

Both hold up their
persons in the following manner.
right hands

with the fist closed they then simultaneously extend a certain number of their fingers,
calling out at the same time by guess-work the collective
1

Dubois de Maisonneuve, Introduction d

Inst. Archeol., p. 327.

I'etude det Vases, 1817, p. xliv.

THE GAME Of ATEP.

110

number extended by the two

together,

and he who

succeeds in hitting on the right number wins the game.

If neither succeeds in guessing right, they

again close their hands, cry out a number, and open

the fingers, until one of them calls the right amount.

What appears to be so simple is most difficult to

execute with any chance of success, and requires more
and calculation than a person, who had not himself
made the experiment, would imagine. Each player has
first to settle in his own mind how many fingers he
then to surmise how many his opponent is
will show
to
put up, which he does by observing his usual
likely
style of play, by remembering the numbers he last called,
and those he last showed he then adds these to his
own, and calls the collective numbers, thus endeavouring
to make the number he calls.
But as all this, which
takes so much time in narrating, is actually done with
the greatest rapidity, the hands, being opened and
closed, and the numbers simultaneously called as fast
as one can pronounce them
it
eight, two, six, ten
readiness
of
and
decision
of
intellect,
requires great
a
to
have
for
player
any chance of winning
purpose,
as well as a quick eye and acute observation, to see in
a moment the aggregate number of fingers shown, so
as not to overlook his own success nor, on the other
hand, suffer himself to be imposed upon by a more
astute opponent whence the Romans characterized a
person of exceeding probity and honour, by saying that
skill

one might play at Mora with him in the dark

in tenebris mices.

Cic. Off.

quicum
Although Micatio, or Micare,

is

iii,

dignus,

the latin name,

1
Anthony Rich, Junr. B. A. The Illustrated Companion
and Greek Lexicon. Lond. 1849, s.v. Micatio.
,

19."

to the

it

Latin Dictionary,

THE GAME OP ATEP.

Ill

evident from the accompanying gem, published by

Ch. Lenormant, in his Tresor Numismatique de 1834, 1

is

an ancient name. 2 M.
Lenormant fancied the marks on the left indicate a
vase on the top of a column, in which the stakes were
that the

name Mora was

also

held.

Art. Iconographie des Empereurs Remains,

See also Calpurnius, Edog. ii, 25.

pi. x,

med.

4.

INDIAN CHESS-BOARD.

CHESS.
The laws of European Chess

are so well

known, that

we will
quite unnecessary to give the rules
therefore proceed to describe the rules and peculiarities
it is

of several of the oriental games, such as the Chatu-

Chess, Chinese Chess, Japanese

But before doing so, it is necessary,
Chess, and others.
in order to note the games, to give a system of notation
ranga, Tamerlane's

adapted to all such games and we think that this

system, from its simplicity, must eventually succeed
the one in present use.
;

The chess-board from which the photograph is taken,

was purchased at a pawnbroker's shop, so I cannot tell
where it came from. It is of a light-coloured wood,
wood, but being of this colour it unfortunately
dark
appears
by photography but nevertheless on
examining it, it will be seen to be of exquisite carving,
and having no two squares alike. One of the cells

like satin

represents a miniature chess-board.

IX.

CHESS NOTATION,
The

established system of chess notation

the following objections.

Each

piece

is liable

to

is

distinguished
according to whether it is on the King's or the Queen's
side ; and the squares are reckoned sometimes from

your own
side.

side,

and sometimes from your opponent's

Two men may

thus be in two adjoining squares,

but instead of being distinguished by two consecutive

numbers, one may be termed King's Bishop's 2, and
the other King's Knight's 7, designations which to the
uninitiated would

imply no idea of propinquity.

would therefore suggest the following system.

17

117

CHESS NOTATION.

The Notation to proceed from one side only. The

first or back row to be distinguished
by decimal
in front of
as
&c.
The
columns
numbers,
10, 20, 30,
this row to be distinguished by units, as 1, 2, 3, &c.
Thus in the ordinary chess-board, the first row would
consist of numbers 10 to 80, and the columns above
them of 1 to 7. According to this method the four
middle squares would be described as 43, 44, 53 and 54,
and so with any others, and thus, instead of scoring
K's. B's. 2, and K's. Kt's. 7; we should write 61 and 71.
In order to score a game with

celerity,

I use the

following signs or ciphers.

O = King, as representing universal dominion, or the Sun;

and indeed the Japanese sign

= Queen, the Moon,

= Bishop, or the
=
2
head,
Knight,
D = Rukh, a
= Pawn, a
man standing on
v/ = Check.

for King.

or

([

Cross.

-f-

or horse's

castle or tower.

J_

single

In Tamerlane's chess we have

a base.

castles of three powers.

D = Greatest power which we

S = Middle
= Least

will call the

Rukh.
Castle.

EB

Vizir.

Bishops of three powers.

([
Pherz, the Queen, moving only one square at a time.

=
T =A

piece

we

will call

lame Bishop, moving or leaping

if on a crutch.

always two squares at a time, as

-f-

= Bishop.

And Knights of three powers.

2
Knight, same as our Knight
$c

=
=
=

his horse's head.

Chevalier, moving one diagonal and two straight

squares,

showing his spur.

moving one diagonal and any number straight,

showing his lance and shield.

Cavalier,

118

CHESS NOTATION.

In Chinese chess the only extra pieces are

The Cannon, representing the wheels of a gun

=
G = Guards,

carriage.

or Mandarins.

In Japanese chess the names and moves of the pieces are so peculiar,
that

we must

*** Thus

leave
it

them

till

we come

to speak of the

itself.

will be seen that these signs are not arbitrary or

irrelevant signs, but signs significant of the pieces'

thus, with these signs,

of the piece.

game

we not

only remember the

movements

name but

and

the power

X.

CHATURANGA.
INDIAN CHESS.

Sir William Jones, Asiatic Researches, Vol.

ii.

1788

Captain Hiram Cox,

vii.

1799

,,

Duncan Forbes, History of Chess

Antonius Van der Linde, Geschichte und Litteratur

1860

Professor

Schaclispieles

des

1874

The photograph represents an Indian set, which I

was fortunate to find in London. I have never met an
Indian who played Chaturanga, so cannot say whether
the

game

is still

four kings,

played.

It will

be seen that

and boats instead of bishops.

it

has

The red

pieces appear black in photograghy.

The LudusLatrunculorum, the progenitor of draughts,

has been shown to have had its origin long before the
time of Moses. The various games of oriental chess
pretend to a like antiquity. The Chaturanga, the
progenitor of chess, was supposed to go back to a period,
according to Sir William Jones, of 3900 years, while
Professor Forbes put it at " between three and four
thousand years before the sixth century of our era," i.e.,
upwards of four or five thousand years ago. Like the
fables of other countries

which attribute the invention

of chess to a time of war, the Chaturanga is said to

have been invented by the wife of Havana, King of

Ceylon,

Rama.

when

his

capital,

Lanka, was besieged by

120

CHATURANGA.

This pretended antiquity has been set aside by

critics.
The earliest description of the game
1

recent

found in the Bhavishya Parana

is

and Dr, Van

der Linde asserts that some of the Puranas, though

formerly considered to be extremely old, are held, in

the light of modern research, to reach no further back

in reality than the tenth century
while, moreover,
;

the copies of the. Bhavishya Purana which are in the

British Museum and Berlin do not contain the extract
relied

2
upon by Professor Forbes.

Herr Van der Linde

ascribes the invention of chess to the eighth century.

But admitting the judgment of Sanscrit scholars that

the Bhavishya Puranas are not of the great antiquity

which was supposed, and admitting, if need be, that

the copy in which this description of the game is given

was written later than the others, it is evident that
the account must have been taken from some ancient
record or tradition, and its antiquity

may

be greater

is now supposed.
The very fact of its referring
to the mythical and not historic characters of Yudhishthira and Vyasa, Mahadeva and Parvati, Draupadi,
Dhritarashtra, and Shakuni as the Egyptian game, as

than

we have

seen, is associated with Isis the wife of Osiris

would denote an antiquity beyond record. Mahadeva

and Parvati are represented as " playing with dice at
the ancient

game

of Chaturanga,

when they disputed

A later description by Alberuni has been recently discovered, which will be

given at the end of this article. He lived in 1000 A.D.
2 "
The best original account of this very ancient game to which we have yet
1

obtained access, is to be found in the Sanskrit Encyc. SJiabda-Kalpa-Druma,

published at Calcutta within the last twenty years (i.e. after 1840) in seven vols.,
4 (in Vol. i. under art. " Chaturanga"), also in a work published at Serampore
in two Vols., 8vo., 1834, entitled Raghu-Nandana-Tatwa, or Institutes of the

Hindu
p. 13.

Religion, &c.,

by Raghu-Nandana

There have been

(see Vol.

later editions since.

i,

88).

Forbes, Hist, of Chess,

121

CHATURANGA.

and parted

in wrath."

Mahadeva

is

the Siva of the

Brahma, Vishnu and Siva and ParTrinity

Dice naturally
or Durga, or Kali, was his wife.
earlier than chess, and were used by the Hindoos
very early age, and the habit of gambling was
prevalent, and was sanctioned by the Shastra.
we find in the Mahabharata the story of Nala and

Hindu
vata,

were
at a

very

Thus

Damayanti, beginning with the fearful gambling by

which he lost his Kingdom, and everything except his
wife

Lived of yore a Kaja Nala, Virasena's mighty son,

Gifted he with every virtue, beauteous, skilled in taming

Head

of all the kings of mortals, like the

Over, over

all

Monarch

exalted, in his splendour like the

sun

Loving

Who

to Nala,

He who
He who

with

rightly

Holy, deep read in the Vedas, in Nishada lord of earth

dice, of truth unblemished, chieftain of a

steeds,

of the gods

mighty

all virtue, rich endowed would not

knows each duty, he who ever rightly

host.

incline

acts,

reads the whole four Vedas, the Purana too, the fifth.
In his palace with pure offerings, ever are the gods adored
Gentle to all living creatures, true in word, and strict in vow ;
:

Good and constant

His are

Then

all

he, and generous, holy temperate, patient, pure

those virtues ever, equal to earth guarding gods.

follows a description of his bride

In her court shone Bhima's daughter, decked with every ornament,

Mid her maidens like the lightning, shone she with her faultless

form

Like the long-eyed queen of beauty, without rival, without peer.

Never did the gods immortal, never mid the Yaksha race,

Nor 'mong men was maid so lovely, ever heard of, ever seen.
Pearl art thou among all women, Nala is the pride of men:
If the peerless wed the peerless, blessed must the union be.
1

Lieut. Welford, Asiatic Researches)

iii,

402.

CHATURANGA.

122

disappointed lover

now vows vengeance

Kali with his dark

ally

Haunted they the stately palace, where Nishada's monarch ruled,

Watching still the fatal instant, in Nishada long they dwelt.
Twelve long years had passed ere Kali saw that fatal instant come,
Nala, after act unseemly, the ablution half performed,
Prayed at eve with feet unwashen.

Kali seized the fatal hour

Into Nala straight he entered, and possessed his inmost soul.

Pushkara by Kali summoned, "come, with Nala play at dice

" Ever in the

gainful hazard, by

"E'en the kingdom

subtle aid thou'lt win,

my

of Nishada, e'en

from Nala

all his

realm."

Pushkara, the hero-slayer, to King Nala standing near

"
"
Play me with the dice, my brother ? thus again, again he said.
Long the lofty-minded Rajah that bold challenge might not brook.
:

In Vidarbha's princess' presence, seemed he now the time to play,

For his wealth, his golden treasures, for his chariots, for his robes.
These possessed by Kali, Nala in the game was worsted still.
He with love of gaming maddened, of his faithful friends not one
arrest the desperate frenzy of the

Might

Pushkara and Nala,

Thus

of

Many

a weary

month

still

it lasted,

conqueror of his foes

went on the

and

still

fatal play,

lost the

king of men.

As by Pushkara is worsted, ever more and more the king,

More and more the fatal frenzy maddens in his heart for play.
Scarce Varshneya had departed,
Till to

Pushkara

his

kingdom,

still

all

the

King

of

men

played on,

that he possessed was

lost.

Nala
kingdom, smiling Pushkara bespake
" Throw me
another
hazard, Nala, what is now thy stake
yet
" There remains
thy Damayanti, all thou hast beside is mine
then, despoiled of

"

Throw we now

Story of

Nala

Miliuau.

Damayanti, come, once more the hazard

for

an episode of the Maha-bharata.

of Sanscrit at Haileybury

metrically translated

8vo., Oxford, 1860.

By Monier Williams,

;
1

try."

Professor

by the Very Rev. Dean H. H.

123

CHATURANGA.

The overture was rejected with disdain and Nala

and Damayanti then enter the forest, with only one
garment between them, and their adventures begin,
which I hope terminated happily but I had not time
to read more so they may be still in the forest, for
what I know.
The story of Yudhishthira, the hero of this game, is
very similar. He loses his kingdom by dice, and last
of all his wife.
On their being given back to him he
and they retire to the forest.
loses all again at chess
;

"

Yudhisht'hira

succession,

all

first

lost

all

his

estates

then in

the riches in his treasury, his four

and his wife Droupudee. When Droupudee

was brought to be given up to Dooryodhunu, he ordered
her to sit on his knee, which she refused to do he
brothers,

then seized her by her clothes, but she left her clothes
in his hands
and as often as he stripped her, she was
;

At length Dhritu-rashtru,
miraculously clothed again.
the father of Dooryodhunu, was so pleased with
Droopudee, that he told her to ask what she would,
and he would grant it. She first asked for her
husband's kingdom, this was granted and she was
;

permitted to ask for other blessings,

till

all

that her

husband had lost was restored. Yoodhisht'hiru again

encounters Shukunee at chese, and again loses all.
After this Droopudee and her five husbands enter the
forest" (her husband, and his four brothers).
All these names, whether relating to the gods, or
1

It is evident therehistory, or legends, are mythical.

fore that those who have described this game must

have been
1

satisfied that its origin

William Ward.

Hindoos.

was

lost in the
ages

View of the History, Literature > and Mythology of the

4 Vols., Lond., 1820.

Vol. iv, 433.

CHATURANGA.

124

But if
of antiquity.
time of Yudhishthira

we cannot

date

down from the

and Vyasa, we can at least date

upward from the time when the more modern game of
Now we are told by Professor
Shatranj was played.
Forbes that Masoudi,

who lived about 950 A.D., says that

Shatranj was played long before

Abul Abbas,
wrote a treatise on

his time.

who

lived about a century earlier,

chess
and the celebrated poet Firdausi,
;

and wrote

who

flourished

Shahnama, or book
of kings, a poem of 120,000 verses, founded on the
Bastan-nama, or book of antiquity, gives an account of
the introduction of the game into Persia by an ambasin the tenth century,

his

sador of a Prince of India supposed to live about four

hundred and fifty years before the time of Firdausi. l

Whatever

whether of an earlier or later

antiquity, Chaturanga was from the very beginning a
game of war. The king and his ally went to battle
with a hostile king and his ally. These forces were
its origin,

naturally placed opposite to each other, each Rajah

occupied a central position, and had next to him his
2

elephants, then his horsemen, and lastly his ships;

while his foot soldiers stood in front. The name

Chaturanga

signifies these four divisions of the

Chaturanga would

army.

also apply to the four armies, the red,

the green, the yellow, and the black.

The following is the description of the game as given
in the Bhavishya Purana. a portion of the great poem
1

Hist,

The

of Chess.

Bhips played an important part in the conquest of Cyprus, when the game
supposed to have been invented ; and Professor Forbes points out that the

was

is used in the Punjab, in the plains occasionally flooded by the Gauges.

In the Amarakosha, where Nauka, the ship, had given place to Ratha, the
"
"
is called

boat
8

chariot, the

game

Hasti-aswa-ratha-padatam,"

and infantry," Captain Hiram Cox.

common appellation of the game.

It

is difficult

elephant, horse, chariot,

to believe that this could be a

125

CHATURANGA.

Mahabharata, translations of which are given by Sir

William Jones, Professor Forbes, and later by Antonius
Van der Linde, who in his exhaustive history and
of chess not only gives us a
the eminent Sanscrit scholar of Berlin,

literature of the

translation

Dr.

game

by
Weber, but appends the Sanscrit

Roman

character.

It is from this

the

itself in

German rendering

that I have endeavoured to offer the following translation, making such alterations as I considered necessary

from the requirements of the game, consistent with the

form of poetry, so as to
original, and putting it in the
correspond better line by line with the original Sanscrit,
and thus give it a more exact and picturesque appearance.

It will be observed that the

Whether they have

verses are not all consecutive.

the original it is difficult to say but

will be seen that they follow naturally in the

been dislocated
I think

it

in

order which I have assigned them.

Yudhishthira having heard of the
ranga, applied to

Vyasa

Explain,
Tell me,

On

it,

game on the

eight-

my Master, how

the Chaturanga

Vyasa replied
2

of Chatu-

supereminent in virtue, the

times- eight board

game

for instructions concerning

Yudhishthira said
1

numbers of the

may be

played.

a board of eight squares place the red forces in front,

to the right, the yellow at the back, and the black

The green

to the left.
3

To the

left of the Kajah,

Prince, place the Elephant, then
the Horse,
Then the Ship; and then four foot-soldiers in front.

I am indebted to my friend Mr. Bendall, the Professor of Sanscrit in

Universal College, London, for great assistance in the more difficult
passages,
though it would be wrong to make him accountable for any mistakes which I may
1

have made.

126

CBATURANGA.
Son

4 Opposite, place the Ship in the angle,

Horse in the second square,

The Elephant
5

In front

in the third, and the

6 If three, the

Horse

if

in

any

five,

the Elephant

Prince, the Ship

two, then,

The Eajah moves one square

On throwing

if four,

in the fourth.

Eajah

of each place a foot-soldier.

Play a foot-soldier or the Eajah

of Kunti: 1 the

must move.

direction.

7 Thefoot-soldiermovesonesquareforwards, and takes diagonally;

The Elephant can move at will north, south, east, or west.
8

10

The Horse moves awry, crossing three squares

The Ship moves diagonally, two squares at a time,
The

foot-soldier

at a time

Yudhishthira.

and the ship may take; or run the

Yudhishthira

2
;

risk,

The Eajah, Elephant and Horse may take

but must avoid

being taken.
1 1

A player should guard

The Eajah,

12

Prince,

his forces with all possible care.

the most powerful of all.

is

The most powerful may be lost,

As

are not protected.

the Eajah's chief piece
sacrificed to save

is

if

the elephant

For
37 But

if

Then,

all

others

must be

it

can be taken by another

Prince,

that,

son of Kunti,

it.

36J Never place an elephant where

elephant

the weaker,

impossible to
Prince,

would be very dangerous.

make any

Gotama says

other move,
may be done.

it

38 If you can take both of the hostile elephants,

Take that to the left.

(The following,

Prince, are various positions

and

actions in

the game):

He

gives the mother's

We

two squares at a time, one diagonal and one straight or vice

but the Oriental way of looking at the move was like that of forked

versa

should

name Kunti

not the father's Pandu.

call it

lightning, one forward, one horizontal,

and one forward

again.

It might be supposed that the three squares include that from which the piece
started ; but this cannot be, for in the next line the ship is said to move two squares.

CHATUEA.NGA.

127

9 Sinhasana, Chaturaji, Nripakrishta, Shatpada,

Kakakashtha, Vrihannauka, Naiikakrishtapracaraka.

Sinhasana
14 If a

He

(A throne).

enters the square of another Eajah,

is said to have gained a Sinhasana.

Kajah

Yudhishthira,

when he

15 If,

Ho

gains the Sinhasana, he takes the Raja

stake otherwise a single one.
a
double
gains
:

16 If a Eajah,
Prince, mounts the throne of his ally,
He gains a Sinhasana, and commands both forces.

moves six squares away,

however secure he thinks himself.

17 If a Rajah, in seeking a Sinhasana,

He exposes himself to danger,

Chaturaji (The four Eajahs).

18 If

still preserve your Eajah, and take the other Eajahs,

obtain Chaturaji.

you

You

19 In gaining Chaturaji, and taking the other Eajahs,

You gain a double stake otherwise, a single one.
:

20 If a Eajah takes the other Eajahs on their

own

thrones,

His stakes are fourfold.

13

To enable the Eajah

to obtain Sinhasana or Chaturaji,

All other pieces, even the elephant,

may

be

sacrificed.

and a Chaturaji are obtained,

can be reckoned.

21 If both a Sinhasana

The

latter only

Nripakrishta (Exchange of prisoners).

22 If you have taken a Eajah, and your ally has lost one of

You may propose an exchange

23 But

if

his,

of prisoners.

you have neither of the other Eajahs, and your

ally

has

lost one,

You must

try to take one of the other Eajahs.

24 If a Eajah has been restored, and

thira,

He

cannot be again restored.

is

taken again,

Yudhish-

128

CHATURANGA.
Shatpada (six squares' move).

25

When
He

a foot-soldier reaches an opposite square, other than of

the Eajah or Ship,
assumes the rank of the piece corresponding to such square.

27 If the Shatpada is reached on the square of the Eajah or Ship,

It has not the privilege of a Shatpada.
28

When

son of Kunti,

He

moves, gains the seventh

many

square,
defenceless forces on the opposite Hide can easily be taken.

The
29

a foot-soldier, after

the player, however, has three foot-soldiers

if

remaining,
cannot take his Shatpada.

30 But

if

he have only one

So decrees Gotama.

foot-soldier

and a Ship, the piece

is

called Gadha,

And he may

take his Shatpada in any square he can.

26 If Chaturaji and Shatpada,

Prince, are both obtainable,
-will
have
the
Chaturaji
preference.
Naukakrishta (the Ships' move)
Vrihannauka (the great Ship).

35

When

three Ships come together, and the fourth Ship completes

the square,
The fourth Ship takes all the other three Ships.

36 This fourth Ship

called Vrihannauka.

is

KakaJcasMJia.

a Rajah has lost all his pieces before being taken,

Kakakashtha,
So decide all the Eakshasahs. It is a drawn game.

it is

32 If the Gadha, on gaining the Shatpada, and becoming a

fifth

31 If

Eajah,

is

taken,

It is a misfortune

for the pieces

which remain

will

have to

fight the enemy.

33 If this happens a second time,

The conqueror then sweeps off
34 But

if,

Prince,

all

the pieces.

Kakakashtha and Sinhasana occur together,

and is not called a Kakakashtha.

It is counted as a Sinhasana,

CHATUBANGA.

129

We

cannot suppose for one moment that the use of

dice, as described in verses 5 and 6, would continue to
be applied to every move when the game became fully
established.

The game, even

in the primary stage of

chess, exhibited in Chaturanga, is too ingenious to be

subject to a chance which would render inoperative the

most

brilliant

conceptions,

and by which the worst

player, having luck on his side, might defeat the most

skilful.
Indeed, by being obliged to move some other
Even
the
player might destroy his own game.
piece,

we were to suppose that dice were merely used for

the first move on either side, this will be found to be
if

attended with a

a difficulty for the solution

of which the description is not very clear ; for we are
"
If four be thrown, the Elephant must move/' but
told
difficulty,

the Elephant cannot move till an opening is made.

But we will consider this further on, when we discuss
the openings of the game, in the last paragraph of this
lescription of Chaturanga, p. 134.

As

to the stakes,

writers that chess

we

are told constantly

was played

by Oriental

for estates, for princi-

and even for wives and

and we find examples
in
the
)f this gambling
history of Yudhishthira and
others.
Gaming is an amusement of the most primitive races, and thus we find Mahadeva and Parvati
palities, for petty kingdoms,
children or other relatives ;

"

"

quarrelling over their dice; we read of

dice-loving
Nala, and we see Yudhishthira himself playing with
No wonder
dice before he had learnt to play at chess.

then that chess was at this earliest period connected

with stakes on certain contingencies happening and
;

even when Chaturanga gave place to Shatranj a stake

was still very frequently dependent on the issue of the

CHATURANGA.

30

As our

game.

game

itself,

business, however, is confined to the

in order to bring it into harmony with

other games of chess, we will lay aside Sinhasana,

Chaturaji, and all other stake-contingencies of the
game, to which so much importance is given in the

poem, and proceed now with the game

itself.

The Game.

Each player has a Eajah, an Elephant, a Horse, and

a Ship, and four foot-soldiers or, as we should term
them, a King, a Rnkh, a Knight, a Bishop, and four
Pawns.
;

The
The

partners' pieces occupy the opposite diagonals.

pieces are placed in the order of Ship, Horse,

Rukh, and Eajah, beginning from the

left corner.

In

front are the four soldiers.

The players play

alternately in the order of the sun,

red, green, yellow, and black, as described by Vyasa
but with two sets of ivory and box-wood chessmen the
;

would be red, buff, black and white the red

and black against buff and white. My Indian chessmen are seen in the photograph, and are remarkable
colours

as having ships or boats.

Although the allied forces
are not distinguished from each other in colour, they

known, like the Japanese chessmen, by the direction

in which they face.
The Rajah, the Elephant, and the Horse move as in
modern chess, the Ship always two squares diagonally,
are

hopping over an intermediate piece if necessary.

The Eajah was not checkmated in this early game
but is taken like any other piece. The Eajah may
remain in check, or may place himself in check, but at
;

CHATURANGA.

131

and before dying or being taken prisoner, may

slay any piece he can, either personally, or by any of
his men.

his peril

When

the Rajah

is slain

or taken prisoner, all his

be taken by the enemy, or

being leaderless, may

'*+- S***
(,-!
1
even by his ally it they stand in his way .^>u*/v
When a Eajah sees that his ally's forces are not

forces,

properly handled, or that the allied Rajah is about to

if he can, take his ally,

be taken by the enemy, he may,

either personally or by any of his men, and so obtain

This power of taking
sole direction of both armies.

a partner's Rajah has been misunderstood, and

posed to indicate a selfish Ishmaelitish principle,.
whereby each player would look at all the other /$-/4

prey

results

but

it

from consideration of the common

just as in military and naval action it is

and necessary that the united forces should be

one control.

When

a Rajah on each side has been taken prisoner,

such Rajahs may, by the consent of both parties, be
restored, each

Rajah being restored in the order of his

turn, and each Rajah choosing any unoccupied square,
such restoration to count as a move.
This exchange
of prisoners can only happen once.
If all the Rajah's pieces are taken, the Rajah
1

In the original this power seems to be given only to the last victor, and to
but independently of the unfairness of the second victor being

be compulsory

entitled to a greater privilege than the

llajahs,

when one has

lost all his forces,

first, and of an obligation to restore the

and the other none we must remember

game represented real war consequently, an exchange of prisoners would

only be by mutual consent. This exchange of prisoners has a slight resemblance
to the enrolling of prisoners in Japanese chess, for in each case the chances of the

that the

game may be

K2

equally his enemy, and his lawful /^fl'M't

will be seen from the above that

three players as

materially altered

by the sudden

irruption of an unexpected force.

iT'

132

CHATURANGA.

remaining alone, he retires with

It is a

the honours of war.

all

drawn game.

The Elephant being the most powerful

piece,

and

being so blocked in, it is expedient to get it out as soon

as possible, and to prevent the opponents getting out
theirs.

The

on different squares, can neither

attack nor support each other
but should the four
come
the
last
Ships
Ship takes the rival
together,
Ships, operating

Ships.

The

Foot-soldier

moves and takes

Pawn.

as our

When

two Foot-soldiers are taken, either of the

remaining may become an Elephant or a Horse, on
reaching the opposite side, according as it reaches the
square opposite the Elephant or Horse, or the Horse's

But
or the Elephant's square of the ally's quarters.
is
a
he
Ship,
only one Foot-soldier remains, and
called a Gadha, and is entitled to become a Rajah, an
if

Elephant, a Horse, or a Ship, according to the square

he reaches.

The game must

naturally, at first sight,

everyone as being very similar to the modern

strike

Double

But the resemblance is only outward there

Chess.
being only half the number of men, the board being of
only half the number of squares, there being no Queen,
and the Bishop being lame, all this constitutes a great
;

difference

in starting.

But

in addition to this, the

genius of Double Chess is to attack the last player,

hoping that the partner will follow up the attack, and

thus assist in the capture of a piece but in Chaturanga

the chief attention is given to the next player, to
;

paralyze his action.

Agreeably with this

is

the precept

CHATURANGA.

133

of Vyasa, v. 38, which, looked at by a player of Double

Chess, would seem to be a mistake.

a good game, and superior to Double Chess in

being more convenient for two players, owing to its

It
its

is

smaller size, and being a shorter game through having

only half the number of pieces but, like it, requiring
;

constantly a calculation of four moves

in

advance.

It will therefore naturally be regarded as a new game,

although older than any other game of chess. Unless

played by experts, when played by four the partners

on each side should be permitted to consult together,

although by so doing they reveal their plans: as otherwise the best player would find himself beaten, and his
pieces lost, through his partner not understanding his
tactics.
More especially should it be so in this game,

game of war, when the allied forces would

consult
and act together.
naturally
It will be seen at starting that the Rajah is in a
place of danger, while the Elephant is shut in and

it

being a

The

thing to do, therefore, is to get

out the Elephant, and to put the Rajah in a place of
Two ways of accomplishing this present themsafety.
powerless.

first

One

is to bring out,
say, the Red Rajah,
14
from
to
and
at
next move to bring
23,
diagonally
out the Elephant behind it from 15 to 13; and taking

selves.

the Rajah back again at next move to 14, But White

may prevent this, if not otherwise engaged, by moving
out his Foot-soldier 21 to 22, which would drive back

Red's Elephant before his Rajah could get behind it.

The other way is by moving the Foot-soldier from
25 to 35, and at next move to 45, when the Elephant
could come out.

made.

One

Two

other openings, however, may be

by Ship's Foot-soldier 27, being moved to

134

CHATURANGA.
which

Rajah coming out ; or the

Ship itself might come out and check Buff's Rajah
but this is not advisable, as it should be regarded as a
Reserved Force, to be used only at a critical moment.
37,

will prevent Buff's

The other by Horse's Pawn being moved from 26 to

and then bringing out the Horse
might be moved first.

36,

or the Horse itself

As, therefore, there are four openings, it is probable

that the throws of the dice on starting meant one of

pawn, and this seems

supported by the Rajah and its Pawn being mentioned
together for the first throw, v. 5. If this be so, we

the

principal

pieces,

or

its

should not only have a variety of openings in the game

we should get over the difficulty of the

at starting, but

Elephant not being able to move when four

is

thrown.

CHATURANGA.

135

CHATURANGA.

136

The Eed and Black Elephants form a very strong position each
Elephant being defended by its own Ship, and after Eed's next
move the White Eajah seems in a hopeless condition but though
:

relieved
victory.

Red.

by

his Elephant, the

Eed Ship

nearly robs

him

of his

CHATURANGA.
Red.

Black's

Black.

White.

5262
- 6272
2 8162
O 7282
+ 8062
O 8281

2 1534
D 5053
- 5373
/
2 3442
4263 /
D 7371 J_ /

Buff.

5655
_ 5554
_ 8584
- 5453
5362
O 5756
-

pawn

is

now
_

_L

a Gadha, but can do nothing.

8180
8070
J_ 6050
O 7080
+ 6284

5655

- 55

137

64

6473
7382
8272

_|_

7141
6342
2
D 4151
- 5171
2 4261

v/

Game.

This

game shows the power

,wri and
pawn

Horse's pawn.

GAME
Red.

of opening

IV.

by Elephant's

CHATURANGA.

138

The Red and Black Rajahs being in contiguous squares, Black

might take his ally's Rajah and so gain Sinhaaana, and have command
of hoth forces ; but it is not expedient to do so, as both would be lost.
Red.

4041
+ 5335

Buff.
_|_

v/

Black.

7756
J_ 6354 + /
5635 + / 2 6052
O 2625
j_ 6463
2524
2.35-47 /
2414
6535
D
_ 3536 J_
1415
5233
4785
2
2
J
D 3616 /
2

Game.

White.

Q 4354

JL

Q 1416 Q /
- 1617
17

27 j_

Q 5445
4554
5455

CHATURANGA.

139

Alberuni's description of Chaturanga.

He

name was Abu -Hainan Muhammad.

Alberuni's

was born at Khiva (Khwarizrn or Chorasmia) in 973,

and lived in Hyrcania, on the southern shore of the
Caspian Sea and dedicated his Description of India,
from which book this account is taken, about the year
;

1000, to the Prince of that country.

"In playing

chess, they

He

died in 1048.

move the Elephant

straight

on, not to the other sides, one square at a time, like

the pawn, and to the four corners also one square at a

time, like the

i.e.

squares
the corners

Queen (firzan). They say that these five

the one straight forward, and the others at
are the places occupied by the trunk and

four feet of the Elephant."

This does not in the least agree with the foregoing
description, and indeed seems to have been taken from

the Japanese game for Alberuni travelled about everywhere, and indeed the move he describes is that of the
;

Evidently therefore he was not a chessplayer, and this seems implied by what he himself

Japanese Ghin.

" I
will explain what I know of it."
It is probable however that many of his accounts were
collected from other travellers, and so became mixed

says immediately

together.
1

Alberuni's India,

By Edward

Triibner'a Oriental Series.

C. Sachau, Prof. R. Univ., Berlin, 2 vols.

8,

1888.

140
"

CHATURANGA.
chess, four persons at a time, with a pair
Their arrangement of the figures on the chessthe following

They play

of dice.

board

is

Elephant.

Pawn.

"

As

this

kind of chess

is

not

known

to us, I shall

here explain what I know of it.

" The four
persons playing together sit so as to form
a square round a chess-board, and throw the two dice
Of the numbers of the dice the five and
alternately.
In that case, if the dice show five or
six are blank.
instead of five, and four
six, the player takes one
instead of six, because the figures of these two numerals
are drawn in the following manner
:

4321

so as to exhibit a certain likeness of form to four

one
"
1

in the

and

Indian signs.

The name Shah

or

King

applies here to the Queen.

In the German or English translation the diagram

it from a tracing.
probably by taking
s What does the
good man mean ?

is

reversed by mistake,

,_.

<*#**

***

^^

CHATURANGA.
"

Each number of the

141

dice causes a

the figures.
"
The one moves either the

Their moves are the same

Pawn

as in the

The King may be taken, but

is

move
or

of one of

the King.

common

chess.

not required to leave

his place.

" The two moves the Tower.

It

moves

to the third

square in the direction of the diagonal, as the Elephant

moves in our chess.
"
The three moves the Horse. Its move is the

known

generally

one, to the third square in oblique

direction.

"The four moves the Elephant.

straight line, as the

Tower does

It

moves

in a

in our chess, unless

it

be prevented from moving on. If this be the case, as

sometimes happens, one of the dice removes the obstacle,

and enables

it

to

move

on.

Its smallest

move

is

one

square, the greatest fifteen squares, because the dice

sometimes show two fours, or two sixes, or a four and

In consequence of one of these numbers, the

Elephant moves along the whole side on the margin of

six.

the chess-board

in consequence of the other

moves along the other

number

side, on the other margin of

board, in case there is no impediment in its way.
consequence of these two numbers, the Elephant, in
course of his moves, occupies the two ends of

diagonal.
"

The

pieces

it

the

In
the
the

have certain values, according to which

the player gets his share of the stakes for the pieces
are taken, and pass into the hands of the player.
The
value of the King is five, that of the Elephant four, of
;

the Horse three, of the Tower two, and of the Pawn

one.
He who takes a King gets five, for two Kings

142

CHATURANGA.

he gets ten,

for three

fifteen, if

Kings

the winner

is

no

But .if he has

longer in possession of his own King.
his own King, and takes all three Kings, he gets
fifty-four, a number which represents a progression
still

based on general consent, not on an algebraic principle."

This account is interesting from being the only other

game handed down to us, but it is

wholly unintelligible. The King is said to be the
Queen The Elephant is first described as moving like
description of the

the Ghin in Japanese chess

and as representing the
four feet and trunk of the Elephant
afterwards as
"
"
having the move of our Rukh. Again, the Tower or
:

"

Rukh

"

has the

move

of the Oriental Elephant (our

but moving always two squares only and

finally, although stakes are mentioned in both descripPie evidently
tions, the accounts of them do not agree.
makes a mistake both in the names and the powers of
the pieces. The confusion arises from Alberuni not
Bishop),

understanding the game.

game played, or whether

But whether he saw the

was described to him by

it

somebody who played the game, the description he has

given us shows if such were the case, that about the
year 1000 A.D. the moves were directed by dice, and
the game was played for money unless indeed, as is
more probable, he borrowed the account from the
;

a,

1,

but did not thoroughly understand

183185.

it.

XL

CHINESE CHESS.
Triganthius,

De

Christiana Expeditione

apud Sinas

Purchas, His Pilgrimes

Samedo, Relatione della grand Monarchia della China
De la Loubere, Relatione du Royauine de Siam
Hyde, De Shahiludio Chinensium
Eyles Irwin, Trans. Eoy. Irish Academy
Hiram Cox, Asiatic Researches
Silberschmidt, Lehrbuch des Schachspieles

1610
1625

1643
1693
1694

1793
1801

1845

The Chinese game of Chess is said to have had its

origin about two hundred years before the time of our
Lord.
The usual story is given of the game being
1

In this case the

invented during
o
o a state of sie^e.
honour is given to Hong Cochu. king of Kiangnan, who
is said to have sent an army to invade the Shense

On the approach of winter his general Hancountry.

Sing invented the game in order to amuse his soldiers
and keep them together. When operations were
renewed in the spring the King of Shense was defeated,
and he killed himself in despair.

From one

names, Choke choo-liong-ki game

of the science of war
it is considered to have had its
of

its

and thus we find

origin in an imitation of actual war
in this game not only elephants, cavalry, infantry, and
war- chariots, but a fortress in which the king and his
:

counsellors are intrenched,

and from which they direct

operations a fortress belonging to the enemy, which

they have to storm, and a wide river between the two
;

"

Two hundred and

seventy-nine years after the time of Confucius."

144

CHINESE CHESS.

The
armies, which can only be crossed with difficulty.
be
to
unable
to
elephants, being supposed
cross, are
behind to protect the

left

field

against any of the

enemy who might get across and we see them moving

slowly and heavily up and down with measured tread.
And lastly, we have the introduction of artillery, in
;

the shape of a gun and a catapult, which send their

missiles over the. heads of intervening forces and indeed

The military character of the game

further seen by the king taking the command of his
forces, and calling himself general or governor, and his
two councillors acting as his lieutenants or guards.
across the river.

is

Next

to

on

these,

either

side,

are

then the cavalry and the war-chariots

the

elephants,

in the

wings,

while the artillery and infantry are placed in advance.

The river dividing the two forces is called Kia-ho, the
dividing river, and is supposed to be the Hoang-ho, or
the Yellow River, one of the great rivers of China,
which flows into the Yellow Sea, dividing China proper
from Manchouria and the Corea, a tributary of which

has

its

source in Shense.

The Chinese chess-board is only a paper board, which

can be folded up and carried with the chess-men, or a
new one can always be bought and thrown away when
the game is over. The Chinese game of Enclosing is
commonly played on a paper board, with a margin
One chess-board in
attached at top for making notes.
on
the river Fungmy possession has an inscription
also

chang-tso-ching
translated

"An

which may be
Ku-seu-po-Whei
amusing game for friendly meeting:
:

The chess-board consists of

Touch a piece, move it."
two halves, each of eight squares by four, which are
1

Prof. Douglas, British

Museum.

145

CHINESE CHESS.

separated from each other by a river, the width of

is equal to one
square, thus forming one move

which

the pawn, and half a move for the knight. The

pieces are placed, not in the centre of the squares, but
for

on the intersection of the lines

in a

row instead of

eight.

so there are nine

men

In the centre of each side,

the King or General, with a Guard on each side,

50,
40 and 60. They occupy the fortress, a square of nine
is

points,

having diagonal lines running through

it,

the

King moving along the perpendicular and horizontal

lines, and his Guards along the diagonal lines.
They
never quit the

but other pieces may enter, or

pass through it. Next to the Guards are the Elephants,
30 and 70, then the Horse, 20 and 80, and in the
corners the Chariots, 10 and 90.
In front of the Horse
fortress,

are the Guns, on the third line, 22

and 82

and on

the fourth line are five Soldiers, 13, 33, 53, 73 and 93.

The men are circular in form, and flat, like draughtmen, and have their names engraved on each side.
I have an
ivory set, and a wooden one in each case
;

the engraving of one player's men is filled with blue,

and that of the other's in red, but the colours cannot

be shown in the photograph. The red writing appears

black, and the blue inscription disappearing altogether

had

to

Some

be
of

again with ink and re-photographed.

corresponding pieces of the opposite

filled in

the

Thus the General of the

players have different names
blue becomes the Governor of the red the Elephant
.

of the blue the Assistant of the red

the blue the Cannon of the red

the Catapult of
;
and the Soldiers or

pawns of the different colours are written differently,

though pronounced alike. The following are the names
of the pieces

146

CHINESE CHESS.
Name.

Tsiang

General

Equivalent.

King

Guard

Mandarin
Ssu

Officer

Guard

Sign.

Sang

Elephant

Bishop

Ma

Horse

Knight

Tche

Chariot

Castle

Pao

Catapult

Cannon

Ping

Footsoldie

Pawn

CHINESE CHESS.

The red

147

pieces have the following distinctions:

Biff

Sen

Governor
(General)

Sang

Assistant

(Elephant)

Pao

Cannon
(Catapult)

Tsu

Footsoldier

The King's moves we have already described. The

game is won when the king is checkmated. Wo-te is
check, and Tsumda is checkmate.
The Elephants have the move of the ship in Chaturanga two squares diagonally but they cannot jump
:

over an intermediate piece, neither can they cross the

river.

The Horse has the move of our knight, but may not
jump over an intermediate piece; it may cross the
the river foiming one half of the knight's move.
L2

river,

148

CHINESE CHESS.

The Chariot moves

and may

as our rukh,

cross the

river.

The Catapult and Cannon move

like the Chariot,

move without jumping over

one piece but they cannot jump over two.
The Soldiers move and take one point at a time in a
except that they cannot
;

forward direction

they can cross the river, the river

one
move
when across they can move and
being
take either in a forward or a lateral direction: on reachinoO
the opposite end they can move and take only laterally.
;

itself

The Kings may not

face each other without inter-

He who moves away his only interbetween

the two kings, would place his
vening piece
own King in check by so doing.
The most characteristic piece of the game is evidently
vening pieces.

the Catapult or Cannon and as its move is so complicated it is at the same time most dangerous
in its
o
;

attack,

and yet constantly

never be

liable to capture.

without support, for

It should

then attacked it
For this reason great caution
is requisite in
moving into the enemy's field, relying
on
some
one of his pieces over which to vault at
solely
left

if

has no means of escape.

the next move

escape

is

for if this piece be

and

cut

moved 'the Cannon's

is inevitable.

its

off,
capture
the other hand, the King should be very watchful
against its attack for when the Cannon is opposed to

On

without any other piece intervening, it

check, and so cannot put any piece between.

it,

is

latent

The

prettiest checkmate is with two Cannons in

a line, in which case the second Cannon gives the

checkmate

and

if

the

enemy

insert another piece,

first Cannon would checkmate, should the Kino;

o
not be able to move away.

the

149

CHINESE CHESS.

This hidden power of the Cannons, and the character

they give to the game, makes them dangerous pieces
in the hands of a lady whose quick eye and ready wit

would enable her to take advantage of their power of

sudden and unexpected attack, and of the means of
Indeed owing to the lightness and
obviating it.
which
brilliancy
distinguish this game as compared
with the solidity and deep-thinking of ordinary Chess,
it

might with great propriety be designated Ladies'

Chess.
GAME.

I.

Red.

2797
2 8968
9737
3917
J_ 1615
G 4958
3734
- 3437
D 9997
J_ 5655
G 5849
3732

White.

2
<g>
_|_

-f-

<g)

<g)

_L

_L

2
J_
J_

2
2

<2>

Checkmate by the two Cannons

in

GAME

2799
9937
- 3733
- 3373
G 4958
7377
G 5849
2 2937

one

line.

II.

<g>

J_
J_

<g)

Checkmate by the two Cannons

8212
2032
1214
3334
1454 y
5451
5354
3253
5455
5155 _iV
5332
2252 Mate.

in one line.

8072
2032
8252
5254 /
5451
5156 J_ /
2252
5255 Mate.

CHINESE CHESS.
GAME

III.

Bed.

2797
9737
3733
_ 3373
7333
2 2948
G 4958
2 4856

White.

J_

JL

<g>

_
-

2292
9272
8252
8092
5256

J_

5651 /
5154 /
7279 +

Mate.

Checkmate from elephant's square.

GAME
2
(g)

D
2

G
2

_
G
_L

G
D

O
D

IV.

2948
8780 2
9998
8088
8968
6958
6889
8968
5847
5655 J_
4958
9897
5060
9767
6765 D

D 9091

8212
D 9181
- 8187
8757 /
_L 5354
D 5787
8785
J_ 5455
1252 /
D 8555 J.
5565 /
2262
- 5282
8289 Mate.
<g)

GAME

2797
2 8968
9737
+ 3917
j_ 1615
G 4958
- 5849
O 5958
5848

V.

<g>

2
<g)

_L
(g)

8212
2032
1214
3334
1454
5457
2252
5754
5212

CHINESE CHESS.
Red.
j_ 5655
+ 1739
3734
3437
2 6856
3797
9747

White
-

J_

<g)

5452
1242
5255
5552
5254
3244 /
4456 2
_|_

All moves, except four, by the cannon.

GAME VI.

<827

97

9737
_ 3733
3337
2 8977
+ 3957
D 9989
J_ 7675
2 2948
D 1929
- 2921
- 2171
- 7121
j_ 5655
2 7765
- 48

j_

+
<g)

D
<g)

JL

2
<g)

JL
J_

5G

<g)

5668
_ 6876 JL
G 4958
Q 6987 D

D
<g)

GAME
2
<g)

Attacks

8717
2948
8997
1737
2777
61

and

2292
9252
8061
3012
8232
9080
3272
5354
5455
7374
6142
5222
7475 J_
7576
8082
2252
5257 +
5752 /
8287
7279 +

VII.

2
<8

2292
9272
8252
2041
7274

37 threatens 30 \/ and then taking

10.

Mate.

152

CHINESE CHESS.

153

CHINESE CHESS.
White.

Red.

6847
4739 + v/
D 2027
3777 2
2 3918 D
D 2827 v/
- 2728
9092
9262 v/
- 2728
v/

O 5958

D 1918

O 5857
5767
6768
D 8987
5558
- 5898
- 9818
O 6858
1948
7597
+
-

<g>

<g)

/O)

<g)

<g)

48

12

72

D 2827
- 6267

9S

7279
D 2757
_ 5747
- 6757
4748

+ 9779
J_ 3635
O 5848
- 4858
5868

<g)

+
/
/

y
/

Game.

GAME
<g)

j_
<g)

2
-

D
<g>

+
2

D
-

D
G
2

2797
5655
9795
8968
9535
3575
1917
7572 2
3957
2948
9997
1727
6876 1
8767
2721
6958
7664
4869

IX.

8072
8252
D 9080
J_ 9394
+ 3012
J_ 5354
5255 J_
5552 v/
2272
_L 7374
- 7475
- 7576
_L
7277
7772
- 7279
+
- 7972
D 8089 v/
5257 +
2

<gl

<g)

154

CHINESE CHESS.

CHINESE

CHESS-BOARD.

XII.

JAPANESE CHESS.
SHIO-GHI

THE GENERAL'S GAME.

1840

Chinese Repository
Games with Natives

1872-1888

Shio-ghi is played chiefly by the intellectual classes

is the popular game, and Sugorochu, or Double-six,
;

Go
a

game

of chance,

Japanese Chess
in

having the

men

is

the favourite of the lower orders.

all

from

other games of chess

of one colour, and thus the same

differs

all

The
pieces serve for the player and his adversary.
of
of
wood
are
different
sizes,
punt-shaped pieces
pieces
lying flat upon the board, not upright, and slightly
inclined towards the front the direction of the point
;

determining to

whom

the piece belongs. Any piece

be entered by the adversary in any

taken up may
vacant place he chooses, and at any time he thinks
it desirable to enter it, such entry
constituting his

move.

The consequence

a double loss

that the loss of any piece is

for not only do you lose a piece, but
is

your adversary gains one whenever he is disposed to

make use of it. And another consequence is that
the

game can never be judged

by the appearance
can
be entered in at
pieces
any moment if you have taken prisoners which
may change the whole character of the game. Another
of the

board

for fresh

of

JAPANESE CHESS.

156

peculiarity is that the pieces gain increased power on

arriving at a certain portion of the board, or if a piece

be a conquered piece, and re-entered in this portion of

the board, it acquires this increased power after it has
made one move.
Consequently a conquered piece
frequently becomes more formidable than it was before.
Another peculiarity of the game consists in the board

being constantly covered with men for as soon as any

are taken off they can be replaced on the board.
But a still stranger peculiarity, if possible, is exhibited
:

in the fact that

w hile
T

the

game

is

begun with one

set

finished with another set.

Indeed,
while
with
a
a
that
possible
beginning
King, Hisha,
a Kaku, two Kins, two Gins, two Kas, two Yaris, and
of

men,

it

may be

it is

nine pawns, it may finish with a King, a Nari-Hisha,

a Nari-Kaku, and seventeen Kins on each side.

Like

all

character

other games of chess, it has a military

it is called the Game of War.
The King

General has at his side a gold commander, and a silver

commander, he has infantry and cavalry, and lancers
or spearmen, he has swift chariots, and reserved forces:
the prisoners are compelled to fight for their

for

conqueror.
any other

In one respect

it

resembles war more than

the general has not

merely to calculate the chances of the armies in the
field, but the contingency of other forces coming up.

game

The board

of chess, for

consists of a square of nine, or 81 cells,

which are of a slightly oblong form

for the greater

The pieces are

convenience of placing the pieces.
placed in the cells, not on the intersections as in
Chinese chess.

The

cells are all

of one colour.

The

portion of board containing the nine central cells has a

dot at the four corners, the use of which is to mark the

157

JAPANESE CHESS.

which form
seventh, eighth, and ninth rows of squares
that portion of the board on which pieces on arriving
acquire their increased power.
The following are the names and positions of the
It will be observed that the Yari and Hio
pieces.

or

Fu

are narrower in shape than the other pieces, to

distinguish their perpendicular

Names
la print.

movement.

of the pieces.
Pronunciation.

Equivalent. Sign.

Translation.

King

or

Hisha

Kaku

Nari

Dragon
King

Flying

Hisha Chariot

Nari Diagonal

Castlt

Dragon

Kaku Moving

Kin

King

General

Sho

Horse Bishop

Gold

Kin

General

The maker's name is often written at the bottom of the King.

The chariot in Chinese chess also, Tcke, is the_castle.

In this set

it is

Shei-Sei.

JAPAiNESE CHESS.

158

In print.

Pronunciation.

Equivalent. S

Translation.

Ghin

Kin

Silver

General

Ka
Ma

Kin

Yari

Horfc

Kin

Ghin

Kin

Knight

Kin

Yari

Kin

Pawn

Spear.

Kin

or

Kioshia

Fragrant
Chariot

Fu
Kin

or

Foot
Soldier

Hio

These names are written differently by different

writers, and at different times, so the writing does not
always agree. I have three sets, but only one table,
which is shown in the photograph, and this suits the
This table is only 5f by 6J ins. square,
smallest set.

and 3^ high

my

largest set has only a yellow paper

with the squares printed on

measuring 10

by 12^
somewhat elongated in order to
The pieces here represented are of
contain the pieces.
the middle size, and they also had originally only a
The nine squares
folded paper board inside the box.
for the squares are

it,

159

JAPANESE CHESS.

in the centre are distinguished by round points at the

four angles, so as to mark the line of increased power.

0, the King, written king general, stands in the

He moves one square in any
centre of first row.
and loses the game when checkmated.
direction
;

Check is called
mate is Tsumu,

O-te, check to the king

or

Tsumda,

and check-

finished.

Kin, written Kin-sho, gold general, stands on either

side of the King, and moves one square in any direction,
except the two back diagonals.

Gin (pronounced Gliin], written Gin-sho, silver

general, stands on each side next to the Kin, and
moves one square in every direction, except sideways
and backwards.
Ka-Ma, a horse, stands next to the Gin, and has a
1

knight's move, but only forwards.

occupies the extreme ends, and

moves any number of squares, perpendicularly only.
Hislia, flying chariot, stands in front of the rightYari,

spearman,

hand Ka, and has the move of our

Kaku, diagonal-moving, stands
hand Ka, and has the move of our

rook.
in front of the left-

bishop.

Hio, or Fu, soldier. These, nine in number, occupy

the third row, and move and take one square forwards
only.

The King, and the Gold General hold

but

their full

the

other pieces look forward to

promotion immediately on entering the enemy's camp,
which comprises the three furthest lines of squares.

honours,

all

The Gin, the Ka-Ma, the

can

all

Yari,
attain the rank of Kin.

The Hisha, now

1

Ma

is

and the Hio or Fu

called Nari-Hisha, dragon-king, has

a horse, both in Japanese and Chinese.

In Burmese

it is

Mhee.

JAPANESE CHESS.

160

increased rank, and the privilege, .in addition to his

former power, of moving one square diagonally like the

Kaku.
The Kaku, now called Nari-Kaku, dragon-horse, has
increased rank, and the privilege, in addition to his
former power, of moving one square forward, sideways,
or backwards, like the Hisha.
Prisoners are forced to enter the army, but are not
obliged to begin from the ranks.

any open square, even

They may be placed

desired, in the enemy's

camp but, if placed within the enemy's lines they do
not get their promotion till they have held their

in

if

one move but when

position sufficiently long to make
their
back
to
re-entered go
Thus,
original power.
the Gin, the Ka, the Yari, or the Fu may have
;

though

acquired the rank of Kin before being taken, they are

In
re-entered only according to their original power.

manner the conquered Nari-Hisha,

becomes a simple Hisha, or Kaku.
like

or Nari-Kaku,

captive pawn may not be entered in a perpendicular line with another pawn.

The Gin, the Ka-Ma, the Yari, and the Hio or Fu,
on becoming Kins, have the name Kin on the other side
written in a more or less negligent way, according to
the original value of the piece. The Kin itself is ^T.
the Gin is written rapidly ^, the Ka ^, the Yari j^, and

Fu

thus enabling a player to perceive

the original power of a piece should it be turned over.
fear that this account of Japanese chess,

the Hio or

? or

We

interesting though
and intricate to be

it

may

made

be,

will

appear too confused

and will
so we will endeavour to
be given up as hopeless
it by calling the pieces by names we can
simplify
available for our use,
:

JAPANESE CHESS.

161

understand, and by changing the punt-shaped pieces,

their, to us, unintelligible writing, to an arrange-

with

To do this we must make

of ordinary chessmen.
use of parts of three sets of chessmen, two of ivory a

ment

medium and a

The

larger size.

and one of box-wood of

smaller set
pieces

and their signs

Ivory Chessmen

Ivory Chessmen

Small

Medium

size.

...

(Castle)

..

...

-f-

Kaku

(Bishop)

...

...

Kin

...

Ghin

...

2 Knight

Yari

J-

Pawn

...

_L

5. Nari-Hislia...

Nari-Kalm

...

be:

Box-wood Chessmen
Large size,

...

...

size.

now

King
Hisha

...

...

will

on becoming a Kin
>,

...

_|_

...

_|_

J_

JL
J_

,>

...

...

...

...

...

...

But on using a wooden pawn

for the kin, it will

not

be known whether the piece was originally of lower

value and as it has to return to that lower value
when taken, it is necessary when a piece becomes a
Kin, to put a small piece of paper under the Kin, or
;

giving the name of the original piece,

Gin, Ka, Yari or Hio the Nari-Hisha and Nari-Kaku
will not require it, as they would go back to their
a label over

it,

original ivory.

used by the Japanese to determine the

first move, and in throwing for it you ask your opponent
whether it is a Hio or a Kin ? just as we say heads or
tails

pawn

or,

is

as in tennis, rough or

smooth

In opening the game the

way for the Hisha and
first

clear the

thing to be done is to
the Kaku ; but as the

opponent will naturally do the same on his

side, care

JAPANESE CHESS.

162

must be taken

to prevent the opposite Hisha's attack

on the left: but a defensive game is not a safe game ;

and victory will generally follow the first success. If

the Hisha and the Kaku are prevented from operating
by the defences of the enemy, the Gin and the Ka can
be brought out to break the outposts, and form a
breach for the entry of the superior pieces, thus, at
the end of Game I, although White had two Hishas, it

was unable to pierce the intrenchment, till the Gin

came up in six moves and did so. The Ka would
reach the intrenchment in three moves, and the Hio in
As the Hios have only half the taking power of
four.
our Pawns, and cannot support each other, their use is

much

to force the intrenchment, as to support

other pieces in doing so.
As in war victory often follows the unexpected

not so

entry of fresh troops, so in Japanese chess, the great

danger to be constantly kept in view is the entry of

The eye
captive pieces, forming the reserved forces.
must be ever fixed on the captives in the possession of
the enemy, and on what points they

may

possibly

An

example of this occurs in Game I, in

Two captive Gins are
White's moves 17, 18 and 20.
suddenly brought in, in two successive moves, thus
causing the loss of a Hisha and this Hisha is as

enter.

unexpectedly entered in the innermost line of the

enemy's intrenchment, giving check to the king,
and at the next move becoming a Nari- Hisha, and
In like manner in Game II,
soon giving a checkmate.
the Hisha is lost by the entrance in two successive
moves of the Yari and Kama, and checkmate follows
in four
fore is

moves afterwards.

The

loss of

a piece there-

not merely the loss of such piece, but, as

we

163

JAPANESE CHESS.
have

said,

of the

the conqueror thus gains an extra piece

value.
Nor is this all for this extra

same

piece, instead of being placed where such piece would

stand in the beginning of a game, can be placed
if placed within the
increased power at the

anywhere on the board, and,

will

its

enemy's line,
gain
next move a result resembling that of an Indian
game of cards, Shataro (seventeen), in which after
every deal, the winners take at chance as
from the hand of the loser as they have

many cards
won tricks,

and give back to him in return as many of the worst

and thus at
cards they have in their own hands
he
is
till
deal
he
is
worse
off,
every
happily out of
the game. For this reason, when two pieces are
en prise, it is advisable to examine carefully whether,
;

the pieces are exchanged, the new piece can be

entered in a more commanding position, or whether

if

the opponent can improve his position ; and in either

case to be the first to exchange, so as to be the first
enter the new piece, and then perhaps obtain
another piece, or even lead to a checkmate
and
thus give no opportunity for the opponent to enter
his piece.
This also is seen in Game I. In his seventh
to

move Red opened a way for his Kaku, and White

opened his Kaku five moves afterwards. Red should
have immediately exchanged Kakus but neglecting
to do so, White made the exchange, and thus at
the next move entered a new Kaku, forking the
Hisha and Gin, taking two Gins, and, as we have
already seen, with these two new Gins taking the
:

Hisha.
to the necessity of carefully and continually
watching the number and powers of the captive

Owing
M*

JAPANESE CHESS.

164

belonging to the enemy, and how they may

the game and of not neglecting to make use
of one's own captive pieces as occasion offers
it is

pieces
affect

advisable that they should be placed carefully on

each side, so as to be seen by both players.
When

each player has taken a piece of the same value,

the prisoners should be exchanged, so as to enter
the right colour on each side.
a very intricate game, indeed the most so
of all varieties of chess, owing to the complicated
nature of the moves, the unexpected importation
of new pieces, and the constant changing of the

This

is

power of the pieces

from the fact of

its

very reason, and

being so peculiar, it becomes a

but

game of great interest.

practice, before a novice
European

chess,

can

for this

The game requires great

however experienced in

recollect

the powers

of

the

several pieces, present or prospective ; and can grasp

at a glance the effect produced by the advent of

new
The
and

pieces,

result

and understand where to place them.

in each such case must be a lamentable

This circumstance therefore

disgraceful defeat.
proves that Japanese chess is no weak variety .of
ordinary chess; but that it is a game of great

and of high intellect.

The examples of games which follow were played

originality,

different Japanese of various degrees of efficiency,

but however weak the play in some instances, they

by

show the nature of the game. The men being

all alike, except in size, and not having any difference
in colour, as in the Chinese, it must be very difficult,
all

even for the Japanese, to distinguish one man from

another merely by the writing and even this writing
;

165

JAPANESE CHESS.
it

though

down

for

is

own men,

upright for one's

one's

opponent's

necessary, or even

more

is

upside

and of course

so, to

it is

as

distinguish the adver-

a
sary's men than one's own, for though it takes
long time to make a successful attack, a single
adverse move by one's own may be fatal.
Owing
to this difficulty, although Japanese, and indeed all
Orientals, unlike European chess players, play very
1

from their quicker preception, they occasionally make mistakes or oversights relative to the
pieces and it is astonishing that such mistakes are
rapidly,

not more frequent. If anyone doubt this, let him

write the names of the pieces in English on flat
counters, and see what he would make of it.

From the games which

do not always

move

it."

On

observe

I have seen played, they

"Touch a piece,
have seen them touch

the rule

the contrary, I

one piece, and then another, and then go back perhaps

The pieces were turned over
to their first move.
line of squares, without
the
fact
attention
to
directing
by saying Kin, NariHisha, or Nari-Kaku ; taking it for granted that the

also

on entering the seventh

opponent would perceive that

manner new

in like

pieces

was

it

all

right

and

would be entered without

comment. Some players did not even call out O te,

and I have seen a
check, when checking the King
;

game

finished

without

checkmate, or finished

saying
so that I

Tsumu, or Tsumda,
had to ask whether

was checkmate.

it

Game

IV, notwithstanding

its

mistakes,

ing as exhibiting a well-fought game.

It

is

interest-

is

curious

In a chess tournament played recently, I see it was provided that fifteen

moves be made in the hour. Game iv. occupied one hour exactly, and there were
109 moves

so the Japanese play

was more than seven times

as rapid.

166

JAPANESE CHESS.

how Red,

had won the game if he had

and how a second time he
played the right piece
had the chance of doing so in 99, in two moves, but
failed to see it, and how by not doing so, and making
to see

in 95,

false

move through the temptation

of taking a Kin,

he thus allowed White to get the move, which being

up by entering his reserved forces

unexpectedly, ended in checkmate.
Owing to the intricacy and length of Game IV, and

skilfully followed

the mistakes which arose from errors in following the

score, which obliged me to begin several times all over
again, I found it necessary to take account of the game
from time to time, as bankers cast their balance every
The result will be
day, to prevent having to go back.

how
down
noting

seen in the score of the game, and will show

available the notation I

employ

for

is

the condition of a game from time to time throughout

the game. This repeated record of the score will
also be found of use to the reader who wishes to
out according to the
for if at any of these breaks he finds his
does not accord with the score, he will be

learn the
score

game

game by playing

it

obliged either to begin again, or to start afresh from

one of these scores.

following announcement in the Times will be

read with pleasure by chess players
"
The Japan Mail, referring to attempts now being
made to revive chess in Japan, says that during the

The

long peace enjoyed by that country under the rule

Once
of the Shoguns the game of chess flourished.
eleventh
of
the
the
seventeenth
day
every year, on

month, the masters of the game met in Yedo and

fought a grand tourney in an appointed place within

167

JAPANESE CHESS.
the precincts of the palace.

Judges, umpires, strict

rules, and all things necessary to the combat were
provided, and after the fight was over the ranks of the
various combatants were officially fixed.
The number
of ranks was seven in all, the seventh being the
1

highest.
Rarely did any player attain the distinction
of reaching this, but the sixth generally had one or

two

There appears to have been a

representatives.
certain element of heredity in the game as played in
Japan, for certain families took the lead for many
generations, and the contests between their champions
were a salient feature of every tourney. To this time-

honoured custom, as to many another of even greater

A long era
merit, the Eevolution of 1867 put a stop.
of neglect ensued for chess players but it did not fall
into disuse because Court patronage was wanting.
;

Its votaries still studied their

variations, and
promises to resume

now

their

its

gambits and elaborated

once more the science

place

of

October last a grand meeting of

chess-players in Japan

was organized

200 players assembled,

degrees of skill, from the

In
importance.
the principal

all

Over

in Tokio.

boasting greater or less

Count
first up to the sixth.

all

Todo, the former Daimio of Tsu,

of belonging to the sixth rank,

who has the honour

is

among the

chief

Another meeting took place

promoters of the revival.
on the 18th of January, when a ceremonial in honour
of the revival of chess was
performed. There appears
to be a considerable chess literature in
one
Japan
:

The

first

early

Arab and Persian chess players were divided into

were called

seldom of more than three.

class,

Queen

five classes.

The

Frequently it consisted of only one player,

grandee gave a pawn to a member of the second

'Aliyat, or grandees.

or Ferz to the third class, a

to the fifth class.

Forbes, Hist- of Chess.

Knight to the fourth

class,

and a Rook

JAPANESE CHESS.

168

of which
leading work contains problems, the solution
is said to make the player worthy to be placed in
the sixth rank."
!

GAME

I.

White.

Red.
1

2
3

4
5
3

2625
_ 2524
K 6877
J_ 2423
n 2723
_ 2325
j_ 7675
_ 8685

J.

J_

_L

86

5655
G 6756
K 7787 +
D 2535
K 4857
D 3525

15
16

_L

17

18
19

4.

2526
4738 +
"

21

O 5847

22

23
24

J_

54
76

+ 5465
K 5756
7675

25

j.

26

K 8776
8685

27

_L

28

K 7677

29

30

_
_

7778
7868

_|_

34

3456 G
5638 G
K 3132
G

47

20

1213
8485
D 8185
8581
G 7071
_L 3233
+ 2187 +
-

G 7867

14

J_

22

_L

10

13

8283
8384
2223
J_

J.

11

12

K 4031

_L

(Nari-Kaku)

34
25

G 2526 D
D 78 y
D 7875 J_(Nari-Hisha)

Q 7555
G 7182
D 5564
G 8273
7384
_ 8485
_ 8586
D 6475
K 8677

j.

_L

(Kin)
J_

Times, 10th April, 1890.

White's Nari-Kaku captured by Red is entered in the following move, but

being a captive, goes back to its first estate, viz., a Kaku.

19

JAPANESE CHESS.
Red.
-

33

5868 K
6857

5747

35

In move 12
87

7768 K
Q 8188 2 /(Nari-Hisha)
D 7577
8868
7767 K Mate.
-

32

34

first,

White.

O 4758

31

169

67

Red ought

to have exchanged

Neglecting to do so White

21.

Kakus

had the

first

exchange 21 87, and entered his prisoner in the

following move, which took two Gins in the two
Red
following moves, and became a Nari-Kaku.
entered his

Nari-Kaku

Kaku

in

in

move

move

19,

17,

which took Whites

but in the same move White

immediately took Red's Hisha, which he entered in

the following move, and which eventually gave the
checkmate.
32

In like manner White's Kin taken by Red

GAME

8283
_ 8384
_ 8485
D 8185
_ 8583
J_ 2223
K 3122
_L 7273
G 7061
JL 5253

5
6
7

8
9

10
11
12

Ped
Red

K 6877
G 7867
J_ 2625
2524
8685

40-31

J_

Red.

3233

_L

_L

86

2423
- 9695
G 3837
3726
2635
O 5857

J_

should have stopped to protect

23 JL
27

entered in 34 as a Gin.

II.

White.
1

is

-}-

JAPANESE CHESS.

170

GAME
White.

IT

Continued.

JAPANESE CHESS.
GAME
Red.

III.

171

JAPANESE CHESS.

172

and the

skill in

bringing in

new

pieces

whereas Red

never used his captive Kaku, and only brought in a -L,

in the last move he might have avoided

and even

checkmate by entering his Kaku at 72, or placing

and instead of using his Hisha, he placed
his 2 there
it out of the
way where it could be of no use.
;

GAME
White.

IV.

JAPANESE CHESS.

173

JAPANESE CHESS.

174

53

54
55
56
57

58

JAPANESE CHESS.

175

176

JAPANESE CHESS.
Conclusion.

White.

O 1221

96

K 3141
O 2131
G 3021 K
O 3121 G
D 61 /

97

98
99

100
101

62

102

53

103

C]

4144 /
6828 2
4464 j_

106

95
97

-41

107

26

108

23

109

42

O
O

10

5242
4243
4334
3435
G

J.

45

K 44
O 3534
3443

/
/
Checkmate.

12 23 Pcd K 11 checkmate next move.

White
White J_ 2223.
21 could not take G 10, for J_ 12 would move to 11 and become
White

K, and give checkmate.

99

12

O 6352

+ / goes back to +

61

j_

K 21 /
G 1021 G
+ 5141 K

/
/

104
105

96

Red.

95

White

checkmate.

K 4151

Red _L 1.211 and become

y/,

and entering

21

p
PS
:

PQ

M
BJ

W
a

o
w
a
.

:;

K
D
CO

XIII.

BURMESE CHESS.
CHIT-THAREEN, or the General's game.

to the Kingdom of Ava .... 1800

Hiram
1801
Trans.
Cox,
Capt.
Bengal Asiatic Soc
Yoe
The
Burman.
James^
Shway
(
George Scott),

Major Symes, Embassy

His

life

and notions

1882

Professor Forbes thought this game common to the

regions situated between India and China, viz., Tibet,
Burmah, Siam, and Cochin China.

The names of the

Cox:

pieces are, according to Captain

Meng The
Chekoy
Eatha

King, or General, which

Lieutenant General,
,,

War

Chariots,

Chein

Elephants,

Mhee

Cavalry,

Yein

we

will call
,,

,,
,,

,,

Foot Soldiers,

King,
Queen,

Q
([

Eukhs,

Bishops,

,,

Knights,

,,

Pawns,

_|_

The King has the same move as with us.

The Queen moves diagonally only, but only one
square at a time.

The Eukhs have the same move

The Bishops move one square

as with us.
diagonally, but are

to move, but not to take, one square forward,

being thus able to change their colour.
They are
therefore like the Japanese Ghin, except that this

able

latter is able to take, as well as to

forward.

move, one square

BURMESE CHESS.

178

The Knights move as our Knights.

The Pawns also move and take as our Pawns, and
queen on arriving at the diagonal line.
The Board is a square of eight cells, and has a line,
or is supposed to have a line running diagonally from
top of right side to bottom of left side.

O
j.

_L

JL

-L

Although
either party

this

may

the ordinary disposition of the men,

adopt another line of battle but the

is

pawns must not be altered. The board is very large,

and stands high, for the convenience of the players,

who

upon the ground as will be seen from the

photograph which Mr. Scott of St. John's College,
sit

Cambridge, obligingly allowed

me

to take of the table

and men

in his possession.
It will be seen on examining this

game that

there

is

only one line of squares dividing the combatants, and

that the battle must begin immediately. Further,
that as the diagonal line shows the line of queening,
the pawns would soon queen were they not opposed

BURMESE CHESS.
by

hostile pawns.
1

179

The power of queening is confined

pawns on right hand side and

to the three advanced,

pawn queens in four moves, the second

But we will
in three, and the third in two moves.

thus the

first

speak of this presently.

As the game is peculiar in the pawns being put in
fighting position, and in strike of each other so the
:

defensive position of the King is equally remarkable.

The King stands in a strong intrenchment. He fights
"
with his back to the wall," being close to a
as it were

and thus protected on one side and the rear,

while he has guards to protect him on the other side
and the front. Of these guards the Elephants, being of
the same colour, defend each other, and three diagonal

corner,

protects three diagonal points,

and the King protects all those in the rear, besides
Thus all the surounding
giving support to his guards.
squares are protected from attack.
points each, the

Queen

Captain Cox gives the privilege of queening to the^re right hand pawns but
is a mistake.
Were it so, each player would be enabled to queen at his
:

this

for if all five were to be in the

first move, if placed originally as in diagram
advanced line, one would be already on the line. This, therefore, is evidently a
;

mistake, in writing five for three.

Mr. Scott who, of course, is a great authority says that the four pawns to
the right may queen, but this seems unlikely, as the fourth pawn would be at
if placed in the advanced row, and so might as well not be
placed on the board.

striking distance

BURMESE CHESS.

180

As
they

these pieces move only one square at a time,

often remain in much the same position all

all

through the game, unless the King, in the ardour

of battle, thinks more of attacking his opponent than
of defending himself.
Owing to this strong position there is no sudden
checkmate at an early period of the game, or so long as

most of the pieces are

in the field

and when the

principal pieces are much reduced, it becomes very

difficult, unless an additional piece can be obtained by

queening a pawn, to get a checkmate.

A good way of getting into the fortress

is

to place a

Castle opposite each Bishop, at A and B, and then

taking one of the Bishops with some other piece.

This move will be seen in

Game

I,

35, being protected by d 30

prevented from moving by n 66.

takes

<L

Other

peculiarities of the

game

move

A,

and

where 2
46 being

are exhibited in the

power of the Bishops of changing their colour and in

the facility with which the Castles are enabled to
support each other, and to force a passage.
The distinctive peculiarity of the early queening of
the pawn would invest this game with' interest, if the
;

pawns on reaching the diagonal could exchange as in

other games for one of the superior pieces but not
only is the increased power limited to that of the
but after all the difficulties of
Chekoy, or Queen
:

have been overcome, they

obtaining
cannot acquire even this privilege, unless the Queen
has been previously taken
but have to wait, at
this

position

constant risk of capture, till such event occurs.

Mr.
Scott, indeed, gives a still further limitation of privi"
he must be placed on one of the
lege for he says
:

BUBMESE CHESS.

181

eight squares around the King," but he does not state

whether these squares are those around the original
position of the King, or whether they must be in a
square contiguous to the King, wherever he may be.
It cannot be supposed that a game like this
where
his
so
King is
securely intrenched behind
guards
where the Castles and Knights, and these matched

the

against others of their like, are the only formidable

can be a very brilliant one. Indeed, where
pieces
the players are pretty equal, it must be a heavy,

wearisome, uninteresting game. Even the queening of

the pawns is of such trifling advantage, being allowed
only when the Queen is taken, that it scarcely enters
into consideration.

We give,
GAME

however, two examples:

I.

Red.
J_

2
<[

D
2
j_

+
D

6564
8584
6453
4544
4453
5664
3524
2435
4665
1747
6485
3423
2332
3231
8573
3645
4757
2636

White.
_L

j.
_|_

2
JL

_|_

J.

2
d
j_
_|_

_|_

D
2
-

87

57

7365

_L

7374
5253
4253 j_
1213
4153 J_
1324 J_
1050
5365
7465 2
6253
2223
5143
4362
4030
6254
5466
6645 + /
4557 D /
8050
6162

BURMESE CHESS.

182

White.

Red.
_L

D 3031

13

O 3626

1312
2524
7564 J_
5564 d
5767
6544
4463 /
6344
2625
6463 v/
6777 /
7737
2526
2625
1211
3736
2514
1425
2514
6362
3635 +

J_

11

J_

+
j_

j_

D
2

O
j_

1
D

O
JL

10 becomes

O 1423
2332
3233
3322
2211
d 1021
2112
O 1121
2131
3121
2122

J_

72-61

D 3141
_L 6364
5364
D 41 45
5055
__ 5585
O 7172
D 8586
- 8685
O 7271
- 7181
D 4544
8586
8685
<[

_L

v/

2
v/

4440
+ 6253
_

D 4030

([

8584 J.
+ 5344
- 4435
a
D 3035 D
- 3534
_ 3424 + v/
- 8444
2434 v/
- 4443
- 4323
_ 3414
/
2313
__ 1312
- 1444
1217
- 4446
<[

and soon wins the game

BURMESE CHESS.
Red.

GAME

183

BURMESE CHESS.

184

BURMESE CHESS,
No.

II.

The following variety of the game agrees better with

other games of Chess, where the Pawn in queening
takes the power of one of the superior pieces, which
the Queen in Oriental chess never is.
The only
difference in this game is that it. allows the three
right hand Pawns to become Castles when they reach
the diagonal line and the game becomes one of some
:

Every attention has now to be given to

interest.

these three

Pawns

for

when one

them reaches the

of

diagonal, the player has immediately three Castles to

his opponent's two, and can then afford to exchange
Castles,

it

indeed,

is

to his interest to do so, for

by

such exchange the proportion of strength in Castles

becomes 2:1, instead of 3 2.
:

The following

are examples of this

GAME

game

I.

Red.

5554
- 2423
3423
7564
D 1777
7773
4544
J.
D 7376
j_ 4453
D 8777
2 4634
3546
2 3442

White.

_L

([

5362

1213
3223
6364
_ 7364
6253
8384
J_
+ 6162
7273
_L

J_

J_

J_

_L

<[

JL

would have been

42-53

D 8082

1020

O 7172

<[

2
better.

4133

_L

BURMESE

185

CHESS.

Red.

White.

4234
- 3453
D 7673
+ 3635
JL

65

54

D 2021

+/

+ 6253
O 7262
2

3354

JL

64

JL v/

+ 3544
+ 4435
2 5664 +
D 7464 J_v/
- 7767
6466
_ 6766 D
- 6686
O 2636
4655
D 8687
5544
5453
J_
+ 3546
([

<[

4435

J_

65 becomes

+ 5364
J_ 5253
D 6585 J_
J_ 5364 2
O 6252
D 8586
- 8666 D
J_ 8485
2 5172
7253
- 5374
J_ 8586
D 8262
6266 /
5243
O

D 7374
*

D 2181
8687 becomes D
D 8187 D

D 8757

JL

5787 D
5352
5251
5150
O 3626
2636
- 3645
- 4536
3627
- 2716
- 1615
- 1516
1615
1516
1615

8780
8030
2 7462
6254
5435
D 6665 /
2 3514 J_ /
Q 6525 +y
- 2524
- 3034
3484
8487
8747
4717 Checkmate.

J_

A bad exchange,

See introductory remarks.

good move.

In

this

([

though followed up by a check.

game White "queens" two pawns.

BURMESE CHESS.

186

GAME

II.

Red.
_L

_
_
_
2

D
J_

+
2

+
2

D
j_

D
2

_
+
_|_

4.

_
<[

O
+
O

White.

5554
5463 j_
8584
7584
4534
2423
1423 J_
5664
8777
1712
2312 Q
6443
2514
4331
1423
3143
7757
3443 2
6564
5753
4665
6546
4634
2334 2
4342
3423 JL
2324
3443
3544
4433
3342 Q
2635
3645
3544
4455
_|_

_|_

_]_

J_

4243
52-63

7384
_ 4334
3233
1223
+ 6152

__

J_
J.
j_

J.

5261
2

4153

10

5132
5341
8010
1011
3251
7182
5143
6271
4162
6250
3334
5042
4234
1112
2223
1242
4252
5242
6162
6253
5342
7162
4251
5142
6253

D
2

O
2
<[

2
J_

_
D
_L

+
<i

To prevent _L 12 " queening."

23 from defending _L 12 which
*To draw away
3
The object was to get rid of J_ J_ 64 and 84, and

<[

12

2
J_

J.

is

about to " queen."

"
"queen with J.83.

so to

187

BURMESE CHESS.
Red.
j_

O
+
O
+
_

Wliite.

+ 4253

6453
5566
4554
6665
5445
4554 /
6566
<[

J_

+
O

+ 54-63 +
O 6665
+ 4354 /
5445
6566
4556
6665
5667
6776
O 6566
- 6665
6566
_ 6667
+ 7687
O 6757
5767
6757
._ 5766
6665
- 6566
6667
- 6766
6667
6756
- 5665
_ 6574

4.

O
+
O
+

O
+
-

_|_

O
+
O
JL

O
JL

+
O
J_

JL

O
+
JL

and Checkmate

see-saw game.

JL

6364
8271
7162
6263
6362
7263
6263 +
5362
6353
6263
6874
7475 /
7584 J_
8473
8384
5363
7382
6374
6465
7475
8485
8271
7586
8687 +
8586
7172
7273
7374
7475
8777
7576
8687 becomes D
easily follows.

BURMESE CHESS.

188

GAME
White.

III.

BURMESE CHESS.
GAME
Red.

IV.

189

BURMESE CHESS.

190
Red.

XIV.

SIAMESE CHESS

The following

particulars of this

game have been

procured for me from Prince Devavvongse, Minister of

Foreign Affairs of H.M. the King of Siam, through the
kindness of E. B. Gould, Esq., H.B.M.'s Consul at

Bangkok, August, 1889.

"

British Legation,

Bangkok,
Oct. 22, 1889.

"DEAR

SIR,

took an opportunity to make enquiries of

Prince Devawongse, the King of Siam's Minister for
Foreign Affairs, and a keen chess player, both at the
I

native game, and our European one, on the subject of

your letter of the 23rd of April. I left your letter

with the Prince, who appeared to take much interest

in the subject, and promised to supply me with a
record of a game played by good Siamese chess players.
This he ultimately did, and I now forward a copy of
the rough record the Prince gave me.

Yours

faithfully,

E. B. Gould."

192

SIAMESE CHESS.

King
Queen
Bishop

Names of
Khun (Lord),

the pieces.

Met, no meaning.
Jfhon,

Knight Ma

no meaning.

(Horse).

Castle

Rua

Pawn

Bia (Cowrie

(Boat).
shell) generally

used for the Pawns.

The King moves one square in any direction: but

in his first move he can move as a Knight.
The Queen has the usual Oriental move of one
square diagonally

two squares,

first move she can take

The Queen is placed on

but in her

if desirable.

the right hand of the King.

The Bishop has the move of the Kin in the Japanese
one square diagonally every way, and one
game
:

straight forward.

The Knight's move is the same as ours,

The Castle's move, also, is the same as ours.
"
The Pawns stand on the third row, and " queen on
the sixth.

Siam, being a maritime country, appears to have

taken the game partly from India and Burmah, and
partly from Japan.
and from
of boat
;

From India she adopted the name

Burmah and Japan the Bishop's

the only difference between the two being that

in the Burmese game the Bishop only moves in the

move

straightforward line, whereas in the Japanese game it

The Pawns stand on the
both moves and takes.

The name of the

third row, as in the Japanese game.
in
seems
a
Siamese,
corruption of the
Bishop, Khon
Burmese Chein, and the Chinese Sang while the
:

name

of the Knight, Ma, a horse,

Chinese and Japanese.

is

taken from the

SIAMESE CHESS.

193

In the following game Chong Kwa and Coy took the

white pieces, and Nai Chang took the black. The game

played upon our chess-board, and the numbers refer

to those given in our chess notation, p. 116.
is

White.

194

SIAMESE CHESS.
White.

SIAMESE CHESS.

XV.

TUEKISH CHESS,
The Turks generally make

their

embroidered over to form the

and sometimes

all,

"

board

"

of cloth,

cells, several of which,

as in this example, have ornaments

Such a chess- cloth with the

or flowers in the centre.

men

can easily be carried about in a bag, and so be

always ready to be placed on the divan or carpet.
The photograph represents such a board in my possession with the ivory men, the powers of
seen by the order in which they stand.

which

will

be

placed on the right of the Queen, and

can take one Knight's move at any time of the game,

The King

is

but only one.

The pawns move one square at a time.

In castling, the King can be placed on the Rukh's
square, or on any other within that distance.
The other rules are the same as those of the
European game.
This is the game as played by the author in Asia
Minor in 1845. The variations from our game are
unimportant, and not sufficient to rank Turkish chess
as a distinct game, like several other Oriental games
of chess, but is interesting only from the form of the
pieces,

and from

its

embroidered cloth,

XVI.

TAMERLANE'S CHESS
OR

GREAT CHESS.
MS. 260

Eoyal Asiatic

Society,
ludis Orientalibus

Hyde

De

Bland

Persian Chess

The History

Forbes

As we
Bassus

1694

1850
of Chess

are indebted chiefly to the

for

1860

poem

the Ludus Latrunculorum

of Saleius

and to the

Bhavishya Purana solely for the Indian game of

so for the knowledge of Tamerlane's
Chaturanga
chess we are indebted exclusively to the anonymous
author of the Persian MS. 260 belonging to the Royal
;

Asiatic

Society.

Professor

Forbes,

most detailed translation of

this,

who

gives us a
us
also the
gives

following extract from the preface of this MS., in

which we see that the author believed that his work

would give him the reward of Paradise, and that God

himself assisted him in his play.
Another celebrated
chess player, Alau el Din of Tabriz, called Ali the chess
player, declared that he once saw Mahomet in a
vision, who presented him with a bag of chess-men,

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

198

by using which afterwards he was ever

victorious.

All these chess players write in a very vain-glorious

This anonymous author says
style.
"
Many a one has experienced a relief from sorrow
:

and
and

consequence of this magic recreation

this same fact has been asserted by the celebrated
affliction in

physician Muhammad Zakaria Razi in his book entitled

The Essences of Things,' and such is likewise the
'

opinion of the physician Ali Bin Firdaus, as I shall

notice more fully towards the end of the present

work, for the composing of which I

receiving my reward from God, who

Most
"

am
is

in the

hope of

Most High, and

Glorious.

have passed

among
since

since the age of fifteen years

all the masters of chess living in my time
and

my

life

middle age,

now when

have arrived at
have travelled through Irak -Arab and

that period

till

Irak-Ajam, and Khurasan, and the regions of Mawaraal-Nahr, and I have there met with many a master in
this art, and I have played with each of them, and
through the favour of Him who is Adorable and Most
High, I have come off victorious.
"

Likewise, in playing without seeing the board, I

have overcome most opponents, nor had they the

power

to

cope with me.

I,

the humble sinner

now

addressing you, have frequently played with one

opponent over the board, and at the same time I have
carried on four different

games with

as

many

adver-

whilst I conversed

without seeing the board,

freely with nay friends all along, and through the
Divine favour I conquered them all. Also in the
saries

Great Chess I have invented sundry positions, as well

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

199

as several openings, which no one else ever imagined

or contrived.
"
There are a great number of ingenious positions
that have occurred to me in the course of my

common game as practised at the

and many positions given as won by

experience, in the

present day
elder masters, I have either proved to be capable of
defence, or I have made the necessary corrections in
them, so that they now stand for what they were
;

originally intended to be.

have also improved and

the rare and cunning

rendered more complete all

stratagems hitherto recorded or invented by the first
masters of chess. In short I have laid before the
reader
ence,

all

that I have myself discovered from experiwhatever I found to be rare and

as well as

excellent in the labours of

The

we

so

my

predecessors."

author's description of the

will give it in other words

game

is rafcher prolix,

The game played by Timur the Tartar, called afterwards, when wounded in the leg, Timur lenk, lame
Timur, and, as corrupted by us, Tamerlane the Great,
consisted of a board of eleven squares by ten, with
two outlying squares,2 making a total of 112 squares.
In this game the principal pieces occupy the second
In the middle

row.

is

the Shah,

1,

having on his right

2, and on his left his Ferz, or General, 3.

to these on either side is a Zarafah, Giraffe, 4 ;
then a Taliah, advanced picket, 5 ; then an Asp,

his

Vizir,

Next

Horse or Cavalry, 6
Behind the Rukh

and
is

lastly the

a Pil,

behind the advanced picket

1

Forbes, History of Chess, p. 80, 81.

Rukh, Chariot,

Phil, Elephant, 8
a Jamal, Camel, 9

or
is

7.

Outside of squares, 18 and 111.

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

200

and behind the Vizir and Ferz are Ddbbabdhs, war

These occupy the

10.

engines,

first

line,

a Piyade,

Pawn, occupies each square of the third line.

The Ferz, and each of the pieces on the right of
but the left hand
the Shah, has its proper Pawn, 15
in
an
Giraffe has
front; the Picket
Elephant's Pawn, 14,
has a Camel's Pawn, 13 the Horse has a War engine's
Pawn, 12 and the left hand Rukh has the Pawn of
;

pawns,

11.

these names and the respective powers of the

difficult to be remembered, I adopt
pieces are very
names which are more intelligible to Western ears, so

As

that the

name

power of the

shall at once enable us to

determine the

piece.

The

principal pieces are divided into three classes,

according to their moves, which are the Straight, the

Diagonal, and the Mixed.

Of the Straight moves are the Vizir, the Dabbabah,
and the Rukh. As the moves of the pieces are all
analogous, and varying only in power, we will change
the names to others which will better remind us of
their

moves

and

call

them the

Vizir,

moving only one

square forwards, backwards, or sideways; the Dabbabah

we will change to the Castle, moving always two
squares in the same directions, and hopping over the
first if covered ; and the Rukh, moving any number of
For the
as our Rook, but without jumping.

squares,
Castle I
for

employ an ivory Castle of the ordinary size

the Vizir one of smaller size and for the Rukh a
;

boxwood one of larger size.

Of the Diagonal moves are the
the Taliah.

In like manner, and

Ferz, the Pil, and

for the

same

reason,

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

we

will retain the

square diagonally

name
;

of the Ferz,

201

moving only one

but will change the Pil to

Lame

Bishop, moving always two

squares, and leaping over

the first when occupied and the Taliah to Bishop,
having the full power of our Bishop, but which has not
;

the move of the Ferz, nor the privilege of leaping.

For the Lame Bishop I employ an ivory Bishop of the
ordinary size for the Ferz one of a smaller size
for the Bishop a box wood one of a larger size.
;

and

Of the Mixed moves are the Asp, the Jamal, and the
The Asp we change to the Knight, having
Zarafah.
the same move as our Knight, one diagonal and one
the Jamal or Camel to the Chevalier, having
one diagonal and two straight both these have the

straight

and Zarafah or Giraffe to the

Cavalier, having one diagonal and any number straight,
or any number straight and one diagonal but without
the moves of the Knight or Chevalier, or the privilege
For the Chevalier I employ an ivory
of vaulting.
privilege of vaulting

Knight of the ordinary size for the Knight one of a

smaller size and for the Cavalier a box wood one of a
;

larger size.
It will be seen from the above that the privilege of
leaping is confined to the pieces in the first or back

row, all of which move two squares at a time, and to

the Knights; and that by using box wood for the
principal superior pieces in the second row the eye will
at once be able to distinguish them.
will now place the men in their proper position
according to their new names

We

202

TAMERLANE S CHESS.
11

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

203

outlying space, where he is safe from any attack and

can be driven out of it only by a stale-mate. But it
also has the privilege of exchanging positions with
;

any other of

his pieces

but this can only be done

once.

These privileges, however, of the Shah and of the

Pawn

of

pawns

are so peculiar,

and the opportunity of

not once,
availing ourselves of them occurs so seldom
indeed, in any of the games which we have played
that in giving the rules of this ancient game we may
Their introducsuppose them to have never existed.

would appear to have been merely to spin out the

game, and thus by omitting them we bring the game
more in unison with other games of chess.
The most formidable piece in this game is the
The power of this piece for sweeping across
Cavalier.
tion

the board

is

having two
its

about equal to that of the

lines in

Rukh

but

and
piece becomes

attack being more insidious, this

dangerous. Like the Knight,

much more

every direction instead of one,

its

chief

consists in its being able to fork two pieces: but

while with the Knight these pieces are contiguous,
with the Cavalier they are at a considerable distance

power

consequently the difficulty of evading it is greatly

As it requires half the width of the board
increased.

be able to make a move, so its power of acting is

only developed when the board becomes more and
to

more

cleared.

Another advantage of the Cavalier

is

can place itself on the same line with the

hostile Shah, and the Shah is not supported by other
pieces in its vicinity, it cannot move to the right or
that

if it

without going into check, in which case it becomes

easy to follow up the advantage with another piece,

left

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

204

and so procure a checkmate. This piece therefore is

by far the most powerful on the board when once it
has a free motion for while it commands almost as
:

squares as the Rukh, the Eukh commanding

nineteen, and the Cavalier from fourteen to twenty-

many

according to

two,

its

being an average of

position,

power of forking makes it a most fearful

eighteen,
engine in the hands of a skilful player: for while the
its

Rukh

threatens in only four directions, the Cavalier

threatens in eight.

The Cavalier being thus powerful,

it is

the interest of a player to bring out his

evidently to

own

Cavaliers,

and to prevent his adversary from moving his. In the

one case, he advances his Bishop's pawn sufficiently
far,

if

not stopped, to enable him to bring out his

piece; in the other Le advances his Cavalier's pawn

one square, which will then command the only two

squares to which his adversary's Cavalier could move

if the
way were open, and will thus make him a

But he must not be content with making

him a prisoner, he must endeavour to capture him
prisoner.

while he

This is best effected by

thus blocked up.
means of the Knights, moving one from 21 to 13, 34,
and the other from 101 to 113, 94, 115
15, and 27
is

Examples of these moves

which
the games
follow.
and 107.

will

be found in

On

turning our attention to the Shah's position, we

find him surrounded by seven pieces which mutually

defend each other while protecting the Shah, thus

forming an impregnable fortress around his person.

In front are three Pawns, the centre one of which is
defended by the Shah and Ferz that on one side is
:

defended by the Shah, Vizir, and Castle

that on the

TAMERLANES

205

CHESS-

Shah and Castle

mutually protect each other. As
other by the

while the

one's

Castles

own Pawns

are

required to protect one's own Shah, it follows that the

enemy's fortress can only be forced by the sacrifice of

two or more superior pieces.

Our first attempts at playing the game were to leave
the Shah unmolested, arid to bring out the superior
The result in
pieces to attack those of the enemy.
of
to
the
number
every case, owing
pieces and their
formidable character, was a terrific fight, which lasted
from mutual losses, neither party was strong
till,
enough to force the position of the enemy and obtain a
checkmate.
of the first importance therefore in this game,
so soon as the side pieces are
prepared for action, to
It

is

force the centre.

Even when

this

is

attended with

considerable sacrifice an easy victory can be achieved,

if only the side
pieces follow up the advantage which

The

which can be
are the lame Bishops.
Their moves are 10, 32, 54, 76, which either bring out
the Pawn 67, or capture the Vizir 58; and 110,
92, 74, 56, which either bring out the same Pawn 67,
or capture the Ferz but if these fail, it is advisable to
is

obtained without delay.

pieces

best sacrificed for this work

even the Bishop or Chevalier, if necessary,

either to break the opposite centre, or to make
way

sacrifice

for the
play of

The two
and Ilukh

the Cavaliers.

prettiest
in

one

checkmates are by the Cavalier

line.

206

Or the two

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.
Cavaliers side

by

side.

The pinning

by a single Cavalier,
when the checkmate can be given by any other piece.
in accomplished

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

207
White.

Red.

96115

j_

46

45

45

44

67

56

94

75

33114
2
2

75

56

114

73

/
/
Q

([

78

67

73

22

4-

16

49

81

75

J_

87

86

75114

34

33

22

19

49

16

19

20

_L

+
_L

1638

30

43

77

76

J_

85

98

76

11

76 _L
21

38

16

21

106105

28

_L

28

48

67

58

114

73

68

78

20

16

/
+

78

89

43

56

J_

44

43

56

63

2 115

94

63

76

89

78

48

58

78

87

76

83

87

98

58

88

98109

83

96

J_

y/

+/
([

In this game the object of White was to bring out

his Cavaliers as early as possible by making an opening
them, while the Knight 21 advanced rapidly
to capture the hostile Cavalier 48, before it had a
The Red lost the game, in
possibility of moving.
in front of

addition to other bad play, by opening his centre the

Vizir 58 taking Knight at 48, the Pawn 67 taking
;

Knight at 56, and advancing Pawn 77 to 76, when it

was immediately captured, thus forming a breach in
It thus became easy for the White
his own lines.
Cavaliers to check the Shah, which was uncovered, and
1

'-'

Refuses to take

Wrong

115, in order to attack centre-

to open centre.

TAMERLANE S

208

CHESS.

The White Cavalier's move

from 114 to 73, forking Shah at 68, and Kukh at 22,
shows the great power of these pieces. The Chevalier's
so lead to the checkmate.

move 76
lation

was pretty, giving double check by revewith the two Cavaliers.

to 83

GAME

II.

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

209

210

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

GAME

III.

White.

Red.
_L

47

46

28

16

97

96

J_

97

_L

87

86

13

101113
J_

32

33

# 90103

107106
117116
119

21

2 113

94

J_

42

43
32

10-

106105

94

73

99106

32

54

J.

37

36

13

34

27

26

54

36

_|_

18

28

36

58

ffl

68

58

82

83

16

35

38

65

_L

22

23

103

/
D

28

38

74

74
45

58

49

45

38

49_

38

73

54

_L

46

45

54

35

26

34

55

38

35 2
37

55

67

37

47

67

88

35

34

43

34

45

34

23

24

51

42

_
O
JL

#
+

J_
J_

39

26

65

32

42

51

32

14

41

35

98

65

97

75

78

87

2
_|_

_|_

88

76

35

40

76

68 Mate.

game Whites lame Bishop breaks the centre at 58, and

King leaving its centre, the Cavalier 40 pins in the King,
and the Knight coming up at 68, gives it the coup de grace. In not
one of these games has Red been able to bring out his Cavaliers.
In

this

the Red

TAMEBLANE'S CHESS.
GAME

IV.

211

TAMERLANE S CHESS.

212

White.

Red.

88

98

59

68

81

89

80

98

98104

48

89

38

36

68

69

T
D

D 36106

104119 T
32

54

11

31

78

31

39

E 58^- 59
D 106109

39

37

<[

_L

67

v/

119104

109107
117116

58

69

37

39

104

53

39

38 Mate.

A well-fought game, and Red would not have lost it if three

104
and it might then
moves before the end D 109 had taken
have possibly won the game.
:

GAME V.
Red.
J_

White.

47

46

87

86

28

16

37

36

36

45

38

65

_L

_
_|_

To open

43

82

83

43

44

44

45

22

23

92

93
92

19

37

110

65

38

31

13

J_

97

96

13

46

#
T

39

46

91

46

119

97

46

73

37

15

41

55

15

33

21

33

48

11

41

J_

12

13

j_

55104
93104

J_

86

33 2
85

99

86

86

33104
1

42

JL

centre,

73

but overlooked that

62

39 could take

it,

73

_|_

#
T

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.
Red.

213

214

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.

The Red
might go
game would end thus

into

89 instead of 69, in which case the

Red.

Q
D
In

this

White.

78

89

89

99

42

52

game each

S
The mate

is

90

63

83

83

89 Mate.

side brings out its Cavaliers,

breaks the opposite centre.

two Chevaliers.

109

and each side

obtained by a Cavalier and

215

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.
Red.

74

66

r>4

76

<[

78

67

99

86

66

74

74_

62

48

this point

97

31

J.

81

95

95

44

73114

110

92

<[

51

62

54

90

83

54

49

Dll

41

18

48

62

53

_L

33

32

41

51

68

69

83

76

(T

67

76

44

30

88

68

<[

53

62

48

42

51

31

2(1

33

61

51

#
At

White.

_|_

*
/

Red was within one move

of giving checkmate,

42-52
68-62

but did not see

White.

Red.

_L

v/V

([

Mate.

+/

5161

it:

216

TAMERLANE'S CHESS.
Red.

White.

32

42

([

76

67

87

86

86

96

42

41

41

44

49

33

O
D

J_

94

85

85

86

J_

109

90

_L

93

94

23

24

38

48

48

98 Mate.

J.

In this game each side breaks the opposite centre, and Red was
on the point of winning. The close of the game exhibits a striking
form of checkmate, the Cavalier 90 and the Rukh 98 being opposite
each other, and having the Shah and two other pieces between
them.
* *
#

We

have not availed ourselves in these games of the

the Shah possesses of exchanging his position with
which
privilege
one of his pieces when in danger of being checkmated. Such
power might be exercised in playing the game, but it was
considered unnecessary and tedious to exhibit it in these examples.

XVII.

GAME OF THE MAHARAJAH

AND THE SEPOYS.

In this game the King or Maharajah

with the powers of all the other pieces

is
:

it

invested

has the

combined powers of the Rukh, the Bishop, and the

Knight and plays against all the pieces of the
At first sight it would appear that,
opposite colour.
be impossible for it to checkmate
it
would
being alone,
its adversary
but not only can it do this by a sudden
;

checkmate when its adversary is blocked up by his

own pieces, but when the board is clear it has even

But though it
giving a checkmate.
has the power of checkmating its adversary, it has very
for
little chance of so doing against a cautious player
all that the latter has to do is to advance his pieces

less difficulty in

gradually in a solid
rajah,

and prevent

line,

so as to

hem

his breaking through,

Mahaand never to

in the

advance a piece without a support. Although success

is thus certain on the side of the cautious player, the
Maharajah is by no means an adversary to be despised.
It is a

good game of surprise to be played against a

CAME OF THE MAHARAJAH

218

good chess-player for the

first

time, before he has learnt

the caution necessary to be observed. As the Maharajah stands alone, he is evidently at a great disadvanfor he has no pieces with which to conceal his
tage
:

own movements, but every move he takes is narrowly

watched, while every weak point is strengthened to
prevent his making a

through therefore,

it is

surprise.

When

not due so

much

he

breaks

to his

own

the negligence and incaution of his

moreover, even after a long fight, when
opponent
he has taken several of his opponent's pieces, say his
cunning, as to
;

win the game if the

his remaining pieces round the King,
and it
so as to prevent the Maharajah giving check
thus becomes a drawn game.
The Pawns may move one or two squares on starting, but do not queen on reaching the opposite end.

Queen and two

enemy gathers

Castles, he cannot

to the quickness of
mistakes frequently occur.

moving

Owing

in this

game,

In the two following games the Maharajah wins

easily from his opponent's inexperience of his power.

GAME
Maharajah.
52

The Sepoys.
25

85

43

I.

Maharajah.
34

The, Sepoys.

43

<[

45

_|_

54

53

35

41

43

24

61

d 34

53

44

83

2 65

43

14

75

34

13

66 Checkmate.

43

15

/
/

64

47

AND THE
GAME
Maharajah.
50

The Sepoys.

219

SEPOYS.
II.

Maharajah.

The Sepoys.

220
Maharajah.

GAME OF THE MAHARAJAH

AND THE
Maharajah.
84
81

21

/
/

57

62

/
+/
/

71

v/

44

44
77

71

50

64 2

<[

52

<[

11

80

13

60

63

33

74

45

J.

/
/
/

75

64
31

64

/
/

34

70

y
/

73
22

84

42

80

83
71

81
71

72

- 62

51

62

y
/

82

23

44

/
/
/

84
13

64

+74

([

J_

60

21

73

53

<[

25

53

43

([

45
67

The Sepoys.
JL 64

40

80

([

17

61

Maharajah.
56 J.

55

54

24

32

74

- 41

87
75

([

([

25
47

The Sepoys.

221

SEPOYS.

O
([

73
61

63

72

83
d

/
/

81

y
/

81

The two following games show that the Maharajah must be

defeated without losing a man, if the enemy is brought up in close
formation.

GAME V.
57

77

d 24
37

13

15

- 83

16

J.

22

12

66

J_

57

82

75

37

8252

66

85

72

76

65

45

27

27

J_

84

17

2 62

56

87

+82

66

65

54

84

35

j_

42

76

25

2 32
- 53

66

46

86

J_

73

66

([23

66

2 74

16

16

32

<[

46
64

54

/
/
/
Mate.

222

GAME OF THE MAHARAJAH

GAME VI.

Maharajah.
57

The Sepoys.

Maharajah.

The Sepoys.

AND THE
Maharajah.

SEPOYS.

223

GAME OF THE MAHARAJAH

224
Maharajah.
86

The Sepoys.
53

Maharajah.
67

Tlie Sepoys.

+43

46

84

37

55

d 72

56

75
65

67

+32

77

55

_L

45

85

J_

63

27

45

+42

37

55

J.

15

16

2 32

36

85

27

d 44

46

24

16

J.

67

34

27

35

75

74

37

76

64
- 54

47

36

57

16

71

77

56

J_

44

57

46 Mate.

56
67
77

66

64

25

/
/

not necessary to bring up the Pawns in

on
this solid manner as shown in the last two games
the contrary, the game is easily won by bringing out

But

it is

the principal pieces, taking care that they always

support each other, and at the same time defend the

Our purpose has been in the

above games, not to show how the Sepoys take the
Maharajah, but how the Maharajah, though alone,
and without assistance, may sometimes defeat them.
pawns behind them.

XVIII.

DOUBLE CHESS,
The most modern game of Chess bears a resemblance
to the

being a game
looked upon with some

most ancient, the Chaturanga

adapted

for four players.

degree of

It is

contempt by frequenters of Chess clubs

but

a game requiring great attention,

of skill and combination.
exercise
and affording great
It may
Indeed, the head often aches after playing it.
unjustly

so, for it is

be played either by two persons, by three, or by four,

thus forming a more social occupation than ordinary
Its scientific capabilities are seen to most
chess.

advantage when played by two persons, as the same

mind then directs the two allied forces but when
four players sit down together the game becomes more
:

If experienced players are engaged, the

but if some of the
of course is a silent one

uncertain.

game

players are not very skilful, then it is necessary for the

superior player to tell his partner what to do, as, if

unsupported by his partner, the best player must

inevitably lose his pieces, and perhaps his temper, and
become checkmated. Nor is it unfair to do so for
:

the advantage gained by telling one's partner what to

play is lost by the opponents being informed of the
plot

game

But it necessarily injures the

against them.
as the interest in playing is lost if all the plots
;

DOUBLE CHESS.

226

and surprises are frustrated by being divulged, and so

On the other hand it may frequently
prevented.
happen, even with good players, that one may not
and thus it is a choice
discover his partner's tactics
:

two superior players, and

each has an inferior partner, and the superior player
directs his partner what to move, especially if he does
not always tell him the motive, it virtually becomes a
game of two and a very good game it is.
of evils.

Where

there are

All the Queens stand upon a white square.

T.

The Hook's pawns can move only one square at

a time: but all the other pawns may move two squares
II.

at the first move.

III.

ing.

Writers are not agreed about the Pawns queenLooking at the length of the board, and the

hopelessness of getting there, they make the Pawns

queen at the sides but they permit such Pawns as
;

reach the opposite end of the board to return back

again, like their partners' pawns, and on reaching home,
to start again, as on first setting out, like so many
"wandering Jews." As if it were possible to do such

Neither is it at all probable that a Pawn

a thing
could ever succeed in queening at the sides, when they
could only do so by successive captures, while the
I

Pawns could never queen.

is more reasonable therefore

central
It

to let the

Pawns

if they can, on
reaching the opposite side.
as the probability is that they will never reach
either the opposite or the side squares, we need not
trouble ourselves in the matter ; but may let them

queen,

But

queen either at the

1

It

found

sides, or opposite line, if

they can.

seldom happens however that in ordinary society four chess players can be
while in clubs the interest would always be exercised in ordinary chess.

227

DOUBLE CHESS.
IV.

When Pawns meet

their partner's

Pawns they

over them.

may jump
V. When

one of the players is checkmated, such

checkmate is not final but it lasts only so long as the
The
opponents' pieces continue to give checkmate.
:

party is, as it were, shut in, or blockaded and the

blockade is raised as soon as the allies make their
;

appearance.

VI. Such blockaded forces in this game are generally

made free from capture, but as all games of chess are

supposed to be imitations of war, it is more reasonable

to allow the pieces to be taken by the adversary when
he can and to be removed or taken by the partner
;

when they block up

interfere with the

his

way

otherwise they often

game.

The game is a game of combinations combinations

of assault by your opponents, combinations of counterattack and defence on the part of yourself and partner.
After watching your right-hand opponent's move to
see how it affects yourself, pay particular attention
to see how it affects your partner and if you find
the attack is made on him, do all in your power to
otherwise your left-hand opponent will
assist him
follow up his partner's attack, and your partner will be
:

powerless to resist it.

When no attack

made

is

by your right-hand
on
or yourself, then
your
partner
opponent,
for if you do it is
see whether you can attack him
that your partner may be able to follow up
possible
either

the attack before

it is

thus win a piece.

therefore

whether

move, and you may

your partner moves, see

his turn to

When
he

is

attacking

your

left-hand

opponent, and means you to follow up the attack.

DOUBLE CHESS.

228

the same reason, to put any one of

your principal pieces in a position where it can be
attacked by your left-hand opponent, when your
partner will not be able to assist you, and when your

Avoid

also, for

right-hand opponent is able to put you in check, or to

attack another unguarded piece for in this case you
:

must lose one of your men.

Should one of your opponents have lost his principal
has all his men, the attack
pieces, while the other
should naturally be directed against the latter, as the
former would be powerless to assist him.
If these rules are fully observed, the game should be
a silent one, but where a skilful player sits down for
the first time with one who scarcely knows his moves,

he ought, as we have said, to take the command of the

two forces, and tell his partner, as a general would tell
otherwise he has the
his lieutenant, what to do
:

mortification of letting onlookers suppose that he loses

1
the game through his own incompetency.

It will

But the

be said that the partners in whist are not allowed to tell each other.
is different
as the cards are not seen, the game would be spoilt by

case

an unfair disclosure to the partner moreover, whist is a game of chance as well

as skill, and therefore there is no disgrace in losing a game, or indeed several at
one sitting whereas chess is a game of skill, and occupies a whole sitting, and
:

a
consequently, losing

game denotes an

inferiority of skill,

XIX.

There

Museum
century,

King's Library in the British

a beautifully written MS. of the fourteenth
the

Norman

in

difficult to

we

in

is

understand

conceive to be

positions

in

chess,

each

but

\ve

and therefore rather

venture to give what

It gives fifty-five
rendering.
or rather fifty-five solutions of

its

forty-four positions.
2
distinctive heading,
plan, and
notation.

French,
:

Each of these positions has a

and each position has its separate

plan

ale

has the
d

following

system of

'Roy. Lib. 13, A. xviij (14, L)

2
These headings are given by Strutt in his Sports and Pastimes, 4, Lond.,
1801,
but without translations.

230

CHESS PKOBLEMS.

The

solutions are described in verse,

and the MS.

is

we wonder it
of
the
writers
on chess, or by the chess
some
by
clubs.
The following are the headings of the different
problems, with what we suppose to be their meaning.
has not been translated

so remarkable that

Guy de Chivaler
(3 ways)
Guy de Dames
Le Guy de DamoyseJes
Le Guy de Alfins
(2 ways)
Le Guy de Anel
Le Guy de Covenaunt
Guy de propre Confusioun
.

The Knight's game

The ladies' game
The damsels' game
The bishops' game
The game of the ring
The game of agreement

Game

of self-confusion

ways)

(3

Mai

assis

111 at

Guy

Cotidian

ease (Ill-placed)

(2

ways)

The ordinary game

(2

ways)

The strange

il

eyme,

(Day-by-day game)

Le Poynt estraunge

Ky perde sey salve

Ky ne doune ceo ke

Who

ne prent ke desire
Bien troue
Beal petis

loses,

situation

saves himself

He who

gives not what he prizes,

shall not get what he desires

Well placed (Well found)

Little beauty.

" Well done

Meut vaut engyn ke

Ky est larges, est

Ky doune, ganye

force

sages

Le Guy de Enginous

De

fet

Who is generous,
Who gives, gains
The game

considered

de loyns veyt

(He sees

chace de Fercc

et

Bien fort
Fol

si

wise

of the skilful

He knows how

Meschief fet horn penser

La chace de Chivaler

La

is

and the

Agreement makes law

Ley

pres sen joyst

Ky

one "?

ambitious

e ly Coveytous

Covenaunt

little

Skill beats strength

prent

Ly Envoyous
Le seon sey envoye

it

to play,

who has

beforehand

near,

who sees afar off)

man think

Misfortune makes a

The Knight's chase

de Chivaler The Queen and the Knight's chase
Very strong
A fool, if he takes
The ambassadors
His own ambassador

CHESS PROBLEMS.
Le veyl conu
Le haut Enprise
Le Guy de Cundut

The old one found out

The bold adventure

Ky

He

La
Le

put, se

A leading game ?

prengo

Batalie saunz aray

tret

emble

(2 ways)

Ly desperes
Ly mervelious
(2 ways)
De poun Ferce home fet
Muse vyleyn
Le Guy de dames et de damoy-

takes, who can

The confused scrimmage
The ambling move? The game
or plot advances? The unexpected move ?
The hopeless struggle

A brilliant game ?
His pawn queens

villainous design ?
of the ladies

The game

and the

damsels

celes

Folsifie

(2wajs)

Mai veysyn
Le mat de ferces

(2

ways)

A fool, if he trusts
A bad neighbour

Flour de guys
Le batalie de rokes

The Queen's mate

The game of games
Battle of the Rooks

Duble Eschec

Double check.

No

231

doubt the proper way of finding out the meaning

of some of these headings would be by studying the
games: but this could only be done by having a
printed copy of the MS. with a plan of each problem.

END OF CHESS.

DRAUGHTS,

XX.

DRAUGHTS
played with three rows of four on each
side, placed upon the white squares of a board of eight
bottom of
squares, having the double square at the

The game

right

hand

is

corner.

The men move

diagonally,

one

square at a time, and take diagonally by hopping

On arriving at the opposite end they become Kings at
over.

their next move.

The Kings move and take backwards

The first move is taken alter-

as well as forwards.
nately.

When

a player has it in his power to take a piece

or pieces, but omits to do so, he may be huffed (lose
his piece) or compelled to take the piece or pieces, at
his opponent's discretion.

This power remains in force whenever it is the

opponent's turn to move, however many moves may

have elapsed since the piece first became en prise.

But if he can take in two directions, he is at liberty to
choose whichever direction he pleases, even though he
may take fewer men one way than the other.
These are the rules
accord, like

war,

in

the rules

but the

of chess,

last

three

do not

with the usages

which each side acts as he sees

fit,

of

and the

opposite side has to calculate the probability of his

taking one action or another.

XXI.

POLISH DRAUGHTS,
LE JEU DBS DAMES.

The

rules of this

game

are the

same

as those of our

game, except that it is played on a different board,

and with the following alterations:

The board

is a board of ten
squares instead of eight
four
rows
of
five
having
pieces on either side, i.e.,
twenty pieces instead of twelve.

All the pieces have the power of moving backward

as well as forward
but the Queens, as they are called
:

game, have the power, whether in moving or

taking, of passing over any number of squares in a
in this

straight line.

must always take the

number of
This rule applies equally when he can
pieces he can.
take in two directions, even though the .fewer number
may consist of more valuable pieces. When the pieces
in each direction are equal in number, he must then
take that direction in which they are of more value,
player

failing to

do

so,

he

may

greatest

be huffed, or compelled to take

in the opposite direction at his opponent's discretion.

piece may not touch or pass over a square occupied

by a piece more than once in the same coup: or,

other words he must remove each piece as he takes

%*

This

draughts.

is

much more

lively

in
it.

game than common

XXTI.

TURKISH DRAUGHTS.
The Author

As he played

it

in

Asia Minor

1845

The board is the ordinary draught-board.

The game is played with sixteen men on each side,
which are placed on the second and third rows.
The pieces move and take forwards or sideways, not
and the piece is placed in the square
diagonally
;

immediately beyond that of the piece taken.

On reaching the further side they become Queens,
and can then move from one part of the board to the
other, forwards, sideways or backwards ; and the Queen
in taking can place itself in any vacant square beyond

the piece taken.

This

is

an excellent game, as the players have the

power of concentrating
all

their forces

of bringing

them

to the right if that side be attacked, or to the left

the adversary appear weak on that side, or if it be

thought desirable to force a passage. Another advantage is that a player can always gain time by moving

if

to

and

false

fro laterally,

move.

till

he sees his opponent make a

238

TURKISH DRAUGHTS.

The author once saw a

played, in which a
skilful player after forcing his adversary to take several
of his pieces, at length got a Queen with which he took
set

game

but having no
all his adversary's men at one move
idea then of writing on these games, he took no note
of it.
:

XXIII.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

Chinese

Japanese

WEI-KI.

GO.

T'ao hua ch'iian ("The book of Peach flower"), in 8 vols.

Hsien chi wu k'u

Quoted by
Mr.
Giles.
/
1

Trigantius De Christiana Expeditione apud Sinas

Semedo Eelatione della Grande Monachia della China

De Ludis

Hyde

1616
-

Orientalibus

Giles (Herbert A.)

1643
1694

Wei-ch'i, or the Chinese

game

Playing with Chinese and Japanese gentlemen

of

war

1877

1865, 1872, 1889

Mr. Giles, our Consul in China, who is a proficient

player, and an enthusiast in the game, informs us that
"several voluminous works have been entirely devoted
to elucidating its principles,

and many shorter

treatises

on the subject have appeared in collections of miscelhmeous writings. Most of these are adorned with
cuts showing advantageous positions, and giving problems to be worked out by the student."

He

us that the game, like all other Oriental

It is said to have
games, boasts of great antiquity.
been invented by the great and excellent Emperor
Yao,
in

is
1

tells

2300
300

Published in

K'ang

B.C.,

but the earliest record of the game

B.C.
"

Temple Bar,"

Hsi'a Dictionary.

Vol. xlix,

No. 194.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

240

other games, it is said to be, as Mr. Giles

Here we have
describes it in his title, a game of war.

Like

all

not merely typical representatives of the various arms,

but the armies themselves, some 200 men on each

they form encampments, and furnish them with

defences and they slay not merely a single man, as in
other games, but frequently hosts of men. The eye of
side:

the general

is

.supposed to be

over the

all

field at

the

same moment, watching not only the points of attack

against the enemy, but the weak places of his own
defence.

played on a board of eighteen squares

for the pieces are
each way, forming 361 points
The pieces
placed on the points, not in the squares.

The game

is

are not

moved when once placed down, but they

supposed to move,

one with another along the

pieces are called Tze

The

Japanese.

are

They

bottom /

are

and therefore have their connection

lines,

but not diagonally.

Chinese, and Ishi in

rounded at top, and flat at
in

and are made of

marble, or
of black and white
glass,

and generally are

Each player has about 200 of these pips,
colours.
though perhaps not 150 are played, but the others

composition,

are used to assist in counting, as we shall presently

see.
Being so many, the pips are placed in bowls
of

wood

or china,

which are always seen

representing this game.

as to playing a piece, or

in paintings
a player is in doubt
he wishes to show why he

When

played in a certain manner, he reverses any of the

pips lie transposes, to show that they have been moved

and must be replaced

in their proper position.

The Chinese board has the central points 63, 75, Jl |_

189, 303 and 315 marked out with four angles, -j
|

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

241

and the four side points, 9, 180, 198 and 369 with two
such angles. The Japanese board has the points 63,
69, 75, 183, 189, 195, 303, 309 and 315 distinguished
by dots. Such boards are, in China, printed on paper,
with the printer's name attached, so as to be ready
either for playing the game, or for scoring a game:
and there is a margin at the top for writing remarks,
such as noting a point from which a pip of one colour

has been taken up, and into which a pip of the other
colour has subsequently been played, as 94 and 283 in
the accompanying game, in each of which a black pip
was played first, and a white pip afterwards.

The game

is

now endeavours

begun by placing two pips of one colour

on the points 63 and 315, and two pips of the opposite
But should the players not be
colour on 75 and 303.
of equal skill, all these, or even the whole of the
marked points may be given to the weaker player.
The players then place pieces alternately, one by one,
placing some few pieces on intermediate points all
round the board: after which the fight begins.
player

to fence off or enclose a

camp, Kwei

in Chinese, Shini-ishi in
Japanese,
in any portion of the board, but while so doing he finds
his opponent is surrounding him on the outside.
He
field or

must

therefore take care to preserve some open space

behind him, called an eye, into which the enemy cannot
enter, such as

we

see in No.

IV

in the

accompanying

game. This camp may be regarded as a fortress having

a court-yard for the exercise of the troops. By entering a fresh piece at 78 or 98 he could make two eyes
No. Ill has two eyes, 378, and the
or court-yards.
No. II has two small eyes, one
other a very large one.
1

336, 337

and 357 are not an

eye,

but were occupied by the enemy.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

242

No.
has three
of one point, and one of two points.
small eyes of only one point, 11, 30 and 69, and No. I
has one small eye and one larger one. Now if the
enemy were to fill in this larger one he would take off
sixteen of Black's men, for they would be penned in all
round, but Black would not allow him to do so ; but

when White had

would

filled

in the sixth

fill

in five of the points,

and then take

Black

off White's five

pieces.
Suppose that this attempt were repeated by
White four more times, Black entering a fresh piece

every time, there would at length be only one vacant

and then Black would have two
point remaining
;

and 2, into neither of which could White

if Black were
inadvertently to enter a
piece at 2, he would then leave only one up, 0, and
White would enter there and take off all Blacks men

small eyes,

But

enter.

in that

camp.

For

it will

be understood that though

a piece cannot enter a single eye (where he cannot

immediately take any of his opponent's pieces) without
being taken yet if by voluntarily entering into such
:

eye he can surround his enemy, his own piece, instead

of being dead, captures all the enemy's pieces which

he has thus surrounded.

Black however would not

wait for White's attempt to fill in this large eye, but

would place one piece at 22 and another at 41, and he

would thus form

40, 42 and 61,

five

We

small eyes of one point each, 0, 2,

see then that unless the eye is a

large one, there must be two small eyes to render a

camp secure. But these small eyes should be in the
rear of the camp where the enemy cannot reach them
:

4A

on the outside, the enemy might plant

v^-o-j-o- three men outside White's eye, and then boldly
'T~V"~'
putting a man inside the eye he would destroy
I

for if

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

243

the eye by taking off one of the pieces, and at the same
time would gain an eye for himself: and this would
lead to a see-saw. 1

From

this it will appear that

piece is lost which enters an enemy's single eye, if

he cannot by so doing take any of his opponent's
pieces but if by so doing he takes any of his opponent's
;

own
Any number

pieces, his

shut in by

is

not lost

of pieces when surrounded and entirely

the enemy, as Black's 94, 193 and 283, and

White's 2, 22, 40, 41, 42

357 are taken

and 61

and 336, 337, and

immediately they are closed in

Pieces enclosed, but not entirely shut in, and which
have no eyes, as Black's 113, 132 and 133, and Whites
off

251 and 274 are taken

immediately before counting;

Pieces enclosed, but having two small eyes, or one
off

large one, are perfectly safe.

It must be remembered that 94, 193

and 283 were

and
that 94 and
originally covered with Blacks men,
283 were afterwards covered with White's men.
When each player has completed his operations, and
the further playing in of more pieces will not affect the
game,

it is

said

Huan

leao, It is finished.

Mr. Giles's Essay on Wd-ClCi gives an exhaustive account of these

of a ack, and their defence.

modes

E2

eyes, their

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

244

THE GAME.
Black.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

Slack.

245

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

246

Of

234567

10

II

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

STATE OF THE GAME WHEN FINISHED.

Each player now declares how many camps he has

Black claims five, and White two so White
made.
takes off three of Black's men, say 195, 196 and 216.
:

They then take

off the pieces enclosed

side, as BlacTcs 113,

by the opposite

132 and 133, and White's 251

and 274.
The game is now ready for counting.
The vacant points of each camp of one of the
say Black's, are

same

colour,

now

filled in

and the following

players,

with spare pips of the

is

the result.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

247

As it is not necessary to count both sides, the Whites

are now pushed aside where in the
way, so as to
arrange the Blacks in a solid mass in each camp, which
is done, where
possible, in rows of five, to facilitate

counting

and we then have

this form.

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

248

By

this

Black's

we

see that
I has 5

camp

II

"

"

"

v
V

5
7
7

x 5
x 5
x 5
X
x I5

+
+

= 26
4 - 29
= 65

==

t
II
+ ?1 =36

Total

number

Therefore White has

The

361
182
179

between the two being 5, the Whites

2^, and the Blacks to win 2^.

difference

are said to lose

We

have thus given a game by the study of which

anyone may be able to play Wei-Ki. But "the very
"
look of the game will be enough to frighten some
:

for

who would not suppose

that

the

if

game

consists in

surrounding the enemy, the Whites have the best of it,

and indeed that they have surrounded, and therefore
taken every one of the Blacks. But the Blacks equally

surround the Whites.

may

This however

is

not the game:

we have

seen, each camp or group of pieces

be considered as a fortress, which must have

but, as

court-yards, however small, called eyes, for the forces

to move about in.
Then it is impregnable, and hostile

around

are powerless to take it ; but if it has

no court-yards, then the garrison is considered to be so
forces

it

crowded together with men, women and children, that

they cannot move, and the enemy takes the fortress
and all within it.
In the game we have given as an example the
Whites have two camps or fortresses, the left one of
which has five eyes, 6, 26, 46 65 104, 105, 125, 126
;

141, 160, 161

and a larger one at the bottom

and

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

249

the right one three eyes, 75 134, 153, 154, 174 and
237, 250, 257, 258, 278; and, as we have seen, the
Whites are only five fewer than the Blacks.
It is
1

therefore a very even

game and

The game however

is

well fought.
so intricate that it requires

great practice to play it well,

game
Mr.
and

for idle play

it

and accordingly

must be made a study

it is
;

not a

and thus

who

as Consul has long dwelt in China,

Giles,
"
is a practised
None but the
player, assures us

educated

play

at

Wei-ch'i.

knowledge of

this

game stamps a man in China as somewhat

more than an ordinary person. Its subtleties are
beyond the reach of the lazy its triumphs too refined
for the man of gross material tastes.
Skill in Wei-ch'i
the
astuteness
and
so
implies
versatility
prized amongst

difficult

They could hardly believe a man to play

Wei-ch'i well, and yet be possessed of only indifferent
abilities as a practical man of the world..
It would

the Chinese.

amount

to a contradiction of terms.

All the more so,

as nearly all those who enter upon a literary career

make a point of attempting to learn the game ; but

To a beginner a mere knowledge of the rules for a long time seems hopeless and
subsequent application of them more hopeless still.
The persevering ones play on day by day, until at last

many

faint

by the way.

suddenly as it were the great scheme of Wei-ch'i

dawns upon them in all its fullness and beauty and
from that day they are ardent enthusiasts in support
;

of its unquestionable merits,"

The photograph at the beginning of this article

represents a diminutive board and

men

in

my

posses-

1
113, 132 and 133 were occupied, and 193 and 195, 196, 216 are not
were occupied by the enemy.

eyes,

but

THE GAME OF ENCLOSING.

250

the board being only 7f inches square, and the

It stands 3| inches
pieces f of an inch in diameter.

sion,

and

japanned with the same design as that of

the Japanese chess-board.
It is however generally
the
natives
on
played by
large wooden folding boards
about 20 inches square, with pieces of about the
size of a shilling, which are kept in japanned bowls.
high,

is

Ladies, however, sometimes appear to play on small

japanned boards with china cups.

The photograph at the end is from the dossier of a
Chinese draught and backgammon table in my possesrepresenting a Chinese gentleman and lady
The
playing the game, with another lady looking on.
has
the
best
of
the
gentleman
evidently got
game, at

sion,

which

his wife sitting behind

him

is

greatly pleased

while the lady consoles herself with her delicate pipe

of tobacco.

BACKGAMMON,

XXIV,

BACKGAMMON
divided into two Tables by the Bar.
each side of the Bar is a compartment of six

The board

On

One

points.

or

is

of these compartments is called the Home,

Table
the other the Outer Table. The

Inner

Home, the two

Homes are opposite each other, and the two Entering
Divisions also.
Consequently all the pieces meet each
Division

Entering

is

opposite

the

other.

Two men

are placed

upon the

point of the
opponent's Inner Table, five on the sixth of his Outer
Table, three on the second point of the player's Outer
Table,

and

five

first

on the sixth point of his Inner Table.

The placing of the opponent's pieces will .correspond.

The pieces are entered according to the throws of
two dice, and the throws generally have French names.
In throwing doublets you have twice the number
thrown, and the numbers can be played separately.

Any throw which you

are not able to throw

is

lost,

but you must play when you can.

A piece taken up must be played before any other
piece.

When

a point

called a Hot.

is

covered with a single piece

it

is

BACKGAMMON.

253

In bearing off, on throwing a number corresponding

with an uncovered point, you must play up a piece
behind it, but if none, you then bear off a piece in front
of

it.

you have borne off all your pieces before your

opponent you win a hit, or game if before all his pieces
have entered his home, a gammon, or two hits if before
If

they

left

your

table,

a Backgammon, or three

hits.

XXV.

GERMAN BACKGAMMON.
The Entering division and the Home are common to
both players. The Entering division must be either
the right-hand near division, or the left-hand opposite
division

The

pieces enter by throws, and all pieces must be

entered before any leave the Entering division.
.

On

throwing doublets the player, after playing those

doublets,

is

entitled to play the doublets underneath,

which are always the complement of seven. Should

he forget to do so, or should he not be able to do so,
" I
his opponent says
play your aces," or whatever
the number

may

be.

On throwing 1, 2, the player can call

he chooses but should he forget to do
:

may

"

say

done

after

any doublets
opponent
But this must be
for

so, his

I play your doublets."

throwing his dice, but not lifting

up the

dice-box.

an amusing game, not merely from the

frequency of taking up, owing to the pieces all
travelling in the same direction, but also from a player
This

is

being permitted to play whatever his opponent cannot

and also whatever his opponent forgets to play.

play
The game is much longer than the ordinary backgammon, and the fluctuations of the game much
;

greater, thus producing greater excitement.

XXVI.

TURKISH BACKGAMMON.
The Author

as he played

it

in

Asia Minor

1845

The Entering divisions are the opposite right-hand

divisions, and the Homes are the near right-hand
divisions
consequently all the pieces move in the
same direction, though they do not start from the
same point and such direction is, like their writing,
:

from right to

Two
before

instead of from left to right.

pieces are entered on opposite right-hand corner

commencing the game, and these pieces cannot

be moved

have

left,

left

till

all

the other pieces are entered,

the opposite division.

are entered on points

New men

from, but not including,

to

that of the two

6,

and

counting
in the

men

corner, but the points for pieces taken up include this

point but as there may never be more than two men
:

on this point, a piece taken up cannot enter with a 1

till one of the two
pieces has moved.
It is not permitted to double the pieces on
any of
the points of the opposite division, either in
entering
or playing, except the left-hand corner, but
they

may

be doubled in the

home

divisions.

It is optional in beginning the

game, either to enter

TUHKISH BACKGAMMON.

256

new

pieces,

or

to

play

those already entered

but

pieces taken up must be re-entered before other pieces

are played.

When

an adversary's piece is taken up in his entering division a blot or an open point must be left for
any man so taken up but his pieces may be taken up
in any other part of the board, though he have no
:

point to enter

at.

In throwing for first move, the higher plays the

numbers thrown. After winning a game the conqueror
enters a 5 and 6 and then throws for first move.
If all the pieces are taken home,

and one taken

off',

6 occupied by
while his adversary has all his points 1
his men, and one captive which he cannot enter, it is a

capote,

which

is

equal to seven games.

XXVII.

PACHISI.
Hyde

De

ludis Orientalibus, II,

1694

68

Personal play with natives

Calcutta Review, Communicated, with remarks, by the late

1860

A. F. Bellasis, Civil Service, Bengal

E. B. Tylor, D.C.L., F.R.S.. On the game of Patolli in

1867

ancient Mexico, and

its

Anthropological Institute

probably Asiatic origin.

Journal

FUTTEYPORE SlKRI PALACE

Pachisi

is

the national

game

In

1878

PACHISI COURT.

of India.

It is played

zenanas, and the public caffes.

M. L. Rousselet, speaking of the Court of the Zenana
"
in the palace at Futteypore, says
The game of
Pachisi was played by Akbar in a truly regal manner,

in palaces,

258

PACHISI.

The Court
being

on

divided into red and white squares,

board, and an enormous stone raised

itself,

the

four

feet,

game

It
central point.
courtiers played this

representing the

was here that Akbar and

his

harem wearing
represented the pieces, and moved

sixteen young slaves from the

the players' colours,

It
to the squares according to the throw of the dice.
is said that the Emperor took such a fancy to playing

the

game on

this

grand scale that he had a court

for

pachisi constructed in all his palaces, and traces of

Mr.
such are still visible at Agra and Allahabad."
1

Bellasis says

" There

is

a gigantic pachishee board at

the palace at Agra, where the squares are inlaid with

marble on a terrace, 2 and where the Emperors of Delhi

used to play the game with live figures, a similar

board existed within one of the courts of the palace at
Delhi

but

it

was destroyed

in the alterations after the

Mutiny."
In one of the early numbers of the Calcutta Revieiu
we read and this boisterous excitement in playing
the author has seen in his
1

India and

I applied at

still exists

its

own

"

experience

The

Native Princes, 1876.

the India Office, but could get no information as to whether it

Ought we not to have an officer charged to keep a record, and where

possible, to assist in keeping in repair the magnificent and exquisite monuments

of India, as we are endeavouring to get for the stupendous remains in Egypt ;

and one to whom the public could apply when information

?
The same remark applies to that of Allahabad..

purpose

is

required for any

INDIAN PA

U+
!I

ul

.u.
I

SI

BOARD.

259

PACHISI.

combatants breathe hatred and vengeance against each

other the throws of the dice are accompanied with
:

"

tremendous noise, and the sounds of " Kache-Baro and

"
"
and " Karo-Pauch and "Baro-Pauch are heard from
a considerable distance.

It is altogether a lively scene,

with the apathy generally attributed

to the Bengalis. ... In the cool of the evening parties
of respectable natives may be not unfrequently seen

in strong contrast

under the umbrageous Bakul, and amusing

themselves with chess, pasha, or cards. Laying aside
3r a season the
pride of wealth and even the rigorous
istinctions of caste, Brahmins and Sudras may be

sitting

>een

The noisy
mingling together for recreation.
and the loud laugh betoken a scene of

vociferations

nerriment and joy.

The huhah, a necessary furniture
? a
Bengali meeting place, is ever and anon by its
igant vollies ministering to the refreshment of the
sembly while the plaudits of the successful player
se higher than the curling smoke issuing from the
:

ocoanut vessel."

The board
I

is

generally

made

of cloth cut into the

jhape of a cross, and then divided into squares with

embroidery; one such in my possession, as seen in

accompanying engraving, is of red cloth embroidered

with yellow silk another, as seen in photograph at
beginning of this article, is from Delhi, and is made of
glass beads beautifully worked, and having both sides
alike, and even the men and dice are worked with
beads in like manner. Each limb has three rows of
:

eight squares. The outer rows have roses or ornaments

at certain distances, which serve as castles, in which
pieces are free from capture.
1

Calcutta Review, vol. xv, 1851.

The extreme square of

260

PACHISI.

row is also a castle. The castles are open to

both partners. Pieces may double on other squares,
but it is at their own peril. These castles are placed

central

on the board so that from the centre or home, where all

the pieces start from, going down the middle row,
returning on the outside, and then on to end of next
limb, will be exactly 25, hence the name of the game ;
and from the castle in middle of nearer side of one limb
to middle of further side of next limb will be 25

from

middle of further side of one limb to middle of nearer

side

of opposite limb will be

25

grace may be played separately

end of fourth limb to the home of
;

which
and from extreme
L

(grace)

first

limb will also

be 25, and out. From ignorance or forge tfulness of this

arrangement, the castles, in modern modifications of
this

game

are not put in the right places.

Any num-

<

ber of pieces of a player or of his partner are safe in

these castles, and an enemy cannot enter: but, if piecesv

double in any other squares, they can be taken off by

a single piece at one stroke on throwing that number.

The game is played by four players each having four

The two opposite sides are partners, and they
pieces.
win or lose together. In order to distinguish them
better, the yellow and green should play against the
Each enters from the centre, and
red and black.
down
the
middle
of his own limb, and then
goes
round

the

board, returning

up the centre

of

his

own limb from whence he started. On going up

the central line of one's own home, the pieces are
show that they have
made the circuit. They can only get out by throwing
The pieces move by throw of six
the exact number.
turned over on their

cowries

side, to

these throws count as follows

261

PACHISI.
6 with mouths

down
and

5
4.

i>

grace,

and play

again.

,,

,,

j,

,,

= 25 and
up = 10
2=2
f
= 3
3

>

>i

&

==

>

,,

6 and play again.

Here again there is a diversity in different parts of

In some parts seven cowries are used instead
India.
sometimes
of six, and the throws also are different
they are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1 2, and 25 sometimes 2, 3, 4, 6,
and sometimes 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 14, 25 and 30.
10, 12, 25
The cowries and dice are thrown by the hand, but
the latter generally roll down. an inclined plane, the
:

natives shouting as they roll for good luck.

When graces are thrown the grace may be played

On

taking a piece the player may throw

again and, consequently, if a piece is taken by a 25,
a 10, or a 6, the player will have two more throws,

separately.
;

one for the throw, and one for taking a piece.

In commencing the game the first piece

may be

entered whatever throw

is made, but the other

pieces
a
can enter only with
So, likewise, a piece
grace.
taken up can enter only with a grace.
The pieces

move
when

against the sun.

it

comes to

refuse to take

it.

He may

may refuse to play

may throw and then

player

his turn, or

he

do

this either because

he

of being taken, or to help his partner.

On
reaching the extremity of the fourth limb he may wait
"
"
there till he gets a
twenty -five and thus gets out
at one throw.
Should his partner be behind in the
is afraid

game, he must keep his own pieces back in order to

assist him, and so by blocking up the way, prevent
t he adversaries from following close behind him, and

262

PACHISI.

thus hinder their moving, or taking them if they do

move. Tyros in the game, forgetting this principle
that both parties must win or Jose together, or intent
solely upon their own desire of being first, make haste
to get their
in the lurch

own

pieces out, thus leaving their partners

who, if much in the rear are sure to lose

the game, as their opponents have two throws to their

one, and are enabled to keep close behind them, and

thus trip them up.

arriving at his

Sometimes the forward

player, on
limb instead of turning his piece

own

over and going up the centre, may, if permittad, run

round the board a second time, in order to

all

Sometimes the player who

assist his partner.

first is

is

out

permitted to give his throws to his partner, but

this is not the

The

game.

ladies of the

harem who play

game are
name from

this

said to call it Das-Pauchish, taking this

the two principal throws, ten and twenty -Jive.
Two games, being modifications of the Pachisi, are
1

so distinct as to acquire specific names, Chausar

and

Chauput, which will be described immediately. Hyde

calls the game Tchupur, but he gives no rules for
2
playing it while Mr. Tylor describes a game which
;

was played by the ancient Mexicans, called Patolli,

the account of which is most interesting, showing a
very early migration, accidental or otherwise, from
Asia to South America. He supposes that this game
originated from the primitive game of Tab, which is
still played in Egypt and the Holy Land, and described

by Hyde,

ii,

217

and

this primitive

game

is

supposed

to be an imitation of war.
1

Calcutta Review

On

the

game

and its probably Asiatic origin, by

the Journal of the Anthropological

of Patolli, in ancient Mexico,

E. B. Tylor, Esq., D.C.L.,

Institute, Nov., 1878.

F.R.S.

From

XXVIII.

CHAUSAR AND CHAUPUT.

Slight varieties of Pachisi in

The

move and

play, in different parts of India

games may be thus described

some adopting one alteration, some another.

varieties in these

in general

Green.

X X
34

Red.

Black.

23 24

X
73
74

Yellow.

played with cowries as in Pachisi, but

no "25," and no "10," and no "grace" in

Chauput
there

is

is

CHAUSAR AND CHAUPUT.

264

and there

no option in playing
whatever the throw, the pieces must move if they
these

can.

games

Two

pieces enter

is

by coming down the centre

and then round the board.

Two pieces start from
6
and
one
from
7,
12, while the other enters
squares
from the centre at first throw, whatever that may be.
Sometimes the two latter pieces are placed at 22 and
24, in order to catch Red's pieces, while those at 6
And so
and 7 are in wait to catch Black's pieces.
the same with the other colours. Sometimes the pieces

are entered

by placing two

pieces

on

6,

and two on

or else the pieces stand on 6, 7, 73 and 74.

Chausar is played with three oblong dice having

on their four

faces.

If

two of these are thrown with

the same number, they are doublets, and if given to a

single piece it moves only twice the throw, but if
given to two pieces standing on the same square, each
of such pieces moves twice the throw.
There are no

game, though the ordinary Pachisi board

On
used, but the castles are useful for counting.
arriving at 34 the pieces may double, and then they
castles in this
is

cannot be taken except by doubles.

The game

is

played by two or four persons, at pleasure. If with

two players, the black and yellow against the red and
green.
yellow,

All the black pieces must get out before the

and the red before the green. If four are

when one player has got out

has
his throws.
partner
playing,

all his pieces, his

These games, however, have variations in different

parts of India so that one native gives one description
:

of the game, and another another.

XXIX.

ASHTA-KASHTE
ONE-EIGHT.

modification of Pachisi.

16

ASHTA-KASHTE.

266

are regulated by four cowries all mouths

reckon as 8 and a grace, and throw again ; all

The moves

down

mouths up reckon as a grace, and throw again; all

other numbers reckon by the number of mouths up.
On throwing 8 and a grace, they may be played
separately.

On

A player is not obliged

to play his throws.

taking an opponent, you throw again.

It will thus be seen that though the form of the

is different, the moves and rules are very nearly
the same as those of Pachisi.

board

MAGIC SQUARES.

XXX.

MAGIC SQUARES.
Agrippa De Occulta Philosophia (II, 42)
Bachet Problems plaisans et delectables

1510
1624

Nouveaux Elemens des Math&natiques De la Loubere Relation du Royaume de Siam

Bes Quarrez Magiques. Acad. R. des Sciences
Frenicle
Ozonam Recreations Mathematiques

1689

Prestet

Violle

Traite complet des Carres Magiques

1693
1693

1697
-

837-8

magic square is a square the cells of which add up

to the* same amount, whichever way they are taken.
They were called magic, because they were said to be
used by the Egyptians and Pythagoreans' for the
purpose of imposing on the credulous. The squares of
two, or four cells, being incapable of forming a magic
square, were said to represent chaos.
Squares of three,
four, five or more cells to be dedicated to the sun,

the

moon and the

then supposed

same number

different planets. These squares were

to be placed in a polygon, having the
of sides as the root of the square, and

this polygon in a circle

while in the space between

the polygon and the circle were inscribed the signs
of the zodiac, and the good or evil name of the planet,
;

according as the talisman was required for the purpose

1

M, De

la

Loubere gives them an Indian descent.

MAGIC SQUARES.

270

of good or evil and, according as this was the case

the talisman was projected and engraved in different
materials selected from their supposed or pretended
:

efficacy.

The principle upon which Pythagoras is said to

have founded his philosophy was that all things are
In some things the unit is
regulated by numbers.
the triangle, the square, the
In some instances
hexagon or some other figure.
in some straight, in
they are odd, in others even
discernible

in

others,

and that from meditating on this, he

believed that numbers were the animate principle of
others carved

all things.

We

will not, however, pretend to explain

that which the philosopher did not understand himself,

will turn to the subject
immediately before us.

but

Magic squares are

divisible into

two

classes,

odd and

even, according as the sides consist of an equal or an

unequal number of cells. Again, the even squares are
further

two

according as the
these
sides, when divided by two, are even or uneven
are called evenly even, and
unevenly even. As the
divisible

into

classes,

methods of executing these are all different, we must

treat each
The numbers may be in any
separately.
kind of progression, natural or arithmetical, geometrical,
harmonic, or

serial.

XXXI.

ODD SQUARES
The odd squares are not only the most easy to fill
up, but the same principle may be applied to all
odd squares, whatever may be the number of their
The most simple and easiest method is that by
sides.
Place the first number immediately below
Agrippa.
the centre

then place the others, one by one, in a

When
diagonal line inclining downwards to the right.
or
horizontal, carry it
beyond a line, whether vertical
to the commencement of that line. When the diagonal
march leads to a cell already occupied, take a diagonal
direction from the cell so occupied towards the left,
and then proceed as before to the right. The same
rule applies when the number falls outside both of the
The mean number will
vertical and horizontal lines.

always occupy the centre, and the highest number the

cell immediately above the centre.
11

MAGIC SQUARES.

272

it is observable that the diagonals

in natural progression, 11, 12,
are
right
while those from right to left, 3, 8, 13, &c.,
13, &c.
are in a progression equal to the root of the square,

In these squares

from

left to
;

or the

number of cells in each side while in every

mean number occupies the centre the first
;

case the

below the centre, and the highest the

while the numbers equally
cell above the centre
distant from the centre, added together, are exactly

number the

cell

the double of the centre.

From

this

follows

it

we

that

can construct the

First, on the
square without any additional aid.
central number, 13, we fill in the two diagonals, 11,
12, 13, 14, 15; and 3, 8, 13, 18, 23; then the shorter

diagonals,

7, 8,

Then on

17, 18, 19

and

7, 12,

17

9, 14,

number, the diagonals

25
and
and then on 1, the
24,
24, 4
20, 25, 5,
lowest number, the diagonals 16, 21, 1, 6; 1,2; and
and thus complete the square.
22, 2
19.

10

25, the highest

On examining

these squares, Bachet perceived that

the numbers are inverted, and that by transposing
them he could get the numbers in their natural
sequence.

ODD SQUARES.

'**

273

MAGIC SQUARES.

274

ODD SQUARES.

275

Transpose the numbers outside the square to their

the 3 to
corresponding positions inside of the square
:

and 7 to

iii,

16, 21,

vii,

in the square of three

22 to the

iv, v,

and the

4, 5,

10

xvi, xxi, xxii, in the square

Then, taking the middle column as correct,

transpose the upper number of the first column on the
of

five.

right of centre 2, to the bottom of that column, ii ;

the two upper numbers of the second column of the
square of five, 3 and 5, to bottom of that column, iii and
ix
the lowest number of first column on the left of
;

and the
two lowest numbers of second column, 17 and 23, to
top of that column, xvii and xxiii. Then, in like
manner transpose 4, 5 and 10 on right side to iv, v
and x on left and 16, 21 and 22 on left side to xvi,
xxi and xxii on right and the square is complete
when the perpendicular columns of each square are
centre, 24 to the top of that column, xxiv

pushed into

A
is

still

position.
easier way, because involving only

obtained by placing

the

one change

numbers seriatim

in

276

MAGIC SQUARES.

beginning from top of central

column, and completing each diagonal row before
commencing another. When such row is completed,
direction,

diagonal

the next row must commence under the last number

of the row above

it

and, so on,

till

the five rows

The numbers outside of the square

and the square is

are completed.

are then put in their proper places

complete.

Another method was invented by Poignard, and

improved by M. de la Hire, which, however, it is not
necessary to give, as the following method, based upon
it,

be found more simple.

two squares, one of numbers in an arithmetical

will, I think,

Form

the other, of multiples of those numbers,

but substituting a cipher for the highest number, and

progression

disposing
In the

them
first

in a different order to the first square.

square

make the

first

vertical

column

correspond with the top horizontal row, and then

complete each row in the same order as the top one.

ODD SQUARES.

Now
will

add these two squares together, and the

be a magic square.

21

277
result

278

MAGIC SQUARES.

Lector si doctus admirator si ignarus scito, Quadratus hie

mathematice constructus ab uno usque ad octoginta unum 3321
imitates includit qualibet ipsius columnse tarn in linea plana quam
in recta et transversali imitates 369 quae ductae per novem easdem
3321 imitates restituunt et appellatur maximus quia maximam

possidet extensionem.

Vale.

Caietanus Gilardonus

MDCGLXVI.

Romanus

philotechnos inventor.

A.D.

XXXII.

EVEN SQUARES,
WHOSE HALVES ARE EVEN.

The most simple example

is that invented by
Agrippa.
a square of four, containing sixteen cells.
This
square has afforded an amusing puzzle in almost every
household. Place the numbers in their natural order.

It

is

MAG tC SQUARES.

280

The combinations of

this square are wonderful, all of

which amount to 34. We begin with the four horizontal and four perpendicular rows we then take the
two diagonals then the two diamonds, 1, 7, 16, 10;
and 4, 6, 13, 11 then the squares, 1, 4, 16, 13 6, 7,
;

11,10;
16, 2

1,

13

3
;

6,12;
8

15, 9, 2,

10; 12,
2,

15,

14, 5, 3,

7, 2, 13-; 6, 9, 16,

9, 5, 8,

12

16, 2

7, 9,

1,

9,7;

14, 4,

1,

12
:

15, 10, 8

14, 7, 12

8.

1,

10,

3,

14, 11, 8

14, 4, 5, 11

8,

11, 2, 13

6; 5, 16, 3, 10; 14, 9, 3, 8; 5, 2,

the rhomboids, 1, 15, 2, 16
14, 4, 13, 3;
12
16
14.
5, 16, 1,
1,
3,
15, 4, 13, 2 ; 4,
;

2, 15, 6

12, 6, 11, 5

12,

2, 15,

10

7, 10,

12

7,

10, 5

15, 7, 10, 2

7, 9, 8,

6, 9, 8,

5,

15, 4, 5,

10; 14,
11

12, 6, 3,
15, 4, 9,

and then

4, 9, 8,
5,

13;

12, 13

7, 10, 3

11,

14, 11, 6, 3

14, 6, 11, 3

9, 11, 6,
in all 56 combinations of 34 each.
;

11,

then the oblongs, 15, 14,

12, 15

9, 16, 1,

13;

7,
5,

So with any larger squares whose halves are equal,

we first fill up the diagonals, passing over the other
cells, and then beginning at the bottom, and working
backwards and above, we fill in the other numbers.
1

EVEN SQUABES.
1

281

MAGIC SQUARES.

282

groups or couplets, over each of which he places the

guide numbers, 1, 2, 3, &c., up to half the root of the
square, and then the same numbers in a reversed
order,

and changing the order of the guide numbers

for every row.

To fill up the first four rows, take the bottom

number when the guide number is odd, and the upper
For the
number when the guide number is even.
four lower rows, reverse the process, beginning at the

bottom, taking the bottom number when even, and

thus get the following ;
the top number when odd.
the result of which is very similar to Agrippa's, many

We

numbers being the same, but reversing the

diagonals, and changing over the remaining corresponding numbers
of the

64

EVEN SQUARES.
only each quarter beginning at an alternate
that of the adjacent quarter.
;

283
cell

to

MAGIC SQUARES.

284

EVEN SQUARES.
49

285

MAGIC SQUARES.

286

But we gain nothing by this process: for it is as

cumbrous and complicated as that of Poignard and De
But the fault lies in the confused order
la Hire.
adopted by them, which simply shows that a magic
square can be formed by any arrangement of the
numbers. Let us, therefore, take the natural arrange-

ment

of the numbers, in both squares

1

EVEN SQUARES.

Then the magic square becomes

1

287

288

MAGIC SQUARES.
are arranged in the

figures

third,

first,

sixth and

eighth columns only, but counting in all the vacant

and reversing the order in each alternate
squares
;

row but beginning the fifth row at the further end

and reversing the order to complete the square.
It will be seen that in each of these methods the
secret consists in balancing the numbers. Any method
may be used which has the result of placing the corresponding numbers in opposite cells, taking care at
the same time that the order of the march be in just
:

progression.

When

this is carried out, not only are the

complementary to each other, but if

opposite numbers
divide the square in two halves perpendicularly, we
shall in each horizontal line perceive that there is a

we

constant difference of one between the two inside

numbers
a difference of three between the second
numbers right and left of the centre of five between
the third numbers right and left and of seven between
the outside numbers
and if we divide the square
in two horizontal halves, and examine the vertical
;

columns, we shall find in each case a difference of

eight times the former numbers viz., a difference of
:

8 between the two central numbers, of 24 in the next ;

then of 40 and, lastly, of 56, between the outside
;

numbers.

and De la Hire's magic

285, though there is the same correspondence

But

in Poignard

square, p.
of numbers, they are differently placed in the horizontal
rows.
This square therefore is not so perfect as the
others.

xxxm.

EVEN SQUARES
WHOSE HALVES ARE UNEVEN.

These squares have hitherto been found

difficult to execute than the preceding.

One way of accomplishing the task was

much more

to reduce the

square, whose half is uneven, to one whose half is

Thus the
even, by taking off a border all round.
was
reduced
to
a
of
of
six
four, with a
square
square
border round it and the square of ten to one of eight,
and so on. Let us take a square of six for all such
squares, of whatever size, can be done by the same
;

method.
After

filling

squares seriatim with the

the inner square of four cells

in all the

natural numbers,

make

magic by leaving the diagonals, and removing and

replacing in proper order the other numbers, according
We thus get No. I
to previous rule.
1

EVEN SQUARES.

290

We now
angle

cells

proceed with the borders. Letting the

remain the same, of the four remaining

numbers of the top row the first and fourth go to the

arid the fourth and first bottom numbers
bottom
;

taken away are then made to pair with them, so as to

make the same vertical total, 37. The second number
of the top, not including the angle, is then changed
with the second number of the bottom ; the third of

top with the second of bottom, and the second of top

with the third of bottom. Then with the sides, the

go to the right, and the fourth

and first of right pair with them the third of left side
the second of
is exchanged with the third of right
and the third of left
left with the third of right
first

and fourth of

left

with the second of right. Finally, reverse the mean

numbers of bottom row of inner square and the mean
numbers of right side and we then get No. 2.
;

Poignard and De la Hire devised the following

method.
They formed an arithmetical and a geometrical square, as before, and added them together:

EVEN SQUARES.
29

291

292

EVEN SQUARES.

the result could be obtained,

it is

impossible to deduce

We will attempt,
any simpler process from them.
therefore, to solve the difficulty by other methods.
A more easy way is to balance the numbers of the
four outside rows, and to change the order in the two
central rows, as shown
:

293

EVEN SQUARES.

On

examining the two middle rows it is evident that

24 in the square of six
1 8, and 19
and of 41 50, and 51 60 in the square of ten, the
as in the series 13

lowest number of each series begins in the same row,

the other row in each square must have a greater
number by the number of cells in each row. In the

square of six there must be a difference of six between

the two middle rows and in the square of ten a
difference oj ten
consequently, in the square of six
;

we

reverse the

of 3

and

numbers 17 and

20,

making a

difference

in the square of ten the numbers 54, 48, 52

47, 53, 49, making a difference of 5, thus making
;

and

both rows equal. So in a square of 14, there will be

a difference of 14 between the two middle rows so
the numbers 103, 95, 10 L and 94, 102, 106 making a
:

difference of

7,

have to be reversed to make such a

square magic.
to divide the square into as
many small squares as the square of half the root of
the given square. Thus a square of six cells on every
side will be divided into nine small squares, each

Another easy way

is

into
containing four cells and a square of ten cells
twenty -five small squares and these now being squares
;

of an odd

number

will be filled in according to the rule

odd squares.
But in these small squares of

for

evident that

if all

these

four cells each it

cells are filled in in

is

the order of

the vertical columns will be alike, but the horizontal

rows will be alternately too little, and too much. What
all

EVEN SQUARES.

294

we have to do, therefore, is to change the vertical

numbers of some of the cells, so as to make them
Thus, in a square of six cells, on each side,
equal.
which now is reduced to a square of three, we fill in
the three column^ in the following order
V
4

EVEN SQUARES.
41

295

XXXIV.

MAGIC SQUARES BEGINNING

AT ANY CELL.
We

have stated that the ways of forming a magic

square are endless and so there is no difficulty in making
:

such magic square begin at any cell desired. Let us

take the magic square of 4 cells on each side, already
given. If we transpose one of the rows of such square,
or one of the columns, with any other of such rows or

columns, the square will still remain magic. The law

of combinations shows us the immense number of

which may be made, still preserving the

But any equal number
property of the magic square.
of combinations might be made by beginning with any
other square of 4 cells, of which many might be formed.
By changing the rows and columns of the given square,
alterations

we

obtain:
1

TO FORM A MAGIC SQUARE.

3

297

MAGIC SQUARES

298
11
5

BEGINNING AT ANY CELL.

1

2 6 9 13

14

13

299
3

The following is an example of the variety which

may be made in these squares. Arrange the numbers
in squares of five, overlapping each other, as in the

We

have entered only half the

following diagram.
numbers so as more easily to distinguish the squares.

MAGIC SQUARES.

300

On

filling

in the other
1

numbers we get

this result

XXXV.

MAGIC SQUARES IN COMPARTMENTS,

Any

square which

is

capable of being subdivided

number of compartments, the cells of which can

form a magic square, may, by the arrangement of such
compartments or smaller squares, be made magic also.

into a

Thus, a square of nine, or of 81

49

cells,

may

not only be

302

MAGIC SQUARES IN COMPARTMENTS.

made a magic

square, but it may be divided into nine

9 cells each, each of which compartof
compartments
ments or smaller squares can be made magic and the
:

compartments themselves can be so arranged as to

make the square itself magic a square of twelve, or
144 cells, is divisible into nine magic compartments of
16 cells; or of sixteen magic compartments of 9 cells
;

XXXVI.

MAGIC SQUARES

IN BORDERS.

To form these commence with the outer border, half

of the numbers of which are to be taken from the
lowest series, and the other half from the highest.
The border of the next square will be filled up in like
manner one half of the numbers being composed of
the next lowest numbers in succession, and the other
;

half of the next highest ; and so on to the centre

square, the numbers of which, will, of course, be the

mean numbers of the whole, and which numbers will

be arranged according to the preceding rules for magic
To arrange the numbers in the borders place
squares.
the lowest number in one corner, and the highest in
In the' even squares the other two
the opposite angle.
angles are to be filled in with their natural numbers,
or those which would fall into them were all the

numbers placed

seriatim.

This will be found a great

advantage in the even squares, as it gives four numbers

to start with instead of two, as in the odd squares.

For other cells the sum of any opposite numbers,

whether vertical or horizontal, is to be equal to the
sum of these two numbers. The numbers must then
be so balanced that the sum of each side makes up the
number of the square, which in a square of ten is 505,
and in a square of nine is 369. For the rest it is
perfectly indifferent in what order the numbers are
placed,

when once the

series is discovered, as each of

MAGIC SQUARES IN BORDERS.

304

these numbers with

sum.
1

its

complement makes up the same

XXXVII.

HOLLOW AND FANCY SQUAKES,

AND MAGIC CIRCLES.
ingenious combinations of Magic Squares have
been invented from time to time.
Indeed, it would be
curious to see a collection of fancy squares.
The

Many

Chev.
It

too

is

Violle,

pre-eminent

would take too much

much on

varieties

for

space,

such

discoveries.

and be trespassing

were we to give all the

of these squares which he has discovered.
It
his

labours

to give the

We

following as examples.
give below the full title of his work to show its comwill

suffice

prehensiveness.
56

306

HOLLOW AND FANCY SQUARES,

82

AND MAGIC
The

following

307

CIRCLES.

example of a

Magic

Circle

was

In it the numbers in each

invented by Dr. Franklin.
of the intersecting circles, having 12, A, B, C, or D,
as centres,

of these,

added to
as divided

12,

make

360.

either

The

half of

any

the perpendicular or

by
added to the half of 12, makes 180.
The numbers of any cuneus added to 12, make 360
and the half of any cuneus added to the half of 12,
makes 180.
Any four adjacent numbers, forming a
square, as 73, 15, 72, 14, with half of 12, make 180
as also any four opposite numbers forming a square, as
73, 14, 41, 46, added to the half of 12.
horizontal line,

HOLLOW AND FANCF SQUARES.

308

The following Magic Pentagon has been invented by

M. Frolow, exhibiting a spider's web.
1

83

16

68

93

13

78

32

69

74

14

75

19

65
43

58

28

84
33

53

44

89

X X

70

94

59
17

82

68
12

42

57

73

26
92
\

-^HL

SO

60
29

76
ID

64

61

316

41

30

25

72

as

34

71

It

will

90

35

86

91

96

67

II

be observed that the

_,

85

16

five

sides

of each

the five diameters,

pentagon are all equal, and that
from one angle to the centre of the opposite side, are
each 459, which is nine times the central number 51,

which

mean number, the

series being
inner
the
that
1
101.
And, further,
pentagon is
510, or 10 times the mean number the next pentagon
is

also

the

1020, or 20 times the mean; the next 1530, or 30

times the mean and the outside pentagon 2040, or
;

40 times the mean.

Lcs Carres Magiques, 8vo., Paris, 1886.

XXXVIII.

THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

Ozanam
Euler

Recreations Mathematiques et Physiques

de I'Academie Royalo des Sciences

Histoire

Belles Lett res

1750
et

1766

Ozanara

Physical Recreations!, translated

La Corso

del cavallo per lutti gli Scacchi della Scacchiera

by Button with

additions

1803

1766

Bologna
Lettre addressee aux auteurs du Journal Encyclopedique sur

nn probleme de
Collini

Essai sur

1'Echiquier.

Prague

1773

Solution du probleme du Cavalier

1775

Rouen
problemes de Situation.
24 Verschiedene arten den Springer

1783

les

Dollinger

1806

Chess, an attempt to annalyze the Knight's move Von Warnsdorf Des Sprunge's einfachste und allgemeinste

Losung

E. Der Rossensprung
Del Cavallo degli Scacchi
Ciccolini

Tomlinson

1836

1840

Philosophical Magazine

Le Palamede

Seconde

Series, vols.

Amusements

in Chess

ii,

iv,

and

vi

Schachzeitung Vols. i, ii, iv, v, vii, and ix

Brede Almanach for Freunde von Schachspiel

The attempt

1823
1831

Billig,

Dr. Roget

1821

1842-6

1845

1846-54
n.d.

to cover all the squares of the chess-

board with a knight's move, without going over the

same square a second time, is, perhaps, as old as the
invention of the game itself. The anonymous author

MS.

in the Library of the Royal Asiatic

Society, No. 260, written subsequently to 899, writes
"
Finally, I will show you how to move a knight

of the Persian

from any individual square on the boar J, so that it may

cover each of the remaining squares in as many moves

THE KNIGHT

310

TOUR.

and, finally rest on that square whence it started.

will also show you how the same thing may be done

by

limiting yourself only to one half, or even to one

quarter of the board." Unfortunately, the MS. breaks

16,856,

Another MS.

Museum, No.
written about 1550, but copied and abridged

off there.

in the British

from an older work, also contains a description of this

move.
the difficulty was how to perform the task in
any manner, then to find out the principle of doing so ;
then to make the course re-entering then to begin

At

first

and end at any given square

and, finally, to make
the course a magic square.
The mathematician Euler was the first, in modern
times, to improve on the random efforts of his predecessors, by preparing an ingenious though sometimes
complicated and laborious process of effecting his
;

He first filled up as many cells of the

purpose.
square as he could, as in the following figure, in
which two cells are vacant, which we will call a and b.
1

34

THE KNIGHT S TOUR.

On examining

311

numbers he perceived that

and that 10
62, the last number, governs the cell 9
He, therefore, took the series 1 9 then
governs a.
crossed into 62, from which he traversed backwards
all the numbers successively till he came to 10, from
which he was enabled to pass into the upper blank
these

10 a.
9 ; 62
represented by 1
He perceived also that some of the other numbers
would have given him the same result, as 1 53
cell a.

This

course

is

6254

a.

Another

He

And
cell

153 6256

governed by a

therefore got

19

producing the square.

40

is

6258

a.

and 57 governs

58,
:

1057:

b.

thus

THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

312
38

THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

among

his

friends

with

this

diagram,

313
having the

squares in black and the diamonds in red, and with

the figures in black and red on the diagram, and not
as

shown here separately

and underneath

"
to the Knight's Move as a Magic Square
"
With best compliments of the author."
22

this

"

Key

was printed

THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

314

Dr. Roget conceived that

the march is commenced ;

immaterial in what cell

and that by skipping some

it is

connected with the terminal one, but still preserving the same order of squares and diamonds, he
would be able, after completing the other figures, to
cells

fill

up the

cell,

cells so

the starting

As

omitted, and thus end in any desired

cell is of a different colour to

provided that that

cell.

this exercise forms a very

good game or puzzle to

show a friend, we will take a few instances and in
order to explain the method more easily, we will divide
;

the board into four quarters.

iii

THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

63

315

THE KNIGHT S TOUR.

316

To begin and end

in adjoining cells
quarters, both diamonds, say 1

and adjoining
and 64-

Complete diamonds ii, i, iv, 3 and squares ii, i, iv, 3

then diamonds iv and i, leaving out cell 56 which ought
to have been filled in with 40, because this cell commands cell 57 which leads up to the last diamond, then
squares i, iv, iii, 2 then by means of 56 proceed to fill
up the remaining diamonds ii, iii.
;

62

THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

52

317

318

THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

Then cover 45, leaving the rest of

squares ii, iii, iv.
the square, and proceed with diamonds i, ii, iii, iv,
from the last point of which complete square in i.
22
39

XXXIX.

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

approach to a Knight's magic square was to
manner that there should
place the numbers in such a
be a constant difference of the same amount between any

The

first

two corresponding numbers. By the system adopted

by Euler, that mathematician perceived that if he could
go on to 32 without entering any of the corresponding
cells, he could then fill up these corresponding cells seriatim, beginning at that corresponding to 1, and thus have
a constant difference of 32 between any corresponding
numbers. To accomplish this he endeavoured, at ran-

dom, to

fill

in as

many

consecutive cells as he could,

numbers at the same time.

filling in the corresponding

He

thus obtained the numbers

and
Then beginning again at
retrograde manner, the numbers
I

10

19 and 33

33, he

6458

51.

filled in,

in a

and 32

26.

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

320

The twelve vacant cells he gradually filled in by

transposition, in the manner already indicated, and as

we

shall

see

exhibited

again presently.

He

thus

obtained the following:

Knight's magic square, the difference between any

opposite numbers of which is equal to 32.
14

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE.

he could

321

one half of the board, getting as far as 28

to the remaining four cells he attached the letters, a,
b, c, d.

in

322

He

then,

by the manner shown

obtained several varieties of this,

in

the last example,

which the reader

will

understand.

To

Jill

up a square

difference bettveen

In Tomlinson's

"

a Knight's move, so that the

any opposite numbers shall be 1C.
ivith

Amusements

in Chess," p. 127, is

an example of such a square, but of which the author

" This route is not a
re-entering one and we do
says
;

not think

it

could be

ence of 16."

17

made

so,

with a constant

differ-

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

17

323

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE.

324

The next approach to a magic square was effected by

arranging the numbers in such a manner that all the
vertical

To

columns shall be equal.

a Knight's move, so that the

difference between any opposite numbers shall be
32; the first -32 numbers being in the same half
and all the vertical columns of
of the board
each half shall be equal the wlwle column being

Jill

up a square

ivilh

260.
1

XL.

We now

come

to the last

and most

difficult operation

of the Knight's
tour.
O

To form a Magic square

all the

shall

with a Knightfs move, so that

perpendicular columns and horizontal rows

be

equal,
chessboard.

beginning at any square of the

This was first accomplished by Mr. Beverley, and

was published by him in the Philosophical Magazine,
in 1848.
It is not only the first discovered, but is at
the same time the most perfect. For not only is the
entire square magic, but it divides into four magic

quarter squares, and each of these with four minor

It divides also into eight perquarter magic squares.
pendicular, and eight horizontal magic parallelograms
and the two halves of any line, whether perpendicular
;

or horizontal, are equal.

1
1

326

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE.

P.

In the following year Herr Carl

s, of
of
which
the
was
discovery
published another,

celebrated

by

zeitung.
2

several poetic effusions in the

Schach

THE KNIGHT S MAGIC SQUARE.

18

327

328

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE.

6

27

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

42

329

330

THE KNIGHT'S MAGCC SQUARE.

In 1884 a French gentleman, of Orleans, published

the following in a brochure, under the pseudonym of

Palamede

43

THE KNIGHT S MAGIC SQUARE.

331

332

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE

46

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

43

333

334

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUAKE.

61
59

THE KNIGHT'S MAGIC SQUARE.

335

Consequently there remains only the cell

the solution from which has not been discovered, and which remains, therefore, for the study
and amusement of lovers of chess, and for the exercise

quarter.

marked

x,

of the scientific research of mathematicians.

The following are approximate efforts for the cell x.

In each case the changing of two cells would make
the square right.
64

336

THE KNIGHTS MAGIC SQUARE.

58

XLI.

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

Magic Cubes and
In " Quarterly Journal
of pure and applied Mathmatics," No. 25
Note on Nasik Cubes, ditto, No. 29
Supplementary

Rev. A. H. Frost, M.A.

Invention of

Construction of Magic Squares.

On

1865
1866

the construction and properties of Nasik Squares and

Cubes

Squares

Cambridge,
" Enc. Brit."

1877

1882
and Caissan Magic
"
Queen," 1879-1881
(Ursus) In the

Magic Squares
H. J. Kesson On Magic Squares,
-

Since writing, some thirty years ago, what we have

described relative to Magic Squares, a great development of the subject has been made by the discovery of

other properties of Magic Squares as practised in India.

The Kev. A. H. Frost, while a Missionary for many
years in India, of the Church Missionary Society,
interested himself in his leisure hours in the study of
these squares and cubes

and

in the articles

which he

published on the subject gave them the name of Nasik,

from the town in which he resided. He has also
"

"

deposited

Museum;

in the South Kensington

Nasik Cubes
and he has a vast mass of unpublished

exhaustive nature, most carefully

worked out, which we should be glad to see published.
Mr. Kesson has treated the same subject in a different
materials

of

an

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

338

in the Queen, and we

way, and in a more popular form,
scattered
these
papers, and publish
hope he will collect
them in a concrete form, so as to render them more

He gives his, very appropriately,

easy of reference.
the name of Caissan Squares, a name given to these
by Sir Wm. Jones.
The proper name, however, for such squares should
For not only have the Brahmins
rather be Indian.

squares, he says,

been known to be great adepts in the formation of

such squares, from time immemorial not only does Mr.
Frost give his an Indian name, and Mr, Kesson give
not only is
his Ca'issa a location in Eastern Europe
;

one

squares represented over the Gate of

while the natives of India wear them as

of these

Gwalior,

but LaLoubere, who wrote

them Indian squares.

amulets
calls

Though the study

in 1G93, expressly

of these squares would not be in

object of this book, which is to

keeping with the

enable anyone to take up the pursuit of the games and
problems we have given, as a half hour's amusement

and not as a mathematical study

and
continued work
we think it
requiring long
desirable to give an example of such a square, in order
to show how these squares differ from the ordinary

and

recreation,

magic square.
In these Indian squares

it is

necessary not merely

that the summation of the rows, columns and diagonals

should be alike, but that the numbers of such squares

should be so harmoniously balanced, and that the

of any eight parts in one direction, as in
those of a bishop or knight, should also be alike.

summation

We

will take as

an example a square of

that of the chess-board

though

8, as

being

this square is not so

339

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

perfect in all its paths as a square of 10
sufficiently so to answer our purpose.

but

it is

quite

The square is
directions by other

supposed to be surrounded in all

squares filled in with the same figures or numbers.
The following diagram shows the square, and a portion
of eight surrounding squares, by which it will be seen
that the numbers on these portions are identical with
those of the corresponding cells of the central square
:

consequently it is obvious that it is not necessary to

go into these surrounding squares, but to continue

working from the corresponding

square.

28

cells

of

the central

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

340

The move 40 7 is three diagonal cells to the NE,

and then two to the E, or right and that cell in the
;

second square will correspond with 14 in the first square.

The next three diagonal and two to the right will lead
corresponding with 21 in the first square
and the cells in the remaining squares will correspond

us into

cell

with numbers 25, 58, 51 and 44 in the

first

square.

And thus, instead of having these additional squares,

we proceed from 40 to 7 in the previous diagram: then
three diagonals will bring us to

cell

outside correspond-

ing with 16, and then taking two to the right will give
us 14 from which two diagonals will bring us to cell
:

corresponding with 33, and one more will be 23 from

which two to the right will give us 21 from which
:

three diagonals and two to the right will give us 25,

and so on. These, when put in their proper places,

produce this pattern, being the Bishop's move

from 21 consecutively to 58, and its complement, on
the other side of the diagonal, 40 ; thus making a
will

summation of 260.

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

341

As each path
whether

consists of eight cells, it is immaterial

a piece moves any number of cells forwards,

complement of eight backwards.

Thus, in the Bishop's move 40 to 47, the path

or the

will

be:
40
5 forwards

47

3 backwards

54

5 forwards

61

3 backwards

25

18

5 forwards

11

3 backwards

260

And

in the Knight's extended move, 40 to 46, the

path will be
:

6 forwards

2 backwards

40
46
49

oj

59

32

6 forwards

22

2 backwards

260

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

342

The following
1.

are the properties of this square

All the rows and columns, and the two diagonals Lave an equal
:

summation.

Any

square of four

3.

The

four corner cells of any square of 16, 36 or 64 cells

4.

The two

2.

=
square

cells

130.

130.

on each side of any such square, or of a double

cells

30.

16 50
16 50
16 53
or
or
7
44
17 47
57

As

-17
5.

Every alternate group of two

figures is equal, as will

be seen in

following diagram.
6.

260.
The path of each Bishop's shortest move
260.
As 16 58 38 20 49 7 27 45

=
each Bishop's extended move = 260.
fliQpath
As 56 44 35 2 9 21 30 63 = 260.
each Knight's move = 260.
Ikopath
G = 260.
As 40 43 49 62 32 19
.

7.

8.

9.

of

of

The path

tions)

46

49

59

32

Many endless imaginary paths

As 40
14 21 25 58
7
.

40

45

51

63

25

40

53

27

15

33

11.

When

12.

As the square

20
52

any such path repeats

is

extended move (with some excep-

of each Knight's

= 260.

As 40
10.

22

.9.3

will also
.

51

14
30

itself

= 260.

make

260.

= 260
2 = 260.
10 = 260.
44

half-way 'it

of regular formation,

it

will

is

(as in p. 340).

130.

have

all

the same

one or more columns are taken from one side and put on
the other; or if the same be done with the top and bottom rows.

properties

if

An easy way of forming this particular square is

exhibited in the following diagram, in which it will be
seen that four figures in one quarter are balanced by
four figures in another quarter, each of which is exactly
Then two groups
opposite to the corresponding one.

of four others are placed in the

is covered.

the board

same manner,

till

half

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

343

INDIAN MAGIC SQUARES.

344

We

will

now turn the

top row 61

35,

and

square sideways, making the

will

then work

it

downwards

with a Knight's move, 61, 17, 2, 43, which will make

the first column, and we then get

61

XLII.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUK.

of ingenuity afforded by the

tour
is
exhibited
Knight's
by tracing the figure of its
march. In this exercise not only must every square
of the board be filled up with a, Knight's move, but the

further exercise

when

figured out, must exhibit some regular or

The following illustrations will serve
striking form.
as examples of the great variety of figures which may
track,

be produced.

more

regular.

Those on the double chess-board are still

These figures show, at the same time,

the great variety of ways in which the Knight's tour

may be accomplished, and the harmonious order of its

march.

346

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT*S TOUR.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT*S TOUR.

347

348

FIGURES OP THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUK.

349

350

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT's TOUH.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

351

352

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

353

354

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHTS TOUR.

355

356

FIGURES OF THE KNIGHT'S TOUR.

APPENDIX
No.

I.

RULES OF THE EGYPTIAN GAMES.

APPENDIX

358

I.

I.

LUDUS LATRUNCULOKUM,
The game
having 144

is

played on a

twelve-square board,

cells or squares.

Each player has five rows of six pieces, beginning at

the left hand corner, and placed alternately.
The pieces move and take in all directions, perpendicularly, horizontally, diagonally, forwards and
backwards.

The
cell is

pieces can leap over an adversary if the opposite

but not over one of their own colour.

vacant

Pieces attack each other

when

in contiguous cells

and when another piece comes up on the opposite side

the intermediate piece is taken off.
But a piece can go between two adverse pieces
without being taken.

When
in,

the

one side

game

is

hopelessly beaten, or locks himself

is lost.

II.

THE GAME OF SENAT.

The game was played on a

thirteen-square, elevensquare, nine-square, seven-square, or five-square board,

according as there was more or less time to play.

APPENDIX

359

I.

But the board must have an odd number of

so as to have a central square,

remain vacant

The

till

players,

squares,

which square

to

is

all the other squares are filled in.

by turn, begin by placing two pieces

wherever they please,

the squares are

till all

filled

in

except the central one.

In placing the pieces there

is no taking up.
When
the pieces are placed the game begins.
The pieces move forwards, backwards and sideways,
but not diagonally.

all

piece

is

taken by putting one on each side of

in a straight line, vertical or horizontal.

Jut a piece can go between two hostile pieces
I

being taken.
When a player locks himself

he

loses the

in,

refusing to

it,

without

come

out,

game.
III.

THE GAME OF THE BOWL.

This
bowl.

The

is

game

They may
board

of stakes, which are placed in the

be either counters or small mone}'.

consists

of

twelve

concentric

rings,

having the Bowl in the middle, to hold the stakes, and

the pieces which get home.
Each player has twelve pieces, and two counters or
cowries.

are coloured on one side, and are white

the other: the coloured side counting as two, the

The counters
on

white as one.

The cowries

if

down count

as two,

if

up

as one.

A player can
already entered.

either enter his throws, or play pieces

APPENDIX

360

The

principle of the

game

is

I.

the same as that of the

other Egyptian games, the Tau or Latrnnculi, and

Senat, that a piece is taken when attacked on each side.

As the board

consists of rings, the pieces on the

board are supposed to operate right and left round

the ring

and thus,

if

two pieces are on one

side,

and only one on the other side of a ring one of

these pieces will operate on the right, and the other
on the left, and thus attack the opposite piece on both
sides and take it.
But a piece can enter or move into a ring when two
or more pieces are on the other side
and cannot be
;

taken

till

the opponent enters a fresh piece into that

rino-.
O

The
up

pieces enter on the outside, and gradually move

to the centre, and then out as they get in the bowl,

according to the throw.

When one of the players has no more pieces on the
board, the game is ended.

Each player then counts the number of pieces which

have got home, and the number of prisoners he has
and the victor adds thereto the number of
taken
;

pieces he has remaining on the board.

IV.

THE GAME
The board

OF

THE SACKED WAY.

consists of three lines of squares, the side

ones of only four squares, while the middle line has

twelve squares.
Each player has four pieces, which are entered in the
four side squares
1, 2, 3,

and

4,

which are supposed to be marked

beginning from below.

APPENDIX

One

dice only

is

used on either side.

oblong form, and marked

361

I.

This dice

is

of

1, 2, 3, 4.

move down

The pieces
and out, according

the sides, and up the centre,

to the throw.

It is optional to move or not, as the player thinks fit.

Prisoners taken by either side are entered on that
side, when the player chooses, in 1, 2, 3 or 4, according
as 1, 2, 3 or 4 is thrown.

When

one player has lost or played out all his

game is ended and each player reckons

pieces, the

up his pieces out, and the victor adds thereto

on the board, and his prisoners.

his pieces

These four games with boards, pieces, and rules

complete in one box, can be had of L. Humphrey, St.
Dunstan's Buildings, E.G., price 7s. 6d. prepaid.

%*

362

APPENDIX
NO.

ir.

ADDENDA ET CORKIGENDA.

Paye

53,

Hue

After the word "result"

13.

game

see

,,

75, line 2.

,,

line 7.

Appendix

Add
Add

u;ld

For rules of the

I.

For rules of the game see Appendix

I.

In page 11 the inscription should read " Lifts

three pieces and two," not " three pieces or t\vo."
So many
pieces and so many, is just what we find in this game,
though in the game we played we did not succeed in taking
three pieces in one move.
No doubt with good players such
a take would occur; and the painting or inscription represents

two

pieces at
at

skilful players, each of

one stroke.

But two

whom

has captured three

pieces arc frequently taken

one stroke, as in the example we have given

and

this

followed up by subsequent moves, taking up other

and
thus the inscription "Three pieces and two,''
pieces,
wonderfully confirms our interpretation of the game.
stroke

,,

87, line 8 from bottom.

,,

,,

is

99,

For " marked

"

read masked.

At end. Add- For rules of the game see Appendix I.

At end of third paragraph, Add For rules of the game
Appendix I.

109, Insert 2 before bottom note.

,,

121, line 5 from bottom.

For " did

"

read mid.
For " Universal " read University.
125, line 3 from bottom.
"
H2, line 12. For " Rukh read Book.
243, Note.

For "a ack" read

attack.

see

APPENDIX

363

IJ.

Unlike the Chinese who use paper chess-boards, the Turks who
carry their chess-men and chess-cloth in a bag, so as to be always
ready, and Europeans who deposit them in closets till wanted ; the
Japanese pile their games one upon another as ornaments in their
rooms. I have two piles of these games the ornamentation of which

The lower board is that of Go, the game of Enclosing;

very similar.
the next is the Chess-board
the next is a game which I have not

is

been able to ascertain, but I believe it is played with a dozen men on

each side, black and white, and with diminutive dice only
of an
inch square, the fritillus, or dice box for which is japanned to corres-

pond with the board, and is 1^ inches high, with an internal diameter
of an inch.
The board itself has twelve oblong divisions
-j'V
on each side, with a space between the two sides. Above this game

of only

is

a box to hold the pieces.

364

APPENDIX
No.

III.

LOWER EMPIKE GAMES.

In

received from

a letter

my

friend Mr. George

Dennis, dated January 2nd, 1892, he says:

Immediately I received your letter I started for the

Forum.

The excavations

at

Rome

of late years have

disclosed the original pavements of many buildings in

the Forum, which show circles scratched of old on the

some game or other. The diagrams

I give are all scratched in the pavement of the Basilica
Julia, or of other buildings which have been brought to
and I take it that they must have
light of late years
been made in the Lower Empire, when the temples and
basilicas were deserted, and before the capture of Rome
slabs, evidently for

by the Goths: because the destruction of the principal

buildings at that period would have covered the pavements with debris. I went carefully over all the ruins
in the Forum, and could find no other varieties than I
here give you
Many of the circles are rudely scratched in the pavement, but a few are geometrically correct:
the former are very numerous.
There are but few of
:

the squares.
I could find no instances of numerous
concentric circles.
I
(I had asked him about these.)

remember

similar diagrams at

Pompeii or elsewhere, but

I never paid them much attention.

I will not fail to
report to you any other instances I may note in my

wanderings.

APPENDIX

III.

365

LOWER EMPIRE GAMES

APPENDIX

366
2-

About
About

3.

About

1.

3 ft. 3 ins. in diameter.

2ft. Sins, in diameter, otheis

similar,

but without inner

circles.

diameter, others without the radii, but with holes in

outer circle.
5ft. in

TIL

5-

Others without the holes.

About 20 ins. in diameter.

6-

About 2

4.

ft.

about 15

square.

similar one

ins. square.

All the circular diagrams appear to represent the same

game. During my twelve months' residence in Pompeii
in

847, while excavating the house of Marcus Aurelius,

do not recollect seeing any such diagrams; for, as Mr.

Dennis says, I was not then interested in them and I
do not consider it likely that the -ZEdile of such a modern
I

watering-place as Pompeii then was, would have allowed

the pavement of public buildings to be so disfigured, or

be squatting about and playing at such

games, to the great discomfort and annoyance of other
idle people to

people, engaged either in public business or at their

devotions.

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

MUSEUM OF CLASSICAL
THEATRES

IN

A.VTIQUITIES

CRETE

D-2ED.VLU3

EPHESUS AND THE TEMPLE OP DIANA

1851-2.
-

1851.

1860.

1862.

WILLIAM POLL.VHD &

Co., PRINTERS, EXETER,

OWKN WILLIAMS, PHOTOGRAPHER, LAUGHARNE.

WATERLOW & SONS LTD., PHOTO-ENGRAVERS, LONDON.

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