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Evidence for Pachisi
1 pieces of evidence found.
Id DLP.Evidence.827
Type Contemporary rule description
Location Deccan
Date 1832-01-01 - 1832-12-31
Rules Size and shape of board, number of dice and throws, direction of play, turns last uintil rolling 2, 3, or 4, track, pieces are moved to the beginning when an opponent lands on the same space, marked spots allow a player to be safe from moving back, players must roll exactly to move off the board
Content "Pucheesee—This game is the most popular and celebrated in India (next to chess) It is thus played; the board consists of four rectangles, with their narrow sides so placed as to form a square in the centre (as shewn in plate vii. fig. 2.) Each rectangle is divided into twenty-four small squares, consisting of three rows of eight squares each. It is usually played by four persons, each of whom is furnished with four ivory or wooden cones (called got or gottee) of a peculiar color for distinction, and takes his station opposite one of the rectangles. His pieces (or gotee) start one by one from the middle row of his own rectangle. beginning at the division next to the large central space. They thence proceed all round the outside rows of the board, passing, of course, through those of the adversaries' rectangles, traveling from right to left (I.e. contrary to the sun) until they get back to the central row from which they started. Any piece is liable, however, to be taken up and thrown back to the beginning, as in backgammon, by any of the adversaries' pieces happening to fall upon its square; except in the case of the twelve privileged squares, which are marked with a cross (see plate); in that case the overtaking piece cannot move from its position. Their motion is determined by throwing of six or seven cowries (I.e. shells) as dice, which count according as the apertures fall uppermost or not; one aperture up, counts 10; two, 2; three, 3; four, 4; five, 25; six, 30; seven, 12; and if none be turned up, it counts 6. A throw of 25 or 30 gives an additional move of 1. At the last step the throw must account exactly to one more than the number of squares ledt to enable the piece to go into the central space; that is, as we would say, off the board. If it happen to stop on the last square, therefore, it cannot get off until you throw a 25 or 30. The players throw in turns, and each goes on until he throws a 2, 3, or 4, when he loses the lead. If the same number be thrown thrice successively, it does not count. The game is generally played with six cowries, making the highest throw 25 (the six apertures up then counting 12), hence it is termed pucheesee (from puchees, 25); and the board is used as a carpet, ornamented and marked with different colours of cloth sewed on it. It is sometimes played by two persons, each taking the two opposite rectangles with eight pieces, and playing them all from the rectangle next to him: the game continues till three of the players get out. They never play for money." (Herklots 1832: lviii–lix).
Confidence 100
Source Herklots, G. 1832. Qanoon-e-Islam, or the Customs of the Moosulmans of India. London: Parbury, Allen, and Co.
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