|
Evidence for Li'b al-'Aqil
1 pieces of evidence found.
Id DLP.Evidence.1251
Type Ethnography
Location Modern Egypt
Date 1836-01-01 - 1836-12-31
Rules 2x6 board. 72 counters are distributed unevenly into the holes with the only rule that corresponding holes on either side of the board must contain counters. The opponent moves first, but may flip the board around if they prefer that arrangement, sacrificing the first move. Counters are sowed in an anti-clockwise direction from a hole in the player's row. If the last counter falls into a hole making it odd, these are picked up and sowing continues. If it lands in a hole making it even, these counters are captured as are the ones in the opposite hole. If the previous hole also has an even number, these and the ones in the opposite hole are captured. If the last counter falls into an empty hole, the turn ends. If a player has no counters in their holes, the opponent must give them one counter, to be placed in the leftmost hole and played from there. Play ends when the board is cleared of counters. Each player counts the number of counters they captured. The player with more counters is given a score equal to the difference in the number of counters. Another round begins again exactly as before. The game is won when a player accumulates sixty points.
Content "Others generally play ion a different manner,which is termed "the game of the wise, or intelligent" ("leab el-'akil"), and which now must be described. The hasa are distributed in one or more beyts on one side, and in the corresponding beyt or beyts on the other side; commonly in four beyts on each side, leaving the two extreme beyts of each side vacant: or they are distributed in any other conventional manner; as, for instance, about half into beyt A and the remainder in beyt a. The person who distributes the hasa does not count how may he places in a beyt; and it is at his option whether he places them only in one beyt on each sixe, or in all the beyts. Should the other person object to his distribution, he may turn the board round; but in that case he forfeits his right of playing first. The person who plays first may begin from any one of his beyts; judging by his eye which will bring him the best fortune. He proceeds in the same manner as before described; putting one hasweh in each beyt; and taking in the same cases as in the former mode; and then the other plays. After the first gain, he counts the hasa in each of his beytsl and plays from that which will bring him the greatest advantage...The gain of one party after finishing one board is counted, as in the former mode, by the excess of the number he has take above the number acquireed by the other; and the first who makes his successive gains to amount to sixty wins the game...it is commonly played at the coffeeshops." Lanes 1836: 346.
Confidence 100
Source Lane, E. W. 1836. An Account of the Manners and Customs of the Modern Egyptians. London: John Murray.
|
