THE BATTA GAME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE BATTA GAME.

Before you play the " Batta " game ask the grown-ups of the family to keep all the used matches for you. A word is necessary as to the origin of the Batta game.' The Battas oi Sumatra have a most complicated way of communicating with each other. They string together cut strips of wood, about Sin. in length, all shaped differetly. The thong holding the pieces together passes round the centre of each atrip, so that the pieces are parallel to each other; there is a short interval oetween each. The whole string constitutes a message. Remembering this, take for your game a piece of string and' your collection ot used matches. Now each match, suitably elaborated, will in the final message constitute some letter, syllable, or word. You must agree, then, first of all, what your sticks are to represent. Some such rule as the following anight serve: — A match with the black burnt-out tip ! on it spells " and," a half match with the tip on is "a," a three-quarter match with the tip on is " c," a half-match without the tip li i," a three-quarter match without the tip " o." a whole one without the tip "u." The consonants might be variously indicated by one, two, three, or more notches or markings. By far the most interesting part of the game, however, will consist in deciding ; upon the alphabet for the occasion. When this momentous decision has been taken the first player will string togethei a message. Taking the various matches which represent the letters required, they i should be tied in due rotation to the ; string, taking care that the string passes over the centre of the matches, and '.hat the matches are parallel and at right ngles to the string. The message made up, the string is -assod to the other players, who, heads ogether, will proceed to puzzle out the neaning. It will be wise, when begin ling the game, to keep a written copy of the alphabet to be used; the player' may then on their first attempts be a! 'owed to use this guide to the solution. \i!ter some practice this guide may be taken away. The game has this undoubted advan t.age that it may always be kept fresh b\ the substitution of a fresh alphabet.