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212 DROPPING THE LETTER—DUCK UNDER, &c.
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At Beddgelert, Wales (Mrs. Williams), this game is called Tartan Boeth. It is played in precisely the same manner as the English game, but the words used are :
Tartan Boeth, Oh ma'en llosgi, Boeth iawn Hot Tart. Oh, it burns ! very hot!
At the words, " Very hot! " the handkerchief is dropped.
(b) In this game no kissing takes place, and that this is no mere accidental omission may be shown by Mr. Udal's description of the Dorsetshire game. He was assured by several persons who are interested in Dorset Children's Games that the indiscriminate kissing (that is, whether the girl pursued runs little or far, or, when overtaken, whether she objects or not) with which this game is ordinarily associated, as played now both in Dorset and in other counties, was not indigenous to this county, but was merely a pernicious after-growth or outcome of later days, which had its origin in the various excursion and holiday fetes, which the facilities of railway travelling had instituted, by bringing large crowds from the neighbouring towns into the country. He was told that thirty years ago such a thing was unknown in the country districts of Dorset, when the game then usually indulged in was known merely as " Drop the Handkerchief" (Folk-lore Journal, vi. 212).
In other cases the rhymes are used for a purely kissing game, for which see " Kiss in the Ring." -
Dropping the Letter
An undescribed Suffolk boys' game.—Moor's Suffolk Words, p. 238.
Duck under the Water
Each child chooses a partner, and form in couples standing one before the other, till a long line is formed. Each couple holds a handkerchief as high as they can to form an arch. The couple standing at the end of the line run through the arch just beyond the last couple standing at the top, when they stand still and hold their handkerchief as high as possible, which is the beginning of the second arch; this is repeated by every last couple in succession, so that as many arches as are |
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