The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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	MAGICAL MUSIC—MALAGA, MALAGA RAISINS 363 led up between the two rows of players, has a cloak put round his shoulders and a cap with a feather in it on his head. The whistle is then fastened on to the cloak. This is described by the Rev. J. G. Wood (Modern Playmate, p. 189). Newell (Games, p. 122) gives this with a jesting formula of initiation into knighthood. He says it was not a game of children, but belonged to an older age. See " Call-the-Guse." Magical Music A pleasant drawing-room evening amusement. — Moor's Suffolk Words. Probably the same as " Musical Chairs." Malaga, Malaga Raisins A forfeit game. The players sat in a circle. One acquainted with the trick took a poker in his right hand, made some eccentric movements with it, passed it to his left, and gave it to his next neighbour on that side, saying, " Malaga, Malaga raisins, very good raisins 1 vow," and told him to do the same. Should he fail to pass it from right to left, when he in his turn gave it to his neighbour, without being told where the mistake lay, he was made to pay a forfeit.—Cornwall (Folk-lore Journal, v. 50). 11 Malaga raisins are very good raisins, but I like Valencias better," is the saying used in the London version of this game, and instead of using a poker a paper-knife is used, and it is played at the table. Other formulae for games of this kind are, "As round as the moon, has two eyes, a nose, and a mouth." These words are said while drawing on a table with the fore­finger of the left hand an imaginary face, making eyes, nose, and mouth when saying the words. The fun is caused through those players who are unacquainted with the game drawing the imaginary face with the right hand instead of the left. Another formula is to touch each finger of the right hand with the forefinger of the left hand, saying to each finger in succession, " Big Tom, Little Tom, Tommy, Tom, Tom." The secret in this case is to say, " Look here!" before commencing the formula. It is the business of those players who know the