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206 |
SMUGGLE THE GIG |
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lengths were visible. Each leader drew a straw. The one who drew the longest had "first pick" of all the intended players, the other leader had the next; alternate choice was then made by them until both sides were complete, and were ranged by their leaders. Then lots were again drawn as to which side should go out first. The side going out had to show the Gig; anything easily carried in the hand sufficed. The "outs" went out from the den twenty or thirty yards, sometimes round the end of a house, to "smuggle the Gig"—that is, to give one of their number the Gig to carry, care being taken that the " ins" did not know who had it. During this time the leader of the ins called "out" in a loud voice—
Zimerie, twaerie, hickeri seeven,
Aucherie, daucherie, ten and eleven;
Twall ran musha dan
Tweedledum, twadledum, twenty-one. Time's up! Outs had all to appear by " Ready " when the chase began. Boundary limits were fixed, beyond which outs could not run and ins could not stand, within a fixed distance of the den. This den was a place marked by a mark or rut in the ground, about four feet by six feet. The outs endeavoured (particularly the one carrying the Gig) to get into the den before any one could catch and "crown" him. The pursued, when caught, was held by the pursuer, his cap taken off, and the palm of the hand was placed on the crown of his head. As he did so the pursuer would say, " Deliver up the Gig." If he had it not, the pursuer went off after another player. If he had the Gig, and succeeded in getting into the den without being "crowned," outs won the game; but if the Gig was caught and " crowned," ins won.
At Fraserburgh the players are divided equally. A spot is marked off, called the Nestie. Any small object known to all is chosen as the Gig. One half of the players receive the Gig and retire, so as not to be seen distinctly by the other half that remains in and near the Nestie. The Gig is concealed on the person of one of the players that retire. When everything is ready those having the Gig move towards the Nestie, and those in the Nestie come to meet them. The aim is to |
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