BURMESE AND SHAN DOMINOES


Plate 10

A set of Burmese dominoes in the National Museum are of teak wood and measure 2 by 1 by 3/8 inches (Plate 10). The spots are marked with incised circles.

They number 24 pieces, marked as follows: 6-6, 1-1, 4-4, 1-3, 5-5, 3-3, and 2-2 duplicated, and one each of the following pieces : 6-3, 4-5, 6-2, 5-3, 4-3, 5-2, 2-4, 1-4, 2-3, and 1-2, the last having 2 smaller spots adjoining the "1".

They are accompanied by a cubical die about three-fourths inch square, with 2 opposite faces marked with 1 spot, 2 opposite faces marked with 2 spots, and 2 opposite faces marked with 3 spots. This is used to decide who shall play first.

A set of Burmese dominoes, from Rangoon, sent to the writer by the Hon. Sir C.H.T. Crosthwaite, lieutenant-general Northwest Provinces, British India, are identical with the preceding, except that the spots are marked with small brass disks.

A set of Burmese dominoes in the British Museum are made of black horn, and number 32 pieces. They measure 11 inches in length by three-fourths of an inch in width and have incised spots, which are painted red and yellow and arranged according to the Chinese system. The backs are uniformly marked with "1" and "3" spots composed of concentric circles, and the ends each bear 1 spot similarly inscribed.

Another set of Burmese dominoes in the same collection are made of black wood, with the spots painted red and white.

Dice are called anzamiā (singular anzá) in Burmese. The Burmese dice in the museum of the University of Pennsylvania are small ivory cubes, regularly marked and having the fours in red, and are identical with the Chinese.

A set of Shan dominoes in the British Museum, presented by Maj. E. B. Gladen, are identical in every respect with the horn dominoes from Burma in the same museum. [Page 529]


Last update January 31, 2010