Note: The name Checkers has been used in the United States since the 19th century; games of the same type have long been called Draughts in Europe. Culin used the European name for this game.

86. Moo - DRAUGHTS

Played on a board or diagram (pa-pa-ko-na-ne) of 8 by 8 squares (Plate XI, d) cut on a flat stone, the alternate squares on which the pieces are placed being marked with crossed diagonal lines. The men (i-li-i-li), twelve on each side, consist of red pebbles (i-li-i-li u-la) and black pebbles (i-li-i-li e-le-e-le), which are placed on the marked squares. The play is identical with our game of draughts, except that a king (a-li-i, "chief ") can move or jump any number of squares, like the queen in chess. There are little holes, lu-a, in the center of the marked squares to hold the stones. A king, or a-li-i, is made by putting two stones in the hole. The squares are called ha-le, " houses."

The game above described, which was communicated to me by the four natives, is not mentioned by the name of moo in Andrews' Dictionary. It exactly agrees in the king's move¹ with the game of dama or draughts played in the Philippine islands, differing in the men being placed within the squares instead of at the intersection of the lines.

Note: 1. The same as in Polish draughts. Speaking of New Zealand, Tregear says: "Draughts, mu, some think an introduced game, but I think it can well be proved to be ancient."