Chess {sippayin — ' war-lord ')
was probably introduced from
China in ancient times. It
differs in some points from the
game played in Europe, but
agrees with that played by
Chinese settlers in Burma. The
pieces are King, General (in lieu
of our Queen), two Elephants
(in lieu of our Bishops), two
Horsemen, two Chariots (in lieu
of our Castles or Rooks), and
eight Soldiers. The King
moves as in our game. The General moves one square at a time diagonally,
the Elephant moves as the General, plus one square forwards, the Horseman
moves as our Knight, the Chariot moves as our Rook, the Soldiers move as our
Pawns. The pieces are set up very differently to ours : —




405. PASIT GAME.
Chariots at Rook sqrs.
King „ K2.
General „ K3.
Horsemen at QB and KKt3 sqrs.
Elephants „ KB3 and O2 „



Soldiers



(K's4,4th
"IQ's 4, '



3rd



Like other definite contests, the game of chess is played for money, unless

at funeral gatherings, where games are played to pass the time, without stakes.
The Burmese dominoes (thom-

bonpS) are made of black wood,

with brass nails for points.
They are held like cards, and

are played down in the same

way, not set as dominoes are

with us. Pasteboard cards

{pi) from Europe are common,

and are to be found in every

sale dep6t. The staid elders

alone of lay people take no

part in any sort of gambling.
Venial as gambling is looked

upon in general, card-player

(pk-cha) is a term of disparage- 406, angalon qambuing,






s —


^^ ^ I^^kh^^^^^b


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GAMES AND SHOWS



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408. CHINESE DICE (NIDAUNG).
