Page:String Figures and How to Make Them.djvu/65

A SEA-SNAKE

The "Sea-snake" is played by the natives of Murray Island, Torres Straits, they call it Pagi=a Sea-snake. It is described by Rivers and Haddon (p. 152, Fig. 9). Partington (pl. 341, 3) gives a drawing of a finished pattern from Torres Straits, preserved in the British Museum (A. C. Haddon Collection) and labelled "cat's-cradle in the form of a water snake (garé)."

First: Opening A. (The left palmar string must be taken up first.)

Second: Keeping all the loops securely on the fingers, turn the hands with the palms down and the fingers pointing toward one another. Move the right hand

toward you, then to the left, and carry it up and away from you over and past the left hand (Fig. 64); turn the hands with the fingers pointing upward and draw the strings tight (Fig. 65). This movement brings all the strings from the palm of the left hand around the base of the left thumb over the back of the left hand and then to the right hand from the far side of the left hand.

Third: Put the entire left hand, from above, into the loop on the right index (Fig. 66), and move it away from you over the right little finger loop, and release the loop from the right index as it slips down on the left wrist (Fig. 67). Now carry the right hand around the left hand, by moving it away from you, to the left, and toward you over the left hand (Fig. 68), thus unwinding the strings. Separate the hands and draw the strings tight (Fig. 69).