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Samoan Material Culture

Jackstones

Jackstones

Jackstones (sapo) was played by children, especially girls, with five stones about the size of ordinary marbles. The stones were termed 'ai which is a general name applied to small articles used in games. The principle of the game was to toss a stone and while it was in the air to execute various movements before catching it in its descent. A large number of figures were gone page 554through in proper sequence. The player went on from figure to figure until she missed a catch or a movement when the turn passed to the next player. When the turn came back again, the player went on from where she missed in the previous turn. The game could be played by two opponents or two pairs of partners. Sides played alternately and in partners, the second carried on from where her partner missed. In Savaii, there were 26 different figures as follows:

1.Singles. Four stones on the floor and one in the hand. The stone held will be referred to as the hand stone. Toss the hand stone, pick up one stone and catch the hand stone. Transfer a stone to the left hand and repeat with each of the remaining three until all four have been picked up singly.
2.Pairs. Four stones on the ground. Repeat first figure but pick up the ground stones in pairs.
3.One and three. Four stones on ground. Toss hand stone, pick up one, catch. Transfer one to left hand out of the way. Toss hand stone, pick up remaining three ground stones and catch.
4.Striking breast. Four ground stones. Toss hand stone, pick up one, strike breast with right hand, catch. Repeat with the other three stones singly.
5.Four stones. Five stones in hand. Toss one, put down four and catch. Toss hand stone, pick up four ground stones in one movement and catch.
6.Double breast tap. Four stones on ground. Toss hand stone, tap breast twice with right hand, pick up one stone and catch hand stone. Repeat singly with each of other three ground stones.
7.Back hand toss. Five stones in hand. Toss all gently, turn hand quickly and catch three on back of hand. If catch less than three, lose turn. If more than three, drop the extras. The three are tossed from the back of the hand and caught with a forward or downward movement. The usual catch with the hand cupped to receive the falling stone is ruled out. The three stones caught are transferred to left hand except one hand stone. Toss hand stone, pick up one ground stone and catch descending hand stone with forward catch. Transfer one stone and repeat with remaining stone on ground.
8.Changing singly. Four ground stones. Toss hand stone, pick up one, catch. Toss one of two stones in right hand, put down the other, pick up one in its place and catch. Change other three stones singly in same way, finishing with one stone in hand.
9.Holding all. Four ground stones. Toss hand stone, pick up one, catch. Toss one keeping other in palm, pick up another stone, catch. Keep on till all five stones are in the right hand.
10.Touching both knees. Four ground stones. Toss hand stone, touch right and left knees with right hand, pick up one and catch. Transfer one stone to left hand. Repeat with other three singly.
11.Putting down singly. Five stones in right hand. Toss one, put down one, catch Repeat till four are down singly.
12.Cross catching. One in left hand, four in right. Toss left, put down one with right and catch with right. Transfer one stone from right hand to left and repeat singly until all four stones are down.
13.Repeat figure 5.
14.Double hand scoop. Five in right. Toss one, put down four, catch. Toss, scoop up four with both hands and catch in two hand cup.
15.Striking left palm. Four down. Toss hand stone, pick up one, strike left palm with it, catch. Transfer one to left. Repeat with each of remaining three singly.
16.Double clap. Four down. Toss, clap hands twice, pick up one, catch. Transfer one to left hand. Repeat with other three singly.
17.Upward catch. Five in right, low toss and catch 3 on back of hand as in opening of figure 7. Extras dropped. Toss three from back of hand and catch with an upward page 555sweep. Discard two to left hand. Toss hand stone, pick up one of two on ground, catch with upward sweep. Transfer one, repeat with remaining ground stone.
18.Three thigh slap. Four down. Toss hand stone, pick up one, slap left thigh with left hand, slap right thigh with right hand, slap left thigh again with left hand, catch. Repeat with other three ground stones singly. The slaps have to be made very quickly.
19.Ground double tap. Five in right. Toss one, tap twice on ground with right hand and leave one stone on ground, catch. Repeat singly till four stones are on the ground.
20Tapping stones. Four on ground. Toss hand stone, pick up one, tap another stone with it, catch. Repeat singly with next two, and tap ground with last.
21.Double touch. Four stones placed on ground spaced in a square. Toss hand stone, touch ground on either side of one stone with forefinger, catch. Repeat with each of other three.
22.Scraping towards knees. Four down. Toss hand stone, pick up one, catch. Toss one keeping other in right hand, scrape one on ground towards knees, catch. Repeat singly with other two on ground. Toss, put down other stone in hand, catch. Toss, scrape fourth stone in towards knees and catch.
23.Three and one. Four stones down in two groups of three and one. Toss, pick up three, catch. Transfer. Toss, pick up one, catch. This is the reverse of figure 8.
24.Four stone. Repeat figure 5.
25.Three ground taps. Four down. Toss hand stone, tap ground with left palm, then with right palm and again with left, while right hand picks up one, catch. Transfer one. Repeat singly with other three. The secret is to tap with the right hand over a stone and then pick it up in time to catch the hand stone.
26.Double hand beat. Four down. Toss, beat ground with quick double beat, right, left, right, left, pick up one and catch. Repeat singly with other three. Here again beat with the right hand over a stone and pick it up as the left hand is making the second beat.