COLLECTANEA.
New Year's Day in Scotland, 1909.
The following notes were compiled from the local paragraphs in the Aberdeen Free Press and The Scotsman for Jan. 2nd, 1909.
Games.[1]
Dornoch.—The all but obsolete game of "bools" was engaged in on the links by about 50 people.
Kirkcaldy.—Ravenscraig Castle was, as usual, thrown open to the public for the day, and the ancient game of "Bawbee she Kyles" was taken part in.
Kirkwall.—The chief form of amusement was the ball playing. … The ball for boys fell to the Down-the-gates; that for youths to the Up-the-gates. The struggle for the men's ball was a most determined one, and … ultimately the Up-the-gates were victorious. (Cf. Gomme, The Traditional Games of England, etc., vol. i., pp. 135-7.)
Wemyss.—The "Kyles," a game peculiar to Wemyss, was played yesterday, when the medal was won by Thos. Coventry, W. Wyles, a former winner, being runner up. [This game is played with a metal ball and leather thong.][2]
Guizing or Mumming.
Kelso.—Bands of youngsters were out "guizanting." (Guizan- ting is synonymous with guizing. A long account of "The Dying Guizard," or guizer, appeared in The Scotsman, Dec. 31st, 1902.)
- ↑ Further information as to the games is desired. They are not described in Mrs. Gomme's Traditional Games except where indicated.—Ed.
- ↑ Is this similar to the game described in "More Notes on Old English Games," Badminton Magazine, Jan. 1897, as Kailles or Cayles, played with nine shank bones of cattle and a stick or wooden bowl to throw at them?
