In Mid-Cornwall, in the second week of June, at St. Roche, and in one or two adjacent parishes, a curious dance is performed at their annual “feasts.” It enjoys the rather undignified name of “Snail Creep,” but would be more properly called the “Serpent’s Coil.” The following is scarcely a perfect description of it:—“The young people being all assembled in a large meadow, the village band strikes up a simple but lively air and marches forward, followed by the whole assemblage, leading hand-in-hand (or more closely linked in case of engaged couples), the whole keeping time to the tune with a lively step. The band, or head of the serpent, keeps marching in an ever-narrowing circle, whilst its train of dancing followers becomes coiled around it in circle after circle. It is now that the most interesting part of the dance commences, for the band, taking a sharp turn about, begins to retrace the circle, still followed as before, and a number of young men, with long leafy branches in their hands as standards, direct this counter movement with almost military precision.”—W. C. Wade (_Western Antiquary_, April 1881). A game similar to the above dance is often played by Sunday school children in West Cornwall, at their out-of-door summer treats, called by them “Roll tobacco.” They join hands in one long line, the taller children at their head. The first child stands still, whilst the others in ever-narrowing circles dance around singing until they are coiled into a tight mass. The outer coil then wheels sharply in a contrary direction, followed by the remainder, retracing their steps.—Courtney’s _Cornish Feasts and Folk-lore_, p. 39. A Scottish game, “Row Chow Tobacco,” described by Jamieson, is played in the same way, the boy at the extremity being called the “Pin.” A clamorous noise succeeds the “winding up,” the players crying out “Row Chow Tobacco” while giving and receiving the fraternal hug. The words are pronounced Rowity-chowity-bacco. The naming of this game in connection with tobacco is curious. It is undoubtedly the same as “Snail Creep.” I am inclined to think that all these games are connected with an ancient form of Tree-worship, and that the analogy of tobacco-rolling is quite modern. See “Bulliheisle,” “Eller Tree,” “Tuilyie-waps,” “Wind up the Bush Faggot.” Snapping Tongs See “Musical Chairs.” Snatch Apple A game similar to “Bob Cherry,” but played with an apple.—Halliwell’s _Dictionary_. Snatch Hood An undescribed boy’s game mentioned in a statute of Edward III.’s time.—Halliwell’s _Dictionary_. Soldier I am an old soldier, I come from the war, Come from the war; I am an old soldier, I come from the war, And my age it is sixty-and-three. I have but one son and he lies alone, lies alone, I have but one son and he lies alone; And he’s still making moan for lying alone. Son, go choose a wife of your own, Choose a good one or else choose none, Or bring none home to me.