Sides are chosen. These stand apart from each other, inside the line of their den. One side chooses amongst themselves a trade, and then walk over to the other side, imitating the actions pertaining to different parts of that trade, and giving the initial letter. If the trade is guessed by the opposite side, that side chooses the next trade, and performs the actions. If the trade is not guessed, the side is at liberty to choose another, and continue until one is guessed.—Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews). The players that are to act the dumb tradesmen agree among themselves what trades are to be imitated. When this point is settled they present themselves before those that are to guess the trade, and proclaim three poor tradesmen wanting a trade—dumb. They then begin the work of imitation. The onlooker that first discovers the trade calls it out, and he becomes the dumb tradesman during the next round.—Fraserburgh (Rev. W. Gregor). Some of the players form a line, while three others come up and say— “Here are three men from Botany Bay, Got any work to give us to-day.” The others ask, “What can you do?” To which they reply, “Anything.” And the others retort, “Set to work, then.” The three then do some imaginary work, while those in the line have to guess what it is.—Ogbourne, Wilts (H. S. May). “Two broken tradesmen newly come over, The one from France and Scotland, the other from Dover.” “What’s your trade?” Two boys privately arrange that the pass-word shall be some implement of a particular trade. The trade is announced after the above dialogue, and carpenters, nailors, sailors, smiths, tinkers, or any other is answered; and on guessing the instrument, “Plane him,” “Hammer him,” “Rasp him,” or “Solder him,” is called out; then the fun is that the unfortunate wight who guesses the “tool” is beaten with the caps of his fellows till he reaches a fixed goal, after which he goes out in turn.—Halliwell’s _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxvi. In his _Dictionary_ it is called “Trades, and Dumb Motions.” Northall (_English Folk-Rhymes_) records this game as being played in Warwickshire. The method is practically the same as the Forest of Dean, except that the “tradesmen” are beaten if their trade is easily guessed by the others. They may also be beaten if they show their teeth during the operations. Trap, Bat, and Ball