ORIGIN OF BOWLS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5238, 13 February 1928, Page 4

ORIGIN OF BOWLS.

WHEN SCOTS PLAYED.

USE OF HUMAN HEADS. Bowlers, now know why an “ end ” in bowls is called a “ head.” This was explained by the Mayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) at the Duthie Cup contest luncheon at Wellington' last week. Mr /Tro, up said that there was a legend to the effect that the ancient Kings of Scotland — the Malcolms and the like —instituted the game by playing with, the heads of. slain enemies, and he assumed that the first notion of bias ip a bowl wiasi caused through the nasal protuberance. That wasi 5. ghastly business, anid as their culture improved they played with stone bowls, probably for some hundreds of years. Then from stone, they turned to wood, and with the change of material so the game became more refined in spirit and exact in laws. • In Tudor times' bowls became so popular that the Government had to issue an edict forbidding all. reputable citizens to play the game, so as much time was occupied in the pastime that the practice of archery, on which the safety ®f the Kingdom depended, was neglected.

Mr Troup siaid that he was very much surprised to find, on visiting America, that the game was not played there, because so many Scotchmen had taken up their residence in that country. He read an account by and American visitor to Rotorua, who, after dilating on the wonlders of the hot springs and boiling mud, said: “Then on on the lawns in front of the bath house we saw a number men in white woollen flannels throw a little white ball up the* green, and then follow it up with large black balls. Then they went up to the other end and repeated it all over again. This, went on for hours- Still, as the poor fellows seemed perfectly harmless! we didn’t interfere I”