Skrzetuski of Zbaraż
Translation details
Model:mistral-large-2512.Translated text
Section titled “Translated text”The objective of this game is to deliver an important letter, document, or message to a besieged city or fortress. Potocki of Kaniów wrote a letter on the shaved head of his hajduk. When the hair grew back, he sent this unusual letter, and the recipient, in order to read it, had to take up a razor and first shave the messenger’s head.
A Scout chosen as Skrzetuski attaches a sash or scarf to his arm, 60 cm long, and upon reaching the destination, must still have this insignia in the same place. The besieged fortress may be represented at will by a location, house, tree, or judge standing at a designated position. The distance the messenger must cover is approximately 4 km.
The enemy knows the direction (goal) and the exact time the messenger sets out and may prepare an ambush to capture him, but they are not allowed to see the departing messenger. They also may not cross the boundary line set for the besieged, located 300 yards (i.e., 270 meters) from the commander’s headquarters. These boundaries should be marked beforehand with visible trees, mounds, a road, or a river. As proof of capture, the enemy must unfasten and take the sash (insignia) from the messenger’s arm. The messenger is allowed to disguise himself, but not as a woman; he may hide in a wagon, etc. The game can take place in the field or in the city. However, even in disguise, he must still wear his insignia on his arm.
The game lasts at most 10 hours, which should be sufficient time for the messenger to deliver the dispatch and return with a reply.
Source scan: Polona / National Library, marked “Public Domain”. View scan — page 36.
Metadata
Section titled “Metadata”- Type: game
- Traits: Not stated in the source
- Source: Herman A. Mojmir, Ćwiczenia i zabawy skautowe (1912)
- Printed pages: 24–25
- Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
- Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 24
- Read the source text: ciz-035