Some everyday costume jewellery on a tray in Hyderabad, India. The Play of the Jewels is better known today as Kim’s Game, widely used for memory training. Kipling’s story is set in the 1890s amid tense relations between Britain and Afghanistan, a result of London’s long-standing fear (stoked by Napoleon, but that was ninety years before) that the Tsars meant to invade India through it. The diplomatic tiptoeing and sabre-rattling acquired the nickname of ‘the Great Game’.
“IN a little while he will go away again. But now he is at school, and thou shalt be his teacher. Play the Play of the Jewels against him. I will keep tally.”
The child dried his tears at once, and dashed to the back of the shop, whence he returned with a copper tray. “Let them come from thy hand, for he may say that I knew them before.”
“Gently — gently,” the man replied, and from a drawer under the table dealt a half handful of clattering trifles into the tray.
“Now,” said the child, waving an old newspaper. “Look on them as long as thou wilt, stranger. Count and, if need be, handle. One look is enough for me.” He turned his back proudly.
“But what is the game?”
“When thou hast counted and handled and art sure that thou canst remember them all, I cover them with this paper, and thou must tell over the tally to Lurgan Sahib, I will write mine.”
“Oah!” The instinct of competition waked in his breast. He bent over the tray.
Précis
A Hindu boy becomes tearfully jealous of the attention given to young orphan Kim by Mr Lurgan, so the astute Lurgan suggests they play a memory game with jewellery. The Hindu lad is delighted, flattered at being cast in the role of a teacher and confident of winning, and Kim’s competitive instincts are piqued – a win-win for Lurgan. (59 / 60 words)
