ir Richard
Burton, J. H. Speke, J. A. Grant and Sir H. M. Stanley.

BAGATELLE (French, from Ital. _bagatella_, _bagata_, a trifle), primarily a
thing of trifling importance. The name, though French, is given to a game
which is probably of English origin, though its connexion with the
_shovel-board_ of Cotton's _Complete Gamester_ is very doubtful. Strutt
does not mention it. The game is very likely a modification of billiards,
and is played on an oblong board or table varying in size from 6 ft. by
1-1/2 ft. to 10 ft. by 3 ft. The bed of the table is generally made of
slate, although, in the smaller sizes, wood covered with green cloth is
often used. The sides are cushioned with india-rubber. The head is
semicircular and fitted with 9 numbered cups set into the bed, their
numbers showing the amount scored by putting a ball into them. An ordinary
billiard-cue and nine balls, one black, four red and four white, are used.
The black ball is placed upon a spot about 9 in. in front of hole 1, and
about 18 in. from the player's end of the board a line (the baulk) is drawn
across it, behind which is another spot for the player's ball. (These
measurements of course differ according to the size of the table.) Some
modern tables have pockets as well as cups.

_Bagatelle Proper._--The black ball having been placed on the upper spot,
the players "string" for the lead, the winner being that player who plays
his ball into the highest hole. Any number may play, either separately, or
in sides. Each player in turn plays all eight balls up the table, no score
being allowed until a ball has touched the black ball, the object being to
play as many balls as possible into the holes, the black ball counting
double. Balls missing the black at the beginning, those rolling back across
the baulk-line, and those forced off the table are "dead" for that round
and removed. The game is decided by the aggregate score made in an agreed
number of rounds.

_Sans Egal._--This is a French form of the game. Two players take part, one
using the red and one the white balls. After stringing for lead, the leader
plays at the black, forfeiting a ball if he misses. His opponent then plays
at the black if it has not been touched, otherwise any way he likes, and
each then plays alternately, the object being to hole the black and his own
balls, the winner being the one who scores the highest number of points. If
a player holes one of his opponent's balls it is scored