Expert: Mickey Hollander - 1/22/2004

Question
Hello Kind Folks,
           I was at a get together the other day and I noticed a couple of people playing a very unusal game.I asked them what it was called but couldn't quite here what they had said due to the noise.I'm trying to found out the name of it is,and any other information that you might be able to help me with.I'll try to describe it:It had a long tray with small bowl like containers that went around the length of the tray,with one larger one on each end and several mini ones around the sides.The two players positioned on each of the long sides where picking up glass type,but flat marbles and taking turns picking them up and replacing them in different trays.If you have seen this game you'll know exactly what I am talking about otherwise you might think i'm just nuts : )Any help or information on this game would be greatly appreciated.
                   Sincerely,
                   Skyler

Answer
Hi Skyler!
Well, that would be a game called Mancala.  You can find many many versions of the 2-player game at your local corporate stores such as Target, K-Mart, Wal-Mart and the likes.   Each game comes with a couple different versions on "how-to-play".  A new version has just emerged called "4 Mancala" and it is a 4 player version of the game.

You can find information on Mancala at these links:
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/game/2448
http://boardgamecentral.com/games/mancala.html

and info about 4mancala (much harder to find) here:
http://naturalplay.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/4mancala.html


Enjoy and thanks for asking!   Anytime!!
-mickey