During field work in Dutch Guiana, it had been discovered that a certain African
game, named variously adji boto and wari, was played by the Negroes of the bush
and coastal region there. Because it was an important item in the list of New
World African survivals, attempts were made to discover its further distribution
in the Caribbean islands, since certain almost involun tary reactions of
Trinidad Negroes who had seen a board collected in Guiana indicated that they
were not entirely unacquainted with the game, despite the fact that none of them
would admit knowing it.

At St. Vincent, therefore, no time was lost in making inquiry of one
of the boatmen who rowed passengers ashore. "Wari, wari?" He
repeated the term. "Never heard of it." It was then explained that
the game was played with "horse-nickel" seeds on a board having
twelve holes, whereupon he replied, "Oh, you mean wari ! I've heard
of it, but we doesn't play it here. They plays it strong in Trinidad."
It was then indicated that at Trinidad it had been said that the game
was played in St. Vincent, and disappointment was expressed that
it would not be possible to have a game before the ship left port.
Since few whites know this game, the man looked up sharply. "You
play wari ? French or English ?" On learning that either was accept-
able, he pondered further. "I think I know a man who has a board
like that. I'll see if I can find him." Eventually, the game was played with
this same boatman, in his own house, on his own board !

The incident becomes the more significant when it is borne in mind that the game
has no moral or political importance that would lead to its suppression; that it
is not a gambling game, but is played for the
prestige that goes with winning; that there is no reason why anyone
should deny knowing it. Yet in the islands, unless one comes on men
actually playing it, knowledge even of its existence is almost in-
variably denied; and not until it becomes clear that it is already
known to an inquirer is there any relaxation of vigilance concerning
this game, which is so closely identified with Negro life.

Source: "THE MYTH OF THE NEGRO PAST" (Herskovits 1940)