h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

the game u r discussing is similar to game called 'pallamkuzhi' played in southern states of india where seeds of as particular plant is used as tokens and 12 rach is placed in 5 boxes each on eother side and the 6th box is left empty. you play as long as u have 0 tokens in ur hand and reach a box(called kuzhi)which is empty. then u r eligible to take all the tokens placed in the next box and one opposite it
infact this is a training for children who learn addition/substarction/multiplication in numbers ranging from 1 to 12 which is a traditional counting mode in india

Is this the same as Palanguli from Sri Lanka?

In researching the entry I also found references from Vietnam (Rambool), Indonesia (Conglak), and the Philippines(Sungka), so the Mencala board has travelled a long way.

The Yoruba people count to base 10, but base 12 certainly has a lot going for it as it can be divided 2,3,4, or 6 ways. Perhaps that's why we had in the UK

12 inches to the foot (length)
12 pence to the shilling (currency)
and the 12 hour clock

Add 5 into the mix and you get 60 minutes to the hour, 60 seconds to the minute, 60 pence (or 5 shillings) to the crown.

All quite sensible, really.

Why don't you write an entry yourself on Pallamkuzhi ? I guess you're new to H2G2 but there are plenty of people around who would be happy to help you.