This game is very similar to the Indian game of Pachisi, usually played by 4 players in partnerships. Six cowrie shells are used 'as dice' as the rules say, but obviously the odds are quite different from the outcomes using dice. The shells are shaken and thrown from the hand. They score as follows: 2 cowries with mouth up: 2 3 cowries with mouth up: 3 4 cowries with mouth up: 4 5 cowries with mouth up: 5 6 cowries with mouth up: 6 and another throw 1 cowries with mouth up: 10 and another throw 0 cowries with mouth up: 25 and another throw - BoardGameGeek