[Snickersnee]

Ah, yes. The thought process, such as it was, must have gone like:

-People playing this game are old;

-Old people play shuffleboard;

-Therefore this game must be like shuffleboard. LOL

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Not entirely unlike that. He wasn't trying to explain the rules of a particular game, he was trying to convey to his audience a sense of the atmosphere of this group of pilgrims. I think he succeeded admirably, this is the essence of good writing. I applaud the author.