J97 



The Apache JStick Game. 



By Albert B. Reagax. 



(Abstract.) 



(Orisinal in possession of tlie Bureau of American Ethnology, llluslra 

 lions used liy permission of Bureau.) 



The Apache stick game is played only by the women. It is played in 

 the winter when there is no farm work to be done; also at any other time 

 when the women are not employed in the daily toil. At this game the 

 women are experts. It is a gambling game, and the women often bet 

 and lose all they have on it, even the clothes on their backs. Most 

 usually, however, only beads and suchlike trinkets are staked. Below is 

 a description of the game and the requisites: The game-field, including 

 its rock-circle, the counting sticks, and the three "Setdilth" sticks used in 

 playing the game. 



The G.^me FiEED.-This field is a level, circular spot, si.x or seven 

 feet in diameter. This circular area is inclosed in a circle of cobble- 

 stones, forty in numl)or. These rocks are arranged in groups of ten each, 

 that is, ten to each quadrant of the circle. The rocks are the tallies: an 

 entire circle of forty tallies constitutes a game. Besides the rocks in the 

 circle, a large flat rock occupies the center of the field. On this rock are 

 hurled the setdilth sticks on their mission of chance, as we shall see later. 



The Counting STicKS.-These are small sticks used in marking the 

 tallies gained. One of those is placed between the last rock tally and the 

 next rock in the circle in the direction the player is moving it. 



The Setdilth STicKS.-l'hese are three in number. Kach is a foot 

 in length and is the half of a green limb or a willow shrub of about an 

 inch in diameter. The liark is left on the round face: its split face is 

 marked by a broad diagonal charcoal mark across the center. These 

 sticks are all held in the han.l in a vertical position at the same time, 

 and are hurled endwise upon the center rock to fall with whichever 

 face up chance may direct. Counting the points then begins. 



Cor.xTixG THE PoiNTs.-The points in the game are decided bv the 

 faces of the setdilth sticks that are up after the sticks have fallen. If 



