NO.™ 6]^' ^^^' ^^"^ ^^ CHANGING WOMAN — BASSO 161 



that she is a young adult, she should aspire.^* These are physical 

 strength, a good disposition, prosperity, and, finally, a sound, healthy, 

 uncrippled, old age. To understand why these particular life objec- 

 tives are emphasized, it will be necessary to show their relevance 

 to other aspects of Western Apache culture — the supernatural world, 

 the role of women in the native economy, kinship obligations, witch- 

 craft belief, and the natural environment. It will be seen that the 

 significance of achieving the life objectives is apparent only when 

 the consequences and implications of failing to achieve them are 

 understood. 



OLD AGE 



Attaining old age is closely connected with triumph over the malev- 

 olence of the supernatural world. The Western Apache universe, 

 like that of the Navaho, is thought to be filled with a large number 

 of capricious forces which, unless treated with extreme care and 

 respect, may well cause sickness and death (Goodwin, 1938, p. 28). 

 Perhaps the greatest single source of anxiety for an Apache is that 

 he has unwittingly offended such a force and that disaster is close 

 at hand. Life may be seriously disrupted or ended altogether as 

 a result of such transgressions, and the innumerable curing cere- 

 monies held by Apaches are but attempts to neutralize them. 



The people say it is possible to stay on good terms with the super- 

 natural. However, this is difficult and requires a rigid observance 

 of taboos, prayers, and the possession of strong individual power. 

 A man must never boil the stomach of a deer he has kUled, nor let 

 the hair loosened by brushing a horse's tail touch the ground. Women 

 must grind corn in a special manner, and take care that water never 

 falls on an eagle feather. Prayers should be offered on a variety of 

 occasions — at the birth of a child, when a new wickiup is built, before 

 the hunt, and prior to a long journey. By adhering to proscriptions 

 such as these, an amicable and "safe" relationship with supernatural 

 forces can be maintained. Apaches are quick to add, however, that 

 there are times when, despite all precautionary efforts, the adverse 

 forces are antagonized, in which case obeying taboos and offering 

 prayers have little protective value. An additional safeguard is 

 needed — personal or individual power. One who possesses such 

 power can avoid sickness and prolong life. 



As sjmabolized by the four runs in phase IV of na ih es, Apaches 

 divide life into a clearly defined progression of stages: childhood. 



" "Liie objectives" refers to those aims in life which, eitlier declared or implied, are considered most 

 desirable and worthy of achievement and which, because of their fundamental nature, stimulate activity 

 and regulate behavior. 



In preparing this definition, I was greatly aided by the writings of Opler (1945, ppi 198-206), Linton 

 1945, pp. 111-113), Kluckhohn and Murray (1961, pp. 58-60), and F. Kluckhohn (1961, pp. 348-361). 



