1878. ] Notes on Indian Manners and Customs. > 309 
some water, and left him to die. No coaxing or threats of the 
agent could induce them to go near the corpse, and it was buried 
by the men of the Agency. The custom is, upon the death of a 
member of the tribe, to block up the door of the hut containing 
the corpse and never again to visit the spot through fear of evil 
spirits. They sometimes kill the best horse of the deceased and 
eat it at a funeral feast. 
Navajo women gambling—The Navajo women are fond of 
gambling, which they practice in the following manner. A square, 
marked off and surrounded by small stones, is divided into four ` 
equal parts, having ten stones to each part. A large flat stone is 
placed in the centre, anda stake four or five feet long is firmly set 
at each corner of the space. A blanket is stretched over the — 
square and fastened to the stakes, but not to shade the players, as 
will be seen. At each of the four divisions of the square a player 
is seated on the ground, while young and old stand or sit around 
to enjoy the sport. Three short, flat, smooth pieces of wood, 
black on one side and white on the other, are used to play the 
. game. The player takes the sticks in the right hand like jack- 
straws, and, bringing one end forcibly upon the stone, sends 
them up against the blanket which causes them to fall into the 
Square. If three black sides are up, it counts five, if white, ten. 
{f one white and two blacks are up it counts two, if two whites 
and one black, three. Each player keeps tally by scratching a 
notch on a stick with a stone. They are very fond of the game, 
manifest great spirit in playing, and will frequently stake all they 
have upon it. 
Apashe playing cards——The Apaches now use in gambling a 
pack of cards similar in shape and ornamentation to those used 
among civilized people. They are made of horse hide, tanned 
separately, and painted with the juices of wild plants. Like the 
Mexicans these Indians will sit upon the ground night and day, 
and in all weathers, gambling with an excitement amounting 
almost to frenzy, and stopping only when the stakes or their 
strength is exhausted. 
An Apache Medicine-man.—The medicine-man of the Ararypa 
band of Apaches is called Tseiland. He wears a very noted hat 
which could not be purchased at any price, owing to the belief 
that it came from the sun, and that to part with it would gain the — 
sun's displeasure. The hat is made of buckskin and ornamented- = 
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