Pachisi is a cross and circle board game that originated in ancient India which has been described as the "national game of India". It is played on a board shaped like a symmetrical cross.  Trade with India by the Portuguese and Spanish introduced the game to Western civilization around the 16th Century. It as very popular aboard ship, and taken very seriously.  It was brought to Britain in the nineteenth century, made easier to play and called 'Ludo' .

The game was adopted by the British Royal Navy, and played as a variant knowwn as "Uckers"., where it has a long tradition in the navy. The origins of the game, are essentially clouded in mystery - for sailors seldom record in their ditty books, or diary what they had to eat that day, the songs they sung or the rules of the messdeck game, they played. Such being considered common knowledge. - Yet the evidence would most certainly suggest that  Uckers was based on the the ancient Indian game of Chauper, with some influence coming from the similar game of Pachisi which is more like 'Ludo'.

In the Brish Navy, the game became familiar to the officers and men of the East Indian Company Armies and of course the Indian Navy. They in turn brought it back home with them to the West at a later date. The familiarity with the game, probably passed via the Indian and Burmese naval forces, into the Royal Navy, probably at about the time of the early Burmese Wars of the 1820's or more certainly during the second Burmese war of 1853. But certainly by the Indian Mutiny of 1857, where men of the Royal Navy spent much time, in the center of India. A similar process of passage into the Navy was made with the Chinese game of Maj-Jong following the opium wars of 1842 and Chinese wars of the late 1850's after which their was a consistent presence of gun boats around shanhghai and Hong Kong.

It is well noted, that  after the 'Indian Mutiny' of 1857, the game in its simplified form, was well known in England and America, where it was quickly known by the title of 'Ludo' (Latin for 'I Play'), as said the rules of that game are more akin to Pachisi and we find frequent mention being made after that date, in connection with the games available at Pub, or Public House Registrations etc.The game with the title of Ludo, was first published in England in 1863. In that form, two to four persons play, without partnerships using one dice. In America a similar game to Ludo was known as Parcheesi, verifying the earlier connection, and published examples can be dated from about 1867 when a Mr John Hamilton sold the rights to a New York manufacturer in 1868. However boards of similar construction, are dated well before this, in the American folk collections of the 1850's.

This is an extremely fun and popular classic game modeled after "Parcheesi" and "Ukers", is played with two dice (included) for 2-4 players and is perfect for a pirate encampment, family game night or party. This edition by Classic Games features: 1 gameboard, 16 game pieces, 2 dice and instructions.

Features:

  • Woodgrain printed deluxe gameboard
  • 16 game pieces
  • 2 dice
  • All Instructions


Pacheesi by Classic Games Pacheesi / Parcheesi/ Pachisi/ Ludo / Uckers Classic Tradtional Board Game

  • Product Code: pacheesi
  • Availability: In Stock
  • $9.99


Tags: parhcessi, pachisi, ludo, uckers, game, game night, board games