Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-15

pIOuuUIc Huuuci 10 tIioc, uus oh
confident they do not come up in num-
bers to the usual estimate. ! do not
think they exceed two thousand, or two
thousand five hundred, all told. Their
women are not subject to that slavery
in labor so common amongst our cas-.
tern tribes, but are independent enough
to leave their husbands whenever it so
pleascs them, and thus to dissolve the
marriage bond. The custom observed
amongst other tribes of pressing infants
between narrow strips Of board, is here
practiscd by tho Navajo women, but
not to the extent Of producing much dis.
fgurement. But few of the names Of
Navuja warriors have been obtained,
they have decided unwillingness to
make known to strangers their own
names or those of their friends. In this
they seem to be governed by supcrstiti'
Gus feeling. With the exception ol
some of the head men, the names Of
none Of them are known, save by some
Mexican appelation, contracted among
the New Mexican settlements. Nava.
JOS are great pillcrers and thieves, the
women more than the men; nothing is
safe within their reach. Many of these
Indians speak Spanish quite we'll which
language they have acquired from their
frequent visits to the Mexican settle.
ments of the Rio Abajo.
The practice of carrying fre.brands
in their hands when journeying from
place to place, in the winter season,
has been noticel among them. This
is, most probably, to convey the means
Of making fire at any other place.
Such custom is spoken of as existing
among the Indians, near the upper shore;
of the Gulf of California, by the chroni
clers of Coronado's expedition, three
centuries ago. After storing away thei
crops Of corn, pumpkins, &C., in th'
months of August and September, the!
devote themselves 10 their annual dance
which seems 10 answer TO the green
corn dance of other tribes. The marie,
women do not dance; if they ever breal
through this rule, it is TO show their dis
satisfaction with their husbands. A
any rate, it is sufficient to arouse all th
husbands jcalosy, which he proceeds t.
visit with all his spleen upon tn
first person he may chance to meet -
Several Of the chiefs, (and l believe thu
chiefs only) are doctors, but their effort
to cure consist csly in singing song
and rattling pebbles in bladder. T.
be successful in hunting deer, they ais
resort to incantations, first visiting
mineral spring near Fort Defiance
where they 90 through ceremony, an
then commence the singing.
Their custom Of disposing of the dea
is peculiar. Their country abounds il
rocky hills and cliffs, broken into dee
fissures and clefts: into these they cas-
the bodies of the dead, without othe
covering than pieces of dry wood. TIL
whole heap is then set on fire consumin
the body with it. There is much that
interesting in the supetstitious legend
and traditions Of the Navajos, but as
have already extended my letter be
yond the limit had proposed 10 mysel
r shall not now make further allusion I
them. Let me only add, in conclusio
that am persuaded from the result (
my own personal inquiries, that tn
Navajo tribe has occupied the countr
in which it is now found, for many year
that the tribe originated in a countI
some distance to the north and east
, the San Juan river, and is, most prob;
, bly a section of the Utah tribe. Th
seems to be confirmed by the fact th
!, the Apachcs in speaking Of the Nav'
Jos, call them .tah.hah. As l do n
know one word of the Utah tongue,
r cannot speak more decidedly in til
p matter than have done.
Yours, truly, -,
II InSnrreCtiOn in Italy.