Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-11-30
The Navajo indians.

A gentleman in the public service IN NE"
Mexico, writing to the National lntelllgenoer'
under date of October goth, gives an interesting
account of the Navajo tribe of Indians and the
causes which have led to the present hostllltles
with them. We make the following extract:
"West of the Rio Grande, hundred miles
from any important settlement and in the very
centre of New Mexico, in cold and lnnosPi-
table region of mountains which the whioe HAL
can never occupy, we found, when we TOOK pos
session of this country, the powerful rioe OF the
Nayaios. Drawer than the Mexican population,
the latter associated them with oil that was ter
rible. and described them to the Americans In
language which, it afterwards appeared, was
rather suggested by their own weakness than by
ANYTHING in the disposition of the hostile tribe.
AS long as we were forced to depend on the
Mexicans for our knowledge of the Navajos, we
overrated them in every respect. We believed
them highly civilized, and identical with the an
cient Aztecs. War with them seemed lmml'
nent on more than one occasion. and was avoid
ed not so much from our forbearance as from
dread of their imagined proves. 1t was deter
mined by an early military commander OF TINS
department to oyerawe them by building o tort
in the heart of their country. The name OF tnls
was intended to convey the object OF It's con-
struction, for it was intended to be perpetual
Defiance to the tribe. We selected f1ty square
miles of their best land for grazing and layout
ting, and obtained from them treaty cedlng 10
Us what we demanded.
1.-THE establishment of this post, and the ex-
ceedingly judicous conduct OF its early COM
mandng officers, facilitated better knowledge
of the tribe. If they were far from civilization,
they were far above the state of savages. They
occupied settled habitations, titled the earth not
only for the necessaries, but for some of the lux
uries of life, owned and improved vast herds OF
sheep and ponies, aud exoelled in some branches
of manufactures. An indirect but significant
proof of their advancement is afforded IN the po-
siton held by the women, who are not only pos
sessed of much Of the wealth of the tribe, but
have voice in the councils. In riches the Ma
vaos certainly surpass any other wild Indians.
quarter of million of sheep and sixty thou
sand horses constitute only part OF their
wealth. The number of their warriors, includ-
ing half grown boys whom they can bring into
the field, is estimated at twenty five hundred
And the women, to borrow the expression OIL
one who lived with them, fight like she-devils.
There are probably not more than two thousand
families in the tribe, and if there was anything
like an equal division of property all would be
above want; but, as in many other communl.
ties, while few are rich many are poor. The
latter have nothing to lose from war, and are al
ways anxious to engage in freebooting expedi'
tions, while the rich use their utmost endeavors
to preserve peace"
Last year, says the writer, some OF the tribe
drove their own animals upon the land ceded
to the United States, pleading as an excuse thai
the drouth had destroyed the vegetation OF thell
mountains, and the animals were starving. The
animals were, however, driven away, and the
chiefs gave new assurances of good will. This
year the insult was repeated the Indians alleg
ing that the portion of the land they were gra
zing was not included in the cession but com
maud from the post went out and shot forty o
the Navajo ponies. One of the tribe, man o
wealth and power, went into Fort Defiance
short time afterwards and shot down negro
the property of the commanding officer, MAJ
Brooks. Tho surrender of the murderer VIZ
demanded, but the Indians failing to comply
several collisions ensued, and now there is {
state of actual warfare The Washington UnioI
announces that the Administration has deter
mined to revive General Jscksons Indian wal
policy ~ that is to 'carry the war home into thu
heart OF his settlements and haunts"-to attach
him where he is eusconced 'in his secluded re
treats with his wives, children, and effects fol
the winter