The New York herald., 1873-02-01
THE NAVAJO REGIONS.
Present Condition of the In
dians of New Mexico.
GENERAL H0WARD'S ADMINISTRATION.
A Redskin and Red Tape Pow
WOW at Fort Wingate.
Mannelito's First Condition Of Eastern Travel,
T" lluche Veeskey, eh!"
Migueps Glass Eye the Big
gest Thing Yet.
The General Recommended to TRY a
Transparent Limb.
Mannelito's First Condition Of Eastern Travel,
"lIuche Veeskey, eh!"
Migue's Glass Eye the Big
gcst Thing Yet.
THE DIAMOND FRAUDS FULLY VENTILATED.

THE DIAMOND FRAUDS FULLY VENTILATED.
FORT DEFIANCE, NEW MEXICO, Dec 20, 1872.
The notoriety attained by this section recently,
consequent on the diamonds and other pre- cious
stones supposed to exist in great quantities In the
surrounding region, is sufclent to account for the
presence here Of your commissioner at this time.
Fort Defiance is situated on the Canyon Bonito,
fOrty-lve miles northwest OF Fort Wingate, and
nearly directly west Of Santa Fe. The buildings
are Of adobe, or sun dried brick, and are the
remains Of an abandoned military post, but now
nsed as an agency for the Navajo Indians The
foundations Of some OF the buildings are giving
way, and they are generally in wretched state OF
repair Fort Defiance is actually in Arizona, and,
/ believe, is thus laid down on government sur
veys; but as 1t lies so close to the line Of New
Mexico 1t Is found much moro convenient to
supply it from the New Mexican Department.,
and therefore il is temporarily presumed to be in
New Mexico. II IN Arizona, red tape would make
It necessary to transport its supplies from the
California side across q great extent of barren
country portion Of which is infe sted by hostile
tribes. The reservation includes about one hun
ared and twenty square miles. There is very little
arabic land ON it, the greatest portion being
famous and broken, made up Of lofty mesas, or
table lands, and deep arroyos, or dry ravnes.
There are, however, some
FINE FORESTS OF PINE
lumber and much land that Is suitable for pastoral
purposes. The last count for the purposes OF the
annuity issue makes the Navajos on the reserve
number about ten thousand persons which shows
the tribe to be the increase since the
close OF the great Navajo war. Previously
70 the war they had large peach orchards
and immense corn fields, and were the
nArH aF
IN the Rio Grande and adjacent settlements. Whole
towns were often besieged by them, while the en-
tire surrounding country was pillaged and all the
sheep, horses and oxen run or to the mountain
businesses, where for long time they deled the
United States troops sent to subJugate them De-
aance obtained its name from the firm stand made
here by General Candy against the entire Navajo
tribe. Previously 1t had been called Fort Candy,
and is 30 laid down on many OF the Territorial
maps. To subdue the Navajos extreme measures
had to be resorted TO. Their corn fields were de-
stroyed by the cavalry, their orchards cut down,
their herds slaughtered and left to rot on the
ground In fact everything was taken from them
and they were reduced to starvation. In some
cases poisoned sugar and bacon were left in camps
as II forgotten, or dropped the road for
che starving Indians, so that to this day some
Sf the NavaJos have such horror of bacon that
they cannot be induced to touch it. Many Of them
gave themselves up almost starved to death, and
On being furnished with plenty OF provisions killed
themselves with eating. They have now been at
peace for several years, and conduct themselves
- Wen and give as little trouble to the government
As any tribe OF their size in the country, being q
shrewd, intelligent, Industrious people, Their
cost Of subsistence to the government is less tnan
'Sls 10 esch Indian, which is cheaper than keeping
. large force constantly IL the asI4 to qght them.
Fhey are fast recovering from the effects OF the
war, and own now about ten thousand horses
mules ana burros and over one hundred and thirty
thousand sheep and goats. Should their reserva-
tion be extended to the north, so as to include
some OF the rich lands lying on and around the
San Juan, they will probably be selfsustaining in
ave yearg more. They are very industrious, and
purchase sheep with the money they obtain from
che sale OF blankets, stones and hunting The men
make good day Iaosrcrs and some of the adobe
walls IN buildings at ssy5sssSisS ~
= "FS NEW FORT wINGATE
have been laid BY them. Navajo blankets have
obtained worldwide fame, as being the wonder
ful production Of an uneducated tribe. These
blankets vary in price here from four dollars to
seventy~nve dollars each and have ready sale to
travellers, who desire to take away with them evil
dence Of the skilful handiwork of the Navajo
maidens. few of the Navajos speak Spanish, the
prevailing language OF the country, but very few
Of them speak any English. Were it not for
their superstition in regard to the dead they would
progress more rapidly than the Pucblos, whom
they excel In native shrewduess and ability When
. Navajo dies the family Immediately leave the
or 0g Se nat
xud others passing through the country Ind plenty
Of antenanted cabins to shelter themselves In
from rains and storms. When the Navajos recover
from this superstition we shall see them founding
villages like the Puebos ana Zunis,
And here may refer to the general Ignorance OF
the English language in New Mexico. TO transact
any business through the country or to travel with
any satisfaction knowledge Of the Spanish Ian.
guage Is absolutely necessary. The Territory OF
New Mexico has now belonged to the United states
about quarter of century and yet were 1t not
for the forts through the Territory and the English
spoken thereab0uts one would think himself in
old Mexico. Congress would no doubt. have made
an Appropriation for English schools in the prin-
cipai towns but the Territory has been repre-
scented by Mexicans who are actually opposed to
the introduction of the English language and VINO,
therefore, have made no effort for an appropriation
for this purpose. The present Delegate speaks
English with diniculty, and the former delegate
men who control the politics OF New Mexico are
all opposed to the introduction OF I'M
@Sys Ur snvtnaa elsnee else The that
New Mexico instead OF being years ago state,
wnl, IN all likelihood. remain a Territory for sew
era years to come Its mineral resources are iIn-
mense so that with the completion OF the southern
,a racanc Railway on the thirty parallel,
Brea. Immigration must follow.
MILITARY POLICE FoaCE--THR NAvAJos.
In August last General Howard, when here, In
structeu M CT Mr. keam the Special Agent OF the Nava-
jos 70 oreanize company of native cavalry, to be
placed under the command of the War Chief Man
uelito. Thls BODY OF soldiers was intended to be
useu as ponce lotce, their special duty being to
airesS thieves ana TO bring TO the agency any
stolen or stray stock they mgnt nnd on the reser-
vauen. The 0rganlzauen OF this company was
quickly enected and l30 Indians enrolled Including
al the principal chiefs OF the tribe General Howard
had the Indians informed that they would he fnr
nished with clo.ning and pay by the government.
which caused them TO enter on their new
duties WITH zeal. About one hundred animals have
been already brought IN BY them, and there ia no
danger whatever Of parties having their animals
stolen while passing over or camping on the re-
servatien. This police regulation Is undou btedly
the best mode OF preventing crime among the In.
dians, N. when arrested, they sent to Fort
Wingate or santa Fe and punished by the civil au.