National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-14
HE NAVAJO INDIANS.
Their Departure for Home To-day.


The chiefs of this interesting nation will leave
to-day with their agent, Governor Army, and
their interpreters, for their homes in the far
West. There is no class Of Rocky mountain In
dams around which more interest clusters than
this nomadic branch Of the Aztec race. Three
hundred years ago, Numez Cabeza Baca, Gath
ole priest with party Of Cortez's adventures,
from Spain, found these Indians engaged in their
wonderful manufacture of blankets AID other
articles Their skill in this kind OF work has
been FULLY illustrated In various blankets exhib-
tied by their agent during the last few weeks,
and demonstrates an ability, when taken in con-
nection with the other articles OF silver, iron
siIk, Sc which is not surpassed by the skillful
artisans Of our cities. Their visit 70 the manu-
featuring establishments Of the North has con-
WINGED them that the work in which they excel
can be done with more expedition but not any
better, and they have induced their agent 70
purchase for them looms, spinning wheels, WOOL
cards and other tools, to be used at their agency
under the direction of Governor Army, in order
that they may save time 10 the manufacture OF
their wonderful articles Of silver, iron, wool,
Their visits to the schools of the various cities
have Impressed them with the advantages OF an
education for their children, and tnsiE eonndenee
ment and education has induced them to express
the wish that he will furnish additional facilities
for the instruction Of the three thousand Indian
children on their reservations.
They leave Washington with the hope that
Congress will provide the means to prevent the
upon them, and that the Government will grant
their reasonable request, that strip OF pastoral
and agricultural land be given to them in lien oil
the rich mineral land OF the San Juan river,
which is now part Of their reservation, and
which in violation of their treaty OF 1SoS, Is con-
stantly invaded by miners and others.
From the specimens Of minerals and precious
stones shown by Governor Army, IL rs very evil
dent that this portion of Arizona and New Mexico
Is very valuable and the Indians are willing TO
exchange it for other lands and throw il open for
deyeopment 1t is certainly to the interest Of Con-
gress to grant the reasonable request OF the III
diane and give to them an equal amount OF sgri-
cultural and pastoral lands.
We understand that Governor Army mas dis
trfbuted the interesting collections OF Indian man
pfactIres and euriosities to his many personal
friends and to the schools and departments. The
blankets and other articles made by the Indians
for exhibition at the Centennial, with other In
dian curiosties and natural history specimens, he
has given to the Smithsonian Institution. The
cereals and specimens Of the products OF that
Rocky mountain region, including the native
wild potnto, he has presented to the Agricultural
Department. The mineral specimens ne mas de.
voted to various cabinets in this city The result
Of the visit of the Navajo Indians to their freal
Father and our great ctiesiand Its schools ano
Manufacturing establishments will no doubt &c
much toward the civilization OF this great and
warIike tribe Of Indians, and their example II
that direction will tend much to ciyinze AM
make self sustaining their neighbors, the Ute and
hi rfh