Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-02
asry or the Savsjoes.

An item in the newspapers tells Us
that Ger. Sherman was much pleased
with an Indian tribe he found IN late
tour of inspection, which in ten years
had increased Its hocks Of sheep from
10, 600 to 500 900. The reference is to
the Nayajoes in New Mexico. and it
calls 10 my mind some facts in heir
history which may be both interesting
and suggestive.
When New Mexico came into the pos
session of the United States, the Nav
ajoes pronounced Na' 'ahos) occupied a
country about as large as the State oi
Ohio, watered by the San Juan and the
Rio de Chelli branches Of the Colorado
Grande and their tributaries.
They were an agricultural, pastoral
and manufacturing people. not strictly
nomadic, but having permanent home.
or ranchelias widely distributed in the
choice spots of the canons and recesses
of the mountains. They were rich 10
herds and focks, and raised corn, peas,
pumpkins, melons, peaches, &C., in
abundance. The Gcequids by which
their fields are irrigated are monuments
of the patient industry and ingenrity ol
their owners. They manufactured cloth
from the wool of their own focks upon
loom Of their own invention. Nava'
Joe blankets are still famous for THEN
beautiful arrangement Of colors, anC
their fabric impervious to water anC
wind, and are sold at from s25 to sl5C
according to quality.
A very bad state of feeling was found
to exist between the Indians and the
Mexicans. but actual hostillties ceased
when our troops were able to prevent
the raids of the Mexicans. When ar
intelligent Navajoe chief was asked the
cause Of the quarrel, he said: l viii
tell you; some time ago my people were
invited 10 feast; dguardente (whisky.
was there my people drank, and when
they were asleep a party of Mexlcan'
come in and beat out their brains Will
clubs. Another time a trader was sent
among US from chihuahua. While
innocently engaged in trading, often
leading to anger, cannon concealed
behind the goods was fred upon my
people and many were killed. Since
that Chihuahua has offered a reward OF
Al5O each for our scalps, and we have
oeen hunted down ever since,' and
added he, with great emphasis and
most impressive manner, How cal
we make peace with such people p
In these wars everything available
was carried of on both sides, and whilst
.ho Indians got more steck in theil
w. LiceMexicans carried of more
raiuS' '"o - n.,:n held in slavery
children. These werO'es =, from,
and bought and sold like cattle =.
ffv to two or three hundred dollars
each. The United States established
military posts in the country and SEN
an agent to the Navajoes. The officers
found it no easy task to reconcile tht
Indians to the fact that the government
was bound by the treaty with Mexico
to protect the citizens Of that country
but, chiefly by keeping the Mexlcan'
away, peace was restored.
The mode Of government among The
Nayaioes was patriarchal, and without
any generally recognized head or Chief
and the families or bands we're respon-
slble only to their own headmen' sub
iect to traditional usages. Unlike the
wandering tribes, they were not COM
munists, but were as prcyident and de-
voted to the requirement Of individual
wealth as the most civilized people,
They respected the rights OF property
and robberies of each other were severe
ly punished often the penalty was
death. In these particular. the most
difficult first step III the path OF civlllza-
ton had been taken from time lmme'
mortal. In short 1t would seem that
the hardy, industrious, agricultural
Nayaioes.' as Kit Carson called them.
were the best prepared OF all the Indian
Tribes to receive the benefits of ciyiliza'
ton, aud were the most deserving oi
the fostering care of the government.
What was done for them remains to be
told, and Is a tale Of folly, inhumanity
and extravaganza rarely parallelled even
in the prolific annals Of our injustice ts
the Red Man.
In 1859, after years Of quiet in the
Navajee country, change of military
officers had taken place, and Major
Brooks of the Third Infantry was COM
mander of Fort Defiance. Some of the
stock belonging to the Indians trespass'
ed on grass lands which were intended
to be reserved for the use of the Post,
and upon a repetition Of the offence
Lieutenant and party were sent out and
seventy of the animals were killed on
the ground. Shortly after wealthy
and influential Nayajee was deserted by
his wife, and a negro servant (slave
belonging to Major Brooks) being in
some way connected with the affair,
was killed by the indignant husband.-
Major Brooks demanded the surrender
of the murderer, with the threat oi wqr
if refused. The mans family secre!ed
him and the Indians said he had escap-
cd. They offered to pay in accordance
with the Indian custom, but the demand
was insisted upon. They then brought
in a body which they said was the muir
derer, slain in his effort to escape. The