The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-02-27


FrAxcK, A. T., January 29.-On the
Pacific slope, at the very jumping-off
place Of civilization, lies the Navajo In
dian reservation. II Is situated chiefly
in Arizona, but the eastern boundary Is
in New Mexico.
just now the Navajo Indians are in
high glee at the recent news from their
.sgreat father" For years they have
pleaded for a little more land for their
fiocks where once their forefathers held
u~ndisputed sway. As their great chief,
Manuelita, said in council a few weeks
ago: 1T seemed as II there was a
large hole somewhere east Of Santa lie
where the cries Of the Nayajoes were
lost, for they never seemed 10 reach the
ear Of the great father" But at last
they have found a man who, in Indian
p~arlance, can "talk straight and their
able and efficient agent, MIR. Galen East
man, has succeeded in gaining the long
desired boon, increasing the area Of the
reservation one.fourth. With the adj
ditional water supply, they can soon
become a self-supporting people and
one fraction of the Indian problem will
reach a satisfactory solution.
The Navajoes differ in many respects
from their neighbors, the Utes and
Apaches. Women among them holds a
superior position. "Woman's rights :"
have been practically exempliied among
them for many years. The wife not
only has her say about all domestic ar
rangements, but holds her property in
her own right. Her share of the in
crease Of the sheep and ponies Is set
aside for her especial use and benefit.
Often the wives accompany their dusky
lords 10 the council fire, and their low
toned suggestions meet with ready at
tention. They are very skillful in the
art Of weaving.
Suppose you enter a hogan, or Indian
home II i built of logs or stone, plas-
tered with adobe, and you must stoop as
you cross the threshold.
Inside. the lady Of the house i busy
at her blanket. Ii is 10 be a choice pro-
duciion. and her fingers deity ply the
shuttle between the scarlet threads Of
Bietta or red flannel and the wool OF
her own sheep. dyed according to her
fancy. She has no no pat
tern. but she makes no mistakes. In
many cases the designs IRE quite intri-
cate, and these blankets range in
price from $50 10 500. l
saw one last week which Is be-
ing woven for an army officer at
Fort Wingate. 1t il composed Of Ger
mantown wool, and Is q marvel Of
cunning workmanship. The weaver is
to have his choice as recompense be-
tween a silver bride and a horse. He
wove the elegant blanket presented to
General Sherman some time ago, n i
the master workman Of his craft. The
Nayajoes are alive to the power OF dress,
and a Navajo belle Is as fully conscious
Of the splendors Of her apparel as her
white sisters. The richer class wear a
dress Of their own weaving, generally
black with a fancy stripe in red for a
border. This garment fastens at the
shoulders with silver ornaments, leaving
the arms bare. They wear a gay belt,
from which depend strings Of beads,
shells. and little bells. Withal the
"Princess Navaioen has sometimes as
many as eighteen bracelets on each arm
These are Of brass. copper, or silver ac-
cording TO the means Of the wearer, and
are often chased with considerable skill.
II she has a coral necklace she surveys
her less fortunate sister with conscious
superiority, and displays her silver ear
rings with unmitigated satisfaction.
She has a pretty foot, and she knows II,
and her buckskin moccasins and leg
gings are fresh and new. She ties hcr
long, black hair with scarlet yarn,
wraps her gay blanket about her shoul.
ders, and sallies forth to conquer.
The greatest obstacle to civilization
Of the Navajoes Is their superstition
about the dead. When a Navajo dies
he is Immediately carried out and thu
"hogan- torn down. His favorits
horse Is shot, for without him the hunt
er would be poorly equipped for the
"happy hunting grounds" His fines
blanket and household treasures arr
gathered together, for their owner mus
not enter the other world in poverty
His friends seek n cave. and there he i
laid away like the patriarchs Of old, ans
the entrance vailed up with adobe, o
I a huge stone. Those who have assisted
in the obsequies are considered uncleai
and not allowed to speak to any person
or approach their familiesf for four days
Then they 20 through the ceremony o
1 washing their hands, and are considerc'
purified. Should q Navajo die friend
! less and alone, mis- household goods ar
left by his side, the "hogan" Is pullc'
down above him, and his home become
a place Of sculpture.
Manuelita, head chief Of the Nava
. joes, il a man Of wonderful physique
: Tall, finely developed, in his holida'
dress he il a personiication Of n \
Cooper's heroes. lie lives in = CON
: Portable stone house and has adoptc
: many Of the habits OF the white mar
:, among them the unfortunate habI
2 Of drinking whisky. This prae