The morning call., 1890-07-21
THE NAVAJO INDIANS.
They Believe That They Orig
inally Came From Below.

In common with other tribes Of the
Southwest, the Navajos believe that they
originally came from below, and. like the
Moquis, their lower world is composed OF
two stories or stations. Their best-estaD-
lished tradition of the creation, or appear
ance OF man on earth, is as follows: Inc
Navajos originally lived in the under
world-that is, the world Immediately De-
low the one upon which they now live. In
that world they were happy and cOntented,
and had everything which heart could wish
for. There were no excuses Of heat
or cold. and fruits and flowers grew IN
abundance. The day was marked by
bright cloud, which rose like O curtain in
the east, and as this went down black
cloud rose in the west, which marked the
night. In this happy condition they existed
until some one of the tribe discovered an
opening in the earth which extended mp
ward to some place then unknown. lie
communicated his discovery to his people,
and the tribe set out to lind TO what place
the opening would lead. Finally they
emerged upon this earth at point some
where in the Navajo Mountains, and
sion Of their new home. When they came
upon earth they were ruled by queen,
who mySteriously disappeared four days
afterward. Men were sent in all directions
to search for her. and those who had gone
in the direction of the Navajo Mountains
came upon the opening by which the tribe
had assembled from the lower world, and
found that it had not yet been closed.
Looking downward, they beheld their
former home, and saw their queen COMB
ing her long black hair. She spoke
to them, and told them to return
to her people with the message that
she had died on earth and had returned to
the lower world, and that they would come
to her only when death had released them
from the upper world. With this the earth
closed and the searchers returned to the
tribe with the message which had been
given them. Soon after this giants ap-
peared in the country, who killed and ate
up the entire tribe with the exception OF
four families, who found safety in deep
canyon of the Navajo Mountains.
One day in their deSolate retreat they
saw at early dawn bright ray OF sunshine
beaming upon lovely verdant hill not far
away. Four days in succession this phe-
nomenOn was presented, and being drawn
by curiosity 10 visit the spot, they found
beautiful girl babe. The child was re-
garded as the daughter OF heaven and
earth, and they reared her with the great
est care. When she grew to womaDhood
the great warrior who rides upon white
horse and carries the sun upon his arm as
a shield fell in love with and married her.
The offspring of this union were two
destroyed the Navajos, and under
their protection the world was peopled
again. The daughter of heaven and earth
was finally taken up by her warrior hus-
band and transported to the great waters to
the westward, where she was placed in
floating palace, which has since been her
home She is immortal and to her are ad
dressed the prayers of the people. Her
water home is guarded by twelve immortal
beings, who return periodically to the land
to learn what the Nayajos are doing and to
carry back with them any messages which
they may send. The tradition of this pro-
tecting goddess accounts for the respect
which the Nayajos show to the
women Of their tribe. Among them a
man never lifts his hand against woman.
although it is no unusual thing for squaw
to administer sound thrashing to the
warrior husband who has offended her. All
of the sheep, which constitute the great
wealth of the tribe, are owned by the wo-
men, and in the various families the lire of
descent is always on the side of the woman.
The Navajos have little or no idea of a
future existence. but are firm believers in
the transmigration Of souls. For this rea-
son they have great reverence for different
animals and birds, which are supposed to
be the re-embodiment of departed spirits OF
Navajos-William Nj. Edwardy. in Har-
Der's Weekly,