The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-26
AN ANTELOPE CORRAL.
Methods Used by the Navajoes to En-
trap the Timid Little Animals.
from a Helen, n. NJ, Letter

From Helen, n. NJ, Letter.
Few people in the west, and scarcely
any in the east, have any idea Of the
unique manner in which the Navajo In
dians have from time immcmorial caught
antelopes. Thousands Of the beautiful
creatures still abound upon the vast tai Bile
lands OF this territory IN the country
Just south Of the Navajo reserva ton, and
between 1t and the Atlantic and Pacific
railroad, one frequently comes upon long
straight rows OF the trunks Of trees and
the branches of cedar and pine, stretch.
ing for miles across these treeless plains.
In many places they are nearly rotted
away, and only tho larger limbs and
trunks now mark these lines. These are
the ruins of ancient antelope cOrrals or
pens. Tho large bands Of antelopes have
longrsinCe been destroyed in this part Of
the country, and only small herds of from
five to ten can be seen. These are mostly
hunted upon the American orwhite mans
plan However, directly south of Wins
low about fifty miles distant, large bands
Of these graceful creatures still roam, and
there is in existence there new corral
that is in running order at the present
time. 1t is here that the old men of the
tribe, who believe in the ancient man
ner of catching game enjoy their annual
hunt.
This corral was built in 1890, by the
order of the old chief, Gano Mumcho, and
his son. Many Horses. As the workings
Of the order had nearly died out, it was
necessary TO first hold a season Of song to
teach the lesser chiefs their several du-
ties. for Ike the fraternities Of today,
they rrcQuire their grand master, vice
grand master conductors. guards, etc.
After these had been instructed thor
oughlY, party of nearly 200 men and
boys. on horse back, started to locate this
spot for the revival Of their old sport. A
place was selected where slight hill was
found upon the border of a wide prairie
Not even a sage bush could be seen, and
trees for the corral had TO be brought
from the cedarcovered hills nearly ten
miles away. These were cut and dragged
to the place by the men and boys on horse
back A close pen, circular in form
and about 100 feet across, was first built
against the steep side Of the hill, so that
the tops of the posts used could not be
seen from the opposite side. Two lines
OF trees were then dragged and laid
loosely upon the ground, but close enough
70 appear like brush fence. These
lines, at the pen, are about twenty yards
apart and run almost parallel for l00yards
or So and then spread apart at an angle
Of about thirty degrees, aud extend across
the plains for four and half or five miles.
When the party reaches the corral for
the annual hunt the chief first selects
the officers four to watch each point
Of the compass around the pen. For
each pit is dug deep enough TO put him
out of sight. The less space required the
more the occupant is esteemed and con-
sidered worthy Of promotion later on.
The chief and his assistants then take
their places at the right side Of the
entrance 10 the pen, standing in a hole
dug for the purpose and Just deep enough
TO hide all except their heads. From
five TO eight Indians on the heetest horses
are sent out at daybreak to surround a
band of antelopes and head them towards
the corral. An antelope when startled
keeps as far as possible away from any
place where an enemy might be hiding,
hence they keep as far away from the
wings Of the corral, which are on either
side Of them, as they can. After being
closed in upon they cannot turn back. as
as the drivers are in hot pursuit, and
they make dash for the top Of the hill.
which TO them appears 10 be the only
opening between the horrid lines of brush
fence, But, alas for them, they find them
selves iuclosed in stout pen, around
which they run in circle, never trying
to jump over. The shouts and yells OF