Morning journal and courier., 1893-05-24
SUPERIOR RACE OF INDIANS.
The Navsios, Their Ambitions and
Grievance

generally healthy, strong and full of an
indomitable courage. They are quick to
take offence and will brook no trsspsss
upon what they consider their rights. A
Navajo buck will march single handed into
fort and will state his grievance and
make his demands for what he knows are
his rights, regardless of the display of
armed forces all about him. The Navsios
have never been conquered in battles with
other tribes of the southwest. The south
ern Utss hate them heartily and fear them,
too. Were a war to break ont, the Utes
would be of incalculable service to the
troops, and they would delight in joining
with the soldiers sgsinst their foes and
enemies
In the Nsvsjo war of 1S59-60 these In
dams learned severe lesson Under the
leadership of Kit Carson, the famous
scout, the troops burned the cornfelds of
the natives, sacked their villages and
drove them into the barren Businesses of
the hills, where they were finally starved
into sr bjection. General Sherman or
dered the tribe off to the Pecos valley in
southern New Mexico, where the Indians
suffered much from home sickness. They
begged and imploTed to be returned to their
accustomed haunts, and this request was
finally granted In the treaty that was
signed bstween the government and the
Nsvsjos many rights were granted them,
and powers such as no other tribe of the
southwest have obtained.
The Navajo keeps his word and fulflls
all his promises. If he leaves his cart
ridge belt with trader as a pledge that he
will return in "six sleeps" with pay for
supplies purchased, he will not fall to keep
his word. Bat that they as a class have
often been imposed upon by the whites
and the treaty obligations often violated
there is no question. 1t Ia this which
makes the younger members of the tribe
restless and anxious to try their prowess
as warriors against the whole United States.
Most of the natives on the reservation,
however, are inclined to peaceful ways
The old men of the tribe, remembering the
awful punishment of the former war,
counsel constantly for peace and civil pro-
cesses in cases of treaty violations or per
sonal wrongs. Peace Chief Gsnamunoio
and War Chief Manuelito, both men of
common sense aud sterling qualities, are
friendly toward the whites
From mercensry motives the Navsios
dread contest at arms. They have ac-
quired great herds of sheep and cattle,
they cultiSass the land which they hold in
severalty, and they are fairly prosperous
and conteuted. They have within the
boundaries of their reservation some silver
and gold minee. said to be fabulously rich
properties. No white man has ever psne-
trsted the secrets of this unknown mineral
wealth and lived to tell of 1t. The rsser-
vstiou is pstroled by several hundred In
dian police appointed by the agent, and
these native officers do not hesitate to strip
q man of his clothing. confiscsta his goods
and turn him back stark naked IL found
on the reservation without a proper per
init from the agent at the post As re-
suit the whites do not get into the reservs.
tion In any great numbers
Along the borders of the reservation In
Pennington, Aztec, La Plata and Montexu-
ma valleys many whites, among whom are
quite Q sprinkling of Hormons, have set-
tied and are cultixating lands as fertile
and prolific as Utopisn heart could wish
Fruits of the most superior quality are
raised in euch abundance that q profit of
twenty five hundred dollars an swre is no
unusual thing 1t is a constant source of
irritation to the Navsjos to see these living
waters pre-empted and the whites prosper
so rapidly, while iust across tbs line they
do not gain so fast. They fear that the
gradual settlement of the land about them
means an overflow at no great future day
upon their reservation. and 1t Is In antici.
patton of this that they have for years
been preparing for q conflict snd fnai con.
test with the whites.
For years they have bs+n lsyir z up sup
plies Ct smmuniIion, which they bury in
secret places in the hills and passes of the
mountsins- They own the best of re-
pesting rifles and plenty of guns Should
a war come they could be starved aud ex.
terminated, but could be scarcely other.
wise conquered. In all these troubles
that arise there Is blame on 18th sides.
There are mean whites who are constantly
trying to sell whisky to the Indians. and
q drunken Indian IL always q reckless,
fighting terror. The Indian police often
arrest these peddlers of frewEter and turn
them over TO the authorities, but the
scamps generally escape by the payment of
q fine.
The chief source OF trouble arises from
O renegade Indlan named COstisna, O sort
of Ishmaelite In the tribe, who seems 20
be constantly travelling sbou. the reserva-
tion, q seed of discord, sowing himself
everywhere. Black Horse and MAnusiito-
IllGO ETc his Au4N AeNEc1AuAss anu 10Ey
hava quite y following of reckless, dare
devil young bucks of the tribe. Not oniy
do they cause trouble on the reservation,
bnt off the reservation among the settlers
of the valleys they make iueursions, and
their yi-its are decidedly obnoxious. They
will suddenly appear at q ranch house and
demand something to eat. If all they
want to gorge their stomachs with ia not
forthcoming there lie trouble They steal
sheep, kill cows whenever they want fresh
beef, and when q ranchman has q horse
which one of these renegAdes fsncies ID
must be traded to the buck at the beat
bargain possible or II will tie stolen. II Ia
these repeated incursions of the band of
renegades under Costians that causes the
settlers oftentimes to take the law into
ciaIly, are constantly engaged In warfare
with them
A story Is often told which illustrates
the Nsvsio's opinion of q cowboy. One
time q Navajo appeared before General
Miles and asked for q brass cannon. The
general, surprised at such q request,
asked: "What earthly use have you for q
cannoni Do you want to kill of few
soldiersF'
The Indian gave o look of disgust and
replied: "Uhl hell NO; kill soldiers with
q club Want to shoot cowboya."
By the suppression of this renegade Gle,
ment of the tribe by the death or impris-
onment of such leaders ss Costiana and
Black Horse, the counsels of the old men
of the tribe would yet be of weight, but
the young fellows, full of life and smbi
tion, have the idea that they are gresi
| fighters, and they believe that they could
| whip all the rest of the world.
Use Platt's CnlorIdes 10 Purify