The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-18
COIN AND BUTTONS.
A PLACE WHERE THEIR PARITY
HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.
Navajo Indians and silver Dollars.
Used as Money and Also to Fiji
NATURALIZATION in Their Faith.

Used as Money and Also to Fill
ButtOnhOIes-Firm in Their Faith.
From the Washington Star.
The small boy is credited with holding
the theory that buttons are quite as good
as coin for the heather, and has consist
emily put his theory into practice when
he was instructed to contribute to the
funds of the foreign missionary societies.
There are, however, in this country a
considerable body of people who have
succeeded in establishing the parity of
coin and buttons, and more, in maintain
ing 1t.
Not many years ago the only money
current on tire Navajo reservation was
silver Paper money and gold were oc-
caeionally found in the traders stores,
but the Indians would have none of it;
with them it was silver or no trade,
They would readily accept an Individual
paper from some one known to them.
and such orders were frequently issued
by arrangement on stores fifty or even
100 miles away. but they were always
paid in silver on presentation.
dams understand paper money and will
accept it in payment. or rather they I'M
derstand that a green paper" is a gem
eral order on all the stores and will be
redeemed in silver on presentation TO any
of them 1t has the same standing as
the red paper" or ddsbursing agent $
check sometimes issued to them in pay
ment for work. But the bulk of the tribe
still demand silver. and all look with sus-
picion on gold, which is regarded as the
storekeeper's money. Silver is known as
''pesh-lakai," the white metal, and Is
highly esteemed. not only as a circulate
ing medium, but also for ornaments and
jewelry.
The principal wealth of the Navajos,
and they are wealthy tribe, has always
been and still is In sheep and goats and
horses, originally stolen from other Indian
tribes and from the Mexicans. The
bulk of their business with the traders
is In the sale of wool and peits. The
wool clip Is considerably over 100000
pounds per ennum, and as they are not
an agricultural people, but live principal
ly on the flesh Of sheep and goats, there
is large trade in pelts.
A large supply of silver coin is neces-
sary for the conduct of this business. es-
peclally since competition among the trad.
ers has brought about the custom of pay
ing for all wool and pelts I'm cash, instead
Of by paper slip or memorandum, to be
afterward traded out in the store. In
other words, the fiat money Of the trad
ers has been entirely replaced by specie
payments.
This resumption or establishment Of
specie payments was accomplished only
some seven or eight years ago, and was
strongly opposed by the traders. The
conduct of business is more difficult for
them now than formerly, and during the
wool season, in the spring, when more
than 80 per cent. Of the crop Is marketed.
the most strenuous efforts are necessary
TO prevent a scarcity Of currency. The
traders curse the day when one of their
number inaugurated the practice of pay
ing out silver coin in trade, but IL is NOT
now possible to go back to the Old condi-
tons.
Until few years ago nearly all the sill
yer coin that came into the country re-
NAMED there. Being paid out by the trad
ers or acquired in various ways, II did not
return to the stores as coin, but was
promptly turned over to the silyersmiths