The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-07-18
THE PESOLAKI NINE.
A Much-SOught Treasure on the Navajo Reservation
Guarded by Both the Living and the Dead.

with the applause of strange tribes,
but deaf to the appeals of your own
people,
so would he say-so would he re-
buke the cayotes who lick the feet of
a fat master for q stout kayuse or q
silver-mounted saddle. Dogsi We make
me tired" And another warrior went
out into the sage brush and the night.
Hite looked at Hoskaninni and Hos
kaninni looked at Hite. They sat in
silence for some time; then Hite rose
up, put on his guns and said. Il will
go"
You viii not" said the chief You
will stay tonight with me; they will
not modest you while you are my
guest"
Till late at night the old chief paced
the floor with heavy arms about him.
fearful that his people might demand
the white man, and determined to de-
fend him even to the extent of risking
his kingdom and his life.
At the dawn Hite was awakened by
the old chief, and looking out between
the blankets that served as door to
the house, they saw 800 ponies tied to
the sage brush about the camp.
See said Hoskaninni, their backs
are bare-Navajos go to war with no
saddles. My people will fight for the
Peso-la-ki. 1 will show you the mine,
as 1 have promised, then you must
look out for yourself, for we shall
surely be killed. My people believe that
If the white man is allowed to dig in
our country We shall be made slaves
as the Utes were enslaved by the
Spaniards on the big water
Hite said no, he would not purchase
Peso with his brothers blood, and Hos
kaninni was willing to let it go at that
and continue to reign over the Navajos.
Hite succeeded in leaving the land Of
with his scalp. but the
friendship of the old Indian endured
until the day he died.
Just before Hoskaninni's death Hite
had the misfortune to kill man at
Green River. Utah. for which he was
sentenced to 4 short term in Salt
Lake prison.
During Hite's absence from his cabin
on the Colorado river his old friend
called to pay him a visit. The Navajo
explained TO Hite's brother that he was
growing old and that he wished to do
for his pale friend, Hos
as he called him, be-
fore he died. and with that end in view
he had brought a fine squaw to be the
wife of the white man.
Upon learning that Hite was
in prison all because he
4 six-shooter, when that same man
was shooting at him with a rifle, Hos
xaninni grew furious. He gave good !
Illustration of his innocence and loyalty |
when he demanded to know why they |
lid not get Hite out of prison.
But we can't" said the brother of
he condemned man.
Have you tried?" asked the Indian. !
mo"
s.1r1-o., 1,o-,- do 49,, 1x,ov- van cap,t
To-? Hoskaninni will try. Maybe so
tit kill, but he try, all same"
1t required a great deal of talk TO
persuade the old chief to return to his
instead of moving upon the
government prison at Salt Lake.
The fact that Hite was pardoned
.fter serving a few months probably
lever came to the ears of Hoskaninni,
or the hand of death had touched
i'm and he had already gone TO his
wn place.
The only thing this chief feared was
Fater He invariably stripped naked
7hen entering a canoe or boat to cross
river, and when seen thus he gave
ne the belief that he had spent most
f his life sitting on or leaning agains-
barbed wire fence. Upon either thigh
e had countless scars, as though he
ad been whipped with a fax hackle.
7nGJ were MOullQS DJ
nd bullets that he had received when
iding in a circle round the enemy with
is body hanging over the side of his
ony.
In 1892, when in the reservation, we
lade an effort to see the famous war
ior who is said to be the only chief
-ho did not surrender to the United
tates government in the war of 1866.
Navajo assured us that he would
ike us to the hogan of Hoskarinni in
NO sleeps, for which he demanded 10
esos. We made him understand that
e had learned that Hoskaninni was
cad. Sc" said the Indian, and, TAX
g a miners shovel from one of our
arty, he made a grave about two
lches deep in the sand. lay down in
crossed his hands, closed his eyes
Id said, "Se, all same Hoskaninni-
ucho sleepa six MOON" And we de-
ded not to wake him.
Although he has been dead but a
tile while, the Indians have a very
city story of his going away. They
;sured US that on his deathbed he
ade a solemn vow to guard the trail
lat leads from the province of the