Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-09-29
NAVAJO BLANKETS.
A Wonderful Product of the PrimI-
tive Looniu Used by the Sgunva.

AmCri'ans are travelling people, but
how many outside of army circles have
visited Navajo camp or witnessed the
manufacture Of n Navajo blanket? It is n
product of tho loom really wonderful In
design and texture when tho disndvan
tags under which It twas made AFRO cors'd
cred. Tho Ncvajoos are n peaceful people
OF ;hc Pueblo typo. Tho squavs weave
blankets and tho men tend sheep and
ponies. Many Of them aro rich and most
Of them arc SELF supporting deriving their
income from their herds, tho wool of their
nockS and the manufacture OF their hlan-
kcts. Tho wool of what Is termed "lhc
native wool blanket" is taken from their
own sheep, ami native dyes produced from
various herbs give the blanket its peculiar
colorinC.
A Navajo blanket belongs to tho Navajo,
and to him alone. In fact, it is n part Of
him. In every hogan, or hut, you will find
these blankets, and short distance away
amid tho sagehrush or on tho windwnrd
side Of n rock you can sec n Navajo spuaw
squattcd on tho ground busily engaged
weaving another.
Tho outfit is very simple. Two sticks
or which strings ere strung n long fiat
shaped one to keep tho threads straight, n
small ono similar to comb to prevent
any tangles-this is the loom which pro.
duccs tho weird Navajo blanket. Yet
with these tools n Navajo squnw manu-
features blanket which may DO used for
rug and will last half century. 1t
may seem an easy thing to produce one,
but just make tho attempt!
In thpSp unys han Navajo blanket,
have become II product of tho market and
when the Indian is surrounded by civili2a
ticu, with traders stores enabling him to
exchange his blankets for articles of Euro
pcdn make, there has arisen now Navajo
blanket made from Germantown wool.
II IL certainly work of art, handsome aS
well as unique in appearance. Tho IN
dams buy this wool from tho traders, and
It is u curious fact that of the multitude
of blankets produced no two have been
known TO be alike / visited the store Of
the largest collector ol these blankets
when he had over $40, 900 worth in stock
and l could discover no oyact counterpart
The Navaioes as "a rule, are cute and sly
In tho business. Their contact with civ
ilizaton has taught them the yankee
method" Of driving n bargain. At Fort
Wingate, regular army post situated OF
the edge Of The Navajo reservation, it l.
not unusual TO SEQ an Indian begin at one
end of tho officers quarters and enter cy
cry house trying to sell his blankets
Sometimes he meets with success at the
first house, but 1t is we'll established fact
that with each refusal the price of his ar.
ticlc decreases Tho spring and early
; summer are tho best times for buying. Dur.
/ ing the winter tho squaws arc busy weav.
| Ing, and then rs tho summer approaches
| they are brought into the settlements
| Sometimes tho squaw5 come, hut never
| alone Tho chuck" accompanies to sec
| that they are not cheated. Tho buck
stalks ahead, followed by tho blanket
laden squaw. Tho Indian has no com
junction IL loading his "better half" with
all she can carry.
| To find real Navajo blanket weaver
| you must go away from tho towns and
villages. Walk across almost any level
! plain until you come to tho bluff, and
there among tho hillsidos you will find her
homo. have thought as watched her
| at her work, which goes on from morn till
| eve for months at time, how wcaried she
must get and have asked myself Docs she
ever want to stop? l do not know that,
| but l have learned that when money IL
scarce she csoGot stop, but must work on
and work Or, content To receive as her
share CT tho rrodt some poor tobacco OF
bright calico.-Kansas City Journal.