The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-08-09
NAVAJO INDIAN HOMES
As Rude and Primitive Now as They
Have Been For Centuries.

Have Been For Centuries.
In New Mexico and Arizona the
Navajo Indians. who have been but
little affected by the march of civil
ization. have homes which show I'M
changed the idcas of hundreds Of
years ago Rude and primitive as the
houses of the Naval hogans. they
call them-are, every detail is dictated
by rules strictly adhered TO- The cree
tion of one is real ceremonial. followed
10y an elaborate ritual of dedication.
Thousands of examples of these
queer Navajo houses are to he found
in the Navajo reservation and hun
drcds more are built every year. The
hogans are hidden away 50 elIectual-
ly that travellers unaccustomed to the
country might go for days and not see
more than dozen and get the i'm.
preston that the country is practical
ly unnhabited, yet the tribe Numbers
1000.
The site the Navajo prefers FOR his
LONE Is either sheltered nook
in mesa or Il southern slope on the
edge of Il grove of pinon or cedar
Seldom is house built close to a
spring or other water. 1t is probable
that this custom of half-concealed
habitation Is survival from the time
when the Nayaioes lived by plumber
and momcntarily expected reprisals
from their victims. When the site
is selected the family moves to the
place. taking all their possessions
with them, including the 1ocks of
sheep and goats and herds of horses
and cattle. The hosteen. as the head
of the family is called, drives the
ponies and cattle; he carries his arms,
for the coyotes may he troublesome
at night. two or three blankets and II
buckskin on his saddle, but nothing
more After him comes flock of
sheep and goats bleatlng and nibbllng
at the bushes and grass as they slow
ly trot along. urged by the dust-bc-
grined Squaw and her children.
Search is made for suitable trees.
Three of them must terminate in
spreading forks. but the other two,
which are intended for the door frame.
are chosen for their straightness The
timhers are laid on the ground with
their fOrked ends together, somewhat
in the form of the letter T, extreme
care being taken to have the butt of
one log point exactly to the north.
another to the south. and the third
to the west. The straight timbers
are then laid down, with the small
ends close to the forks of the north
and south timbcrs, and their butt ends
| pointing due east.
When the tsadi. or frame of five
| timberS, is completed the sides of the
| structure are filled in with smaller
| poles and branches of trees, set as
closely ms possible on the ground, and
laced and bound together. At the
same time. other workers construct
| the door frame, which, in appearance
| Is like dormcr window. Two straight
| poles, with forked tops, are driven
| into the ground at the base of and
| close inside of the doorway timbers
cross stick is placed in the forks
| and another on the door way timbers
at the same level This provides the
basis for Hat roof, the space between
| II and the apex of the hogan on the
sloping side being left open for n
| smoke hole. The sides of the project
ing doorway are filed in with up
| right sticks. The entire structure is
| next covered with cedar bark, and
earth is then thrown ON TO thick
ness of about six inches, making the
| hut perfectly wind ana water proof.
This completes the house. Scientific
| American.