New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-16
COUNTING THE NAVAJOS.
DIR. MARY PRADT HARPER GIVES HER
EXPERIENCES AS CENSUS EMU
MERATOR-REALN NECESSITIES
SHE FOUND TO BE FEW

In a letter to the president of the Women's Ma
tional Indian Association DR.. Mary Pradt Harper,
who was one of the census enumeratOrs among the
Nava1os, gives some of her experiences. She says:
The first few days my work was about Fort De
hance, Arizona SO was abe TO get IN every night
10 comfortable quarters at the agency. Then 1t
schoolboy Interpreter l set out one Monday morn
ins; That night camped in NayaJo hogan or
vited me to join the family at the evening meal.
Th te4s Of Of G SG not 90 sna I'll
bread, and coffee My portion Of the stew was
around each dipping his or her spoon into the
containing room, about 10 by Is. The TWO win
dows not made 10 open, so when bedtime
sheos skins the air rather thick, as they per
sisted in keepng me door closed nos ~, oor, aud
after performing her ablutons in the frying pan
before and finally to fry the mutton for break
fast in the b Ny PPes TS5 J yefy
well to do and its stone house is marion bo, com m
hut Of the natives. 1t is as scantily FURNISHED as
imagine, there being neither beds; chairs
sidered necessary to the poorest household few
sheepskIns ana blankets very h nsSEre s pew
articles of clothing hanging over pole sus-
B oiIdI goods dS' The fireplace although rude is
quite luxury as the NATIVES usually g "N seap 1s
through the hole in roof left for that purpose
blood Henry Dodge, or Chez" probably the best
known and most influential member OF the tribe.
plies to Moores trading post rom ms ms tP'it NJ
was obliged to go such long distances thai IL vas
guide for this part Of my work-a regular savage
one who knew the country and every tlau through
the mountains. He was blind in one eye, ana no
could never have boosted Of large amount ti 2 1
beauty at any time his griZzled hair was tled N
a knot with cotton Irvine; about his head ne ~otfe
black rag, the remains or a SILK nauute. ,et
his shirt of gaudy calico; his neither garments
were cheap trousers of American make, ana ms
feet ncased in the usual 6uckskln il
MY cavalier avantes rode ahead. occasionally LOOK
ing bach with hdeOuS one-eyed grin INTENDED Lo'
a reassurng smile ~
tain trails hunting for sheep camps, as IN summer
the Navajos drive their sheep up out OF tne nTbtTe
water Is plentiful l found my gentle savage most
helpful, by daylight the horses were run IN ana
fed. the fire made and my coffee boiling before l
mad emerged from my blankets. / carried my own
coffee ana light provisions, but usually man
! bread and mutton stewed broed on the Goals.
Sometimes slept out under the stars, sonet l
camp 1t is altogether pleasant to sleep WlInIn
a few feet of flock OF sheep and goats hGddled
close TO the FIRE kept burning IN front OF me
! to scare away the bears and wolves: Frequently
my guide pointed out bear tracks. but we encounI
sheep ticks travelling across your countehahce OF
| to have sand rattle down from the open work ROOF
upon your head, and sleeping in ones clothes pc
| comes monotOnous; but one realizes how very fCW
| our real necessities
! had intended spending the last night at Little
! Water School my work was in that direction
| at the last But night overlook us in the noun
! tains. and obliged to camp At a sheep
| camp where we found an old man and two young
| girls. they pointed out hogan for us to sleep in;
| II was "A beautiful hogan, built of peeled logs OF
| uniform size. was pentagonal in shape and unusu-
lodge Lifting the blanket which did duty a
d@9T qiSg9ne5gd sna 1pe 91rmlmS IN Inc fenI
! shcepskin. Nv guide soon replenished the fire and
| PUT the coffee pot. The old man who owned the
| sheep brought some native bread in a basket OF
| Navajo make, and with some canned meat bill
= OF fare was complete. Presently another native APP