The suburban citizen., 1900-08-11
NAVAJO INDIAN HOMES.
IS Rude and Primitive Now ms 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
lzation. have homes which show un-
changed the ideas OF hundreds of
years ago, Rude and primitive as the
houses Of the ajoes-hogans, they
call thcm-are. every detail is dictated
by rules strictly adhered to. The cree
ton Of one is real ceremonial, followed
by an elaborate ritual Of dedication.
Thousands Of examples Of these
queer Navajo houses are to be found
In the Navajo reservation and hun
dreds more are built every year. The
hOgans are hidden away so effectual-
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 unlnhabited, yet the tribe Numbers
12.OOO.
The site the Navajo prefers for his
home is either sheltered nook
in mesa or southern slope on the
edge of grove of pinon or cedar.
Seldom is house built close to II
spring or other water 1t is probable
that this custom of half-cOncealed
habitation is a survival from the time
when the Nayaiocs lived by plunder
and momentarlly expected reprisals
from their victims. When the site
is selected the family moves to the
place. taking all their possessions
with them including the flocks 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 be troublesome
mt night, two or three. blankets and a
buckskin on his saddle, but nothing
more. After him comes a flock OF
sheep and goats, blcating and nibbling
at the bushes and grass as they slow.
ly trot along, urged by the dust-be-
grimed squaw and her children
Search is made for suitable trees
Three of them must terminate i'm
spreading forks, but the other two
which are intended for the door frame,
are chosen for their stralghtness. The
timbers are laid on the ground with
their forked ends together, somewhat
in the fern of the letter Y, 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
arc then laid down, with the small
ends close to the forks Of the north
and south timbers, 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 as possible on the ground, and
laced and bound together. At the
same time, other workers construct
the door frame, which, in appearance,
is like a dOrmer window. Two straight
poles, with forlled tops, are driven
into the ground at the base Of and
close inside of the doorway timbers,
n cross stick is placed in the forks
and another on the door way timbers,
at the same level This provides the
basis for a fiat roof, the space between
it and the apex of the hogan on the
sloping side being left open for a
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 and water proof
This completes the house,-Scleutifc
American.