The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-18

Pals. the Navajo chieftain from New
Mexico. who, with his two wives. does a
bit In the blanket Industry now and then.
IL was proposed 20 Joe kipp that he
should go down and call on the Navajoo
and see whether the Indian could under
stand sign talk Joe expressed his
doubts as he knew very well that the
Navajos are not great travellers. and that
IL is the travelling or horse Indians who
are the most fluent sign takers.
lie consented 10 make the attempt,
however. and the result was somewhat
surprising TO him, proving as II did the
universal quality OF, the ancient speech.
Joe took his Httls daughter Mary with
him, and the TWO peased at the Navajo
hut. Mai Pals who is none too bright an
Indian himself looked stolidly up az them
as IL to ask what they were doing there.
Joe did not say any. audible word. any
more than Nal Pats hut he stood before
the Indian. pointed To him with his front
finger, and shook his loosely extended
fingers i'm the air. IIe had thus asked
Nal Pals 10 what tribe he belonged. The
Indian replied with the sign for the Ma
vaJo, repeating the WORD NAVAJO
Where do you come from asked Joe
and Nal Pals Napid ihat he came from the
south, very far south. very far; drawing
his hands out widely.
IL come from the north said Joe Kipp
pointing In that direction. 1T is cold up
there" pulling his coat tighter ABOUT
him. 1T SHOWS very much" fhe sign Of
snow was fairly obvious BY the loosely
shaking dropping fingers. which is the
sign for snow. The Navajo seemed much
Surprised At this aud replied that in his
country 1t did not snow very much.
"Do you have any buffalo in your coun-
try?" asked Joe KIM.
mo, there are none now" said the Ma
ysjo. "Once we went far 20 the East ar
ter thes buffalo, and we rode after them
with horses. Now we have no buffalo.
but we have many goats and sheep. We
have TO make blankets 10 keep ourselves
warm You see, those blankets.
All this had 20 be gathered from Joe
Kipp himself for the rapidly moving
fingers and hands OF the Navajo conveyed
no meaning 90 the lay member, who stood
10y as an observer
JoEs RECORD on BCFFAIO.
"In my country" said Joe Kipp. "far
60 the north. We used 30 have the buffalo
I killed many We rode them down with
horses but | always shot them with the
gun. Some Of our young men killed them
~ sith the bow and arrow. I have killed
many buffalo. we used the buffalo robes
to keep us warm. I have some buffalo
robes now iu my tepee. just over there"
fcctly, showing his understanding by the
continued slapplng down OF tho foredngcr
on his right hand which is the GESTURE
for yes" or - understand"
"Once i'm a while he would throw his
thumb and forefingcr out from him TO
indicate. Il wish YOU 10 repeat" or ~
don't quite understand"
They talked THIS way for a little while.
and then. abruptly and without saying
goodby, Joe turned and walked away
with his daughter, and the Navajo stoid-
~ resumed his gaze at tne blanket wcav-
Ing which the women were doing In the
hogan
Joe said that The Navajo was not a very
good siGn taiker. bat foune that ne could
get along after a fashion The Navajo
II not very happy in his surroundings
lie received letter this week from his
old mother out on the reservation, trans
crlbcd for him by the Indian agent The
old woman Is very uneasy about her son
and SAYS she never expects 10 see him
home alive again.
She adds that, II he and his wives ever
% come home SEain. they will have 70
be purified ~ furnisation with the smoke
" the cleansing weed which the Navaios
use IN their Ceremonies This" saws
The ola vcnsl. VIII make you again ht
10 associate With your people
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