New-York tribune., 1902-03-18
RUG OF GREAT VALUE.s .
WORK OF THE NAVAJO INDIANS DE-
SCRIBED BY GEORGE II. PEPPER
HELP THAT WOULD BE TIMELY.

remarkable Navajo blanket. unique in design
and Of almost priceless value was shown by George
H Pepper, OF the American Museum Of Natural
History. the members Of the New-York Indian
Association In the Broadway Tabernacle yesterday.
The blanket was brought 10 the store for sale
during his stay among the nation, and when ex-
posed 70 view there by its owner brought forth
CALCULATIONS OF amazemeut from the old squaws
standing by. Their remarks. interpreted, were:
Look Look Well. I declarer' The sQuaw
who made II must have been crazy" and the like
The blanket is a specimen Of the best and
coloringr but IS peculiar in bearing upon its sur
face sacred esoteric symbols Of the tribe. which
are never employed in the manner in which they
used. few years ago the makers life would
have paid the penalty Of sacriIege Strangely
formed birds and fishes symbolic. respectively the
gods Of air and water. and zigzag lines represent
the forked lightning issuing from cloud terraces
The rug. indeed. is a monument Of the symbolism
Of Navajo mythology
a number Of old and rugs were exhibited,
and with them a piece Of the Spanish balleta
cloth. which the Navajos raveI and where red
wool is wanted. The Navajos have no native red
dye for their wool This is probably due the
fact that the wool is greasy, and there no water
with which 10 cleanse it.
When the Hyde Exploration Company, of which
Mr. Pepper was the scientific leader. went among
the NavajOs. in 1896. the had so deteriorated
that Germantown woods and cotton warp were en-
poyed in place Of the vegetable dyed native wool
and the wOoen waIp. This condition was largely
due the trader, who paid the Indian much
for soft weaves as for hard weaves and for poor
work as for good. The industry has now been
placed on a basis substantial that the perfection
Of weave and color has been restored TO the new
products.
Where red is wanted the baIIeta cloth from Spain
is still used but rugs from ii must Of neces-
sitv be very expensive. Efforts foot to
obtain red dye that shall give a color as sat
isfactory as the red Spanish wool. The young
squaws are receiving every encouragement 10 carry
the work Of blanket weaving and 70 perpetuate
their art.
Mr Pepper learned from an old squaw how to
tell beyond doubt a Navajo blanket Several
young Indians were having a sharp discussion over
q blanket as 10 whether 1t woven in Mexico
among the Puebos o by the Navajos. An old
souaw came in felt Of the edge carelessly, and
said contemptuously. Navajo"
M Pepper showed a Mexican blanket, with its
loose. insecure edge, and Navajo blanket with an
edge as firm that Of 4 board. The condition OF
the edge he said was a never failing test.
Mr Peppers object In going among the Indians
Was 20 explore the ancient puebos and clih houses
OF the Southwest. His laDorers and companions
were the Navajos. and he found them men who
could be trusted In many ways although, in the
past Ike their half brothers the Apaches, they
had been warike and cruel. In this connection Mr
sess certain Missionary Indians in Southern cali
fornis Of their lands and TO drive them into aIHa9
government expects the Indians 10 stay there and
One Of the greatest drawbacks TO the prosperity
Of the Nayajos IS their lack Of water Their hocks
Of sheep. which they forced to drive long dis
tsnces 70 the mSuntans during months Of drouth
are decimared in the passage
The question naturally arises. SAID the speaker,
why the officials fail to help the Navajo in
his greatest difficulty-why they do not dig wells
that may be used when the surface supply OF
water IS exhausted
Experience has shown ylr. Pepper the fallacy, of
the statement that there is water obtainable.
For years his party relied upon the surface
water In the Navajo country The third year, in
digging a reservoir TO catch the seep from an ar
royo. spring found that furnishes seem
ngly ineKhaustible supply for all the Indian stock
II the vicinity. On feast occasions as many as
three hundred head OF cattle have been watered
there in a single day. Navajos travel 10 the well
Tor miles I'll their kegs with the pure water.
Since that time another well has been sunk by the
company about thirty miles from the first, and IL,
100. Is successful The well Is only twenty five feet
oeep. but gives supply sufficient TO tide over an
exceptionally dry season.
These instances illustrate, said Mr.. Pepper. how
ne government might help the Indian. Only
moderate outlay OF money and time would be
aored % dot the reservation with such wells, for
me navajo IS not lazy, and no better aborer than
g retain the water from the rains built by
Yearly
M. Pepper declared that the present condition Of
e indians the children OF the SOIL Is disgrace TO
ne, me American people He charged his hearers 10
ETC &c helping hand and do all in their power
csne ne indians TO the position which. Ameri-
So auaEens. they should occupy. Mrs. Hamilton
. Soroon presided.