New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-24

young Navajo and his wife, on horseback like our
selves Early afternoon they stopped behind
without any word to us and we went forward at
fair pace. Some three or four hours afterward,
just as had stopped to camp, they came ga1op-
ing up and rejOined US, but with a new member of
the party a cunning little brown baby hanging
the wife's arm.
CONSERVATION is the only word that describes
feelings. Accustomed to the civilized idea of
the pains and dangers of child birth much
more concerned over the case than either the
mother or the father. Shirts were sacrificed for
baby clothing, and twelve dollars was Immediately
collected a fund for the knife, fork and spoon
which we remembered as customary on such occa-
sions. The mother was rather tall and rather
1anguid but would have gone steadily about her
work without protest. She had given birth to
a child mounted her horse and raced after with
thinking it anything unusual worthy of
comment. We made her as comfortable
could; but the next morning she was up and
about, and the second morning as strong and well,
to all appearances, as ever. OF course Indian
women have not the high nervous and highly
developed mental organization of highly civilized
Caucasian women. At the same time, simple life,
pure air and constant exercise played part in the
matter which woman, with all her many burdens,
can scarcely afford to neglect
The men treat their wives with the greatest con-
sideration. The majority of the young men begin
by marrying elderly women. A wife is a necessity
as helpreet and co-laborer; but handsome
young girl is an expensive luxury, her father de-
1nanding perhaps forty horses. An elder and less
attractive sister NAV be obtained for SIX horses,
and she is usually the one selected by the bridegroom
of twenty Property is hereditary among the women,
and even an elder sister is certain to bring him
dowrv of a certain number of sheep; and thus the
new rnenage starts with a hogan, few sheep
and horses and a small section of farrnng-land
which both labor.
By the time the man is thirty he is in position
to take second wife, and he chooses youth
and beauty, wife No making objection, but
on the contrary rather welcoming a new member
of the family who Will share her conversation and
her 1abOrs Two wives are the rule, and greater
number IS rare, though some old and well-tO-do
Navaios have three or four The wife is an active
partner in all property and an important bread
winner with her blanket and rug-making. No sale
is made without consulting her, and she IS always
treated with Difference.
1t is impossible to live among and study the
Navaos without feeling for them great deal of
sympathy. AS a nation making mistake
which one dav will be the subject OF much criticism
and the cause of much regret among US as people.
The Navaios live cleanly and decently. and have
forgotten all their warike habits of twenty years
ago under the influence of civilization. But they
are compelled to sell their blankets and silver art
work for less than half their value and to pay from
twenty to fifty per cent. for necessities than
the white man standing by their side at the same
counter They know this, and are justly indignant
that there should be one price for the white man
and another for themselves.
They are nomadic, but only
from necessity. Give them irri-
- CATION "a promise made years
e@@- ago by the Government, but never
ftlflled) and it will establish them
~ s55 53 :% @ % s: : e:s
<~SfsES-A friend OF the Indians earnestly