The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-12
MNAYAIO AMI "APACHE.n
what was ths Original Meaning OF Thsss
race Names?

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Navajo was originally written Navajo.
and Ia a word OF Spanish origin. According
10 the late DR.. W. Matthews. that name 4
generally supposed to mean "Clasping knife
or razor" and TO have been given nv tho
Spaniards because the Navajo warriors
carried great stone knives about their per.
sons. ~ has also been suggested that ths
name may come ron a bomonymous word
meaning pool or small lake. Finally Horatio
Hale. a prominent American sthnologis,,
recorded the fact that some take II 10 signify
CornIield People. In the light Of the latest
researches this Interpretation does not seem
devoid OF appropriateness.
Father Leopold's own explanation. how.
ever. In still more plausible. As the name 10
evidently spanish. the records OF the old
Spanish missionaries and explorers must
naturally contain the key to lts meaning.
Now, in a memorial TO the King OF Spain
written In 1890 by Fra Alonzo de Benayides.
O. r. NJ, the writer. after describing the CHA
Apaches, says that more b nifty leagues
north Of them "one encounters the province
OF the Apaches Of Navajo. Although they
are the same Apache nation as the foregoing.
they are subject and subordinate TO another
living. For those OF back ,yonder did not
use to plant. but sustained themselves by
the chase: and to-day We have broken land
these OF Navajo are very great farmers, for
that is what Navajo signifies great planted
neldS.
From the expression the Apaches " Nav
ajo" IL Is evident that the last word did at
first represent. not the natives now called
by II, but the country they inhabited. The
southern Denes were to the Spantards simply
Apacher, who for the sake OF converience
were at first qualified by their particular
habitats, until frequent repetition and love
OF conclseness caused the name of the Indians
to be discarded In favor OF that of their lands.
as IL often happens even in our days.
As 20 the word Apache itself the sans
missionary proposes as a possible etNmologv
the Spanish verb. "apacentar, to drive herds
to pasture: and his suggestion derives color
OF the Apachee. in general. calls them occa-
~sionalIy "the Apaches-VacQueros or cow
herds" But personally would feel more
inclined to accept DR.. Ales Hrdlicka's sug-
Gestion that that term is probably a corrup-
ton OF Opska. which in the dialect Of the
enemies, or aliens. like the Navahoes' Amaze
and the northern Denes' Atna.
Great planted fields" was therefore originally
meant by Navajo, and this Interpretation Is
further explained by the fact that when
first encountered by the Spaniards they were
OF which-poesibly that part OF IL which Was
first seen by the white intruders- was planted
with corn. "Nava" means i'm Spanish p fat
even piece of land. a Dlain or a field. and thu
SUNK -Rjo. the equivalent OF the modern
-acho. is not only an augmentatiye. but also a
as the French ending -aille in "ferraille, I"
"mAnReaille. which signify resnectively iron
and food OF little account, Therefore,, nv
writing the Apaches of Navajo" Benavides
must have meant "the Indians who live on tho
large. more or less worthless fields. 20 Those
who are familiar with the character Of their
lands will not Gainsay the appropriations OK
the appellation.