Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-25
RED MAN PROVES A
SHARP BARGAlNER
TRADING TO ADVANTAGE is THE
INDIANS STRONG FORTE
often He Gets His Notions Confused
but Never Fails to Interpret Any
Agreement to His Own
Advantage

GUTHRIE, Okla, April 24.-The res
ervetion Indians in the southwest have
many quaint ideas of trade. which often
are amusing, though childish. A con-
tributor to the Indian School Journal,
published at Chilocco, Okla, was lately
among the Navajo and Moqui Indians
in Arizona.
"At Armijos trading post at Oriabi,
Arizona" he writes, the customers are
both Navajos and Hopis. A Hopi came
in one day and after pricing an AK,
bought it for S1.25, giving Ainijo $l.50.
He was given twenty-five cents in
change. After a while he came back,
and looking wise, asked Armijo what
he had taken out of his $1.50 for the ak.
On being told that it was SIPS, he
showed the twenty-five cents toward
Armijo and said: Now, give me the
fifty cents
1t Was Worth as Much to Him
"An Indian bought a piece of mutton
from this same trader for $2.25, for
which the trader had asked him $3.50
After thinking awhile the Indian asked
for his money, saying he did not wish
the meat. When given $2.25 he pro-
tested, and asked for $3.50, telling Ar
milo in no unmistaken language that if
it was worth that much to the trader
it certainly was to him. When refused
the extra twenty-five cents he took the
matter up with the missionary, person
often appealed to in matters of this
kind, and who. as a general thing, set
ties them so that the Indian and the
trader are both satisfied.
"Buckskins were very scarce at one
trading post. ami the trader was Offer
ing extra inducements to get Indians to
bring some in, having heard of several
recently tanned in a certain neighbour
hood on the reservation. One Navajo
had told this trader where the skins
were. The Navajo was told that he
would be given two Navajo blankets,
worth as much as the skins would sell
for, and he could trade them for the
skins.
The Blanket Was His, He Said
Upon their receipt by the trader the
Indian was promised nice saddle
blanket for his part in the deal. He
acauiesced, but insisted upon having
the three blankets then, and they were
given to him. Next morning when the
trader went to open his store there sat
the Navajo on the step. Oh thought
Mr. Trader. here is where / get my
skins The Indian unrolled his bundle
and produced the two blankets the post
trader had given him in exchange Tor
the buckskn. Me no trade said the
Indian, having cNdIlS6u MS Hllllu' ~
being asked where the saddle blanket
was he tried to make the trader under
stand that the blanket had been given
to him and that he wasgoing to keep
it. A prolonged discussion was neces.
sary to convince the Indian that ne had
no right to the blanket.
He Got the Needed Supper
"A Navajo rode into a trading post
at supper time, just as the eggs and
bacon were frying. His saddle was
trimmed with Navajo hand-hammered
silver ornaments and his bride was al
most covered with silver The Navajo
SAT down and remained dumb as an
oyster The trader offered to buy the
bride. and the Navajo finally con-
sented to take S23 for it. The trader
counted out twenty-three silver dollars
TO the Indian, expecting that he would
spend most of it at the store before he
rode aWay. The trader was dlsap-
pointed. After eating a hearty supper
the Navajo departed, saying he would
return next morning to trade. mat
Navajo's mind is working; he is up 70
something. I'll bet you anew hat he IL
be back here before long said the
trader. Sure enough he appeared in
the doorway even before supper was
over and said he had changed his mind
about selling the bride and o1ered the
500 to the trader. The trader laughed,
accepted the money and returned the
bride to the Indian, who quietly re-
placed it on his horse and rode away
his appetite for supper fully appeaseu'