Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-05-05
INDIAN AS A BARGAIN HUNTER
Trading to an Advantage Is one Of
His Stronq Points.


The reservation Indians in the
southwest have many quaint ideas Of
trade, which often are amusing,
though childish. A contributor was
lately among the Navajo and Moqui
Indians in Arizona.
At Armijo's trading post at Oriabi,
Ariz., he writes, the customers are
both Navajos and Hopis. A Hopi
came in one day and after pricing an
axe bought it for $1.25, giving Armijo
$3.50. He received 25 cents in
change. After a while he came back,
and looking wise, asked Armijo what
he had taken out Of his $50 for the
axe. On being told s1.25 he showed
the 25 cents toward Armijo and said
Now give me the so cents"
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 while the Indian ask
ed for his money, saying he did not
wish the meat. When given $2.25 he
protested, and asked for $3.50 telling
Armijo in no unmistaken language
that If 1t was worth that much to the
trader 1t certainly was to him. When
refused the extra 25 cents he took the
matter up with the missionary, a per-
son often appealed to in matters Of
this kind. and who. as a general thing,
settles them so that the Indian and
tho tpola,. ono hntb otieaal
Buckskins were very scarce at one
trading post and the trader was offer
ing extra inducements to get Indians
to bring some in, having heard Of sew
eral recently tanned in a certain
neighborhood on the reservation. One
Navajo had told this trader where the
skins were. The Navajo was told that
he would be given two Navajo blan-
kets worth as much as the skins
would sell for and he could trade
them for skins.
Upon their receipt by the trader the
| Indian was promised a nice saddle
blanket for his part in the deal. He
acquiesced, 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 I
get my skins" The Indian unrolled
his bundle and produced the two blan-
kets, the post trader had given him in
| exchange for the buckskin. me no
trade" said the Indian, having chang
ed his mind. On being asked where
the saddle blanket was he tried to
make the trader understand that the
blanket had been given to him and
that he was going to keep 1t. A pro-
longed discussion was necessary to
convince the Indian that he had no
right to the blanket.
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
ornaments and his bride was almost
covered with silver. The Navajo sat
down and remained dumb as an oys-
ter The trader offered to buy the bri-
die, and the Navajo finally consented
to take $23 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 disappointed.
After eating hearty supper the Nav
ajo departed, saying he would return
next morning to trade. THAT Nava-
JOS mind is working; he is up to
something. I'll bet you a new hat he'll
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 Of
fered the $23 to the trader. The ira
der laughed, accepted the money and
returned the bride to the Indian, who
quietly replaced it on his horse and
rode away-his appetite for supper
appeased- Indian School
Journal.