The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-08-07
IS GREAT
BARGAIN HUNTER
RED MEN OF SOUTHWEST ARE
ALWAYS TRYING TO Guido THE
TRADERS.

TRADERS.
The reservation Indians in the South
west have many quaint ideas of trade,
which often are amusing, though child
ish, says the Chicago Indian School
Journal. A contributor was lately
among the Navajo and Moqui Indians
in Arizona.
At Armijos trading post at Oriabi.
A. T., he writes, the customers are
both Navaios and Hopis. A Hopi came
in one day and after pricing an ak
bought it for $1.25, giving Armijo
81. so. He received 25 cents in change.
After a while he came back, and look
ing wise, asked Armijo what he had
taken out of his 81 so for the ak. On
being told $1.25 he soved the % cents
toward Armijo and said: Now give
me the so cents
An Indian bought a piece of mutton
from the same trader for 1925, for
which the trader had asked him 50. so.
After thinking while he did not wish
the meat. When given 81 .25 he pro
tested, and asked for S2.5 telling
Armiio in no unmistaken language
that if it was worth that much to the
trader it 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
the trader are both satisfied.
Buclkskins 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 certain
neighborhood on the reservation. One
Navajo had told the 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
! the skins.
Upon their receipt by the trader the
Indian was promised a nice saddle
blanket for his part in the deal. He
acuuiesced, 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 giVer
him in exchange for the buckskin. M
no trade" said the Indian, having
. changed his mind. On being asked
where the saddle blanket was he triet
to make the trader understand tina
the blanket had been given to hin
and that he was going to keep it. 4
prolonged discussion was necessary t.
| convince the Indian that he had NJ
, right to the blanket
) A Navajo rode into trading pos
at supper time, just as the eggs ant
bacon were frying. His saddle wa
trimmed with Navajo hand-hammereO
3 silver ornaments and his bride wa
, almost covered with silver. The Ma
| vajo sat down and remained dumb a
an oyster. The trader offered to bu,
5 the bride and the Navajo finally con
1 scented to take 1923 for it. The trade
t counted out % silver dollars to tn
y Indian, expecting that he would spen,
most of it at the store before he rod
, away. The trader was disappointed
= After eating a hearty supper the Ma
?. vajo departed, saying he would re
, turn next morning to trade. "Tha
q Navajo's mind is working; he is u
$ to something. I'll bet you a new ha
he'll be back before long" said tn
trader. Sure enough he appeared l
the doorway even before supper wa
over and said he had changed his min
about selling the bride and offered tn
1923 to the trader The trader laughe
I accepted the money and returned tn
= bride to the Indian, who quietly rC
j placed it on his horse and rode away
his appetite for supper appeased.
l. -