Chicago eagle., 1909-04-17
sur1nsr1r1ous.
Strange Beliefs ana Fears 81 The
Peaceful Navajo 1ndla0s.

Strange Beliefs ana Fears 81 The
Peaceful Navajo indians.
The present-day Indian, II not con-
sidered menace TO society, Is looked
upon as a charge on tie body polite,
and we frequently hear that the only
good Indian Is the dead one, yet there
are exceptions.
The tribe Of Navajocs whose reser-
vation in New Mexico and Arizona Dor.
ders on southeastern Utah and south.
western Colorado, numbers nearly A.
90 souls. They are n pastoral peo.
pie, herding sheep, goats and horses
over their great arid ranges and in
small way cultivating corn ana other
grains. Except when excited by fire.
water, the are peaccable and to de-
gree industrious. The women are not
able blanket weavers and the men are
silversmiths of no mean ability.
OF late years the NavaJ0es have
been quite successfully employed a.
section hands on western railroads, and
as fruit gatherers IN the orchards and
workers In the sugar-beet fields they
have given great satisfaction.
Like all Indians. their besetting sin
Is monte" Give an Indian the price
Of his hire and he will quit work until
II Is gainbled away. They are polyg-
amOus people, having no religion, and,
like all aborlgines. are superstitlous,
believing In all kinds Of signs and
workings of supernatural powers.
Although the Navajo reservation ad.
Joins the Mesa Verde National Park.
where 10 many Cliff Dwellcr ruins are
found, It Is with difficulty that Ma.
vajo can be induced to act as guide
to the ruins. When one is found will
ing to show the way he cannot be In
th,ced to remain In the immediate vi.
cinlty and when night comes on he
moves miles away.
A curious tradition. and one account.
ing perhaps for their abhOrrence Of
the Cliff Dweller region, Is that ages
ago, when the ClIff Dwcllcrs and their
enemies were engaged In an extermi.
mating warfare. the former we're finally
driven Into a mighty river and, drown.
ing, the souls Of the CliH Dwellers
were transmitted into the bodies Of
fishes. And from that time to this
Navajo cannot he Induced to eat fsh.
Another legend, no less curious, re.
lates to the Ship Rock. About 35 miles
due west from Farmingtoil, ". NJ, and
within the borders Of their reservation,
situated In the midst of the desert,
stands famous rock called Ship Rock,
which looms to the height Of 1000 feet
above the surrounding plain. It rises
from the center Of an immense and
gradually slOping mound. which gives
1t towering appearance ana its out.
lines can be seen for many miles In
various directions.
The rock derives It's name from Its
appearance when seen from a certain
direction, whence 1t resembles full.
Iigged ship stranded and petrified. Tho
Indian legend is that In the dim and
misty past they had their habitation
in distant land beyond tho great
ucean and that the rock was situated
in their ancient country: OiHc upon u
time, the tribe being closely pressed by
Its enemies and In danger OF total an.
Initiation. the survivors climbed into
the cracks and crcvlccs Of tho great
rock nnd implored It for protection.
The supplications were heard ana
shortly the rock began to move. Il
crossed innumerable wastes, gradually
reached the ocean which 1t crossed,
traversed more wastes and deserts and
finally arrived at its present resting
place, when the refugees sprang from
Its bosom. Thus the tribe remained
upon the face Of the earth.
The ranks Of the tribe are being de.
pleted, and before great many years
the good Ship Rock will be obliged to
gather up the people and 90 another
long voyage In order that the tribe Of
the Navajo may be perpetuatcd among
the tribes Of the earth.