The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-09-25

ihS an apuhddnt water supply VIII
contain a score or 90 hogans cas-
their rude huts are called; but this
Is for the sake Of the water and not
for companionship. 1t is estimated
that from five to six acres of the half
desert are necessary to the support
of each Navajo sheep. So the fiocks
are always on the move and the fam
lily moves with them.
In summer rude summer hogans are
constructed, consisting merely Of en-
closures Of brush or any other ma
ter-al that may be at hand. Such
temporary habitations may be aban-
doned at any moment without re-
gret. AS winter draws near the fiocks
are driven toward sheltered canyons
that give some protection from the
chilling blasts that sweep the half
desert in this high altitude. Here
the winter hogan is built, circular In
shape, constructed of stones or Of
logs and the limbs Of trees. banked
and covered with earth, with a door
way open toward the east and
smoke vent in the roof. The same
winter hogan may or may not be oc-
cupied by the same family year after
year; but in either case the sum-
mer journeyings may extend over
hundreds Of miles. In spite OF this
serninomadic manner Of life, a little
agriculture is practiced. In the spring,
corn and beans are planted in sandy
washes and other favorable locations,
and at the proper season the family
returns for the harvest. 1t is to the
credit Of the tribesmen that no Nav
ajO will steal the crops another has
planted.
In all the family's wanderings the
loom and distaff are carried along.
and at every camping place the in
dustrious squaws set up their looms
and put in most Of the daylight hours
at the most important industry Of
the tribe-blanket weaving. The es-
tirnate has been made that the total
value of blankets woven and sold by
the squaws annually approximate
100000. This Is really an astonish-
Ing showing in an industry represent
ing the manual labor Of a single desert
tribe.
A1thnnDh ha 10 4;
tie or no assistance to their wives in
this most important industry of the
tribe. they are not lazy To engage In
the domestic industries Of the squaws
is considered derogatory to the dig
nifty Of warriors. The Navajo braves
have been employed to large extent
in railroad construction, in the digging
Of irrigation bitches. at farm labor,
and in the sugar beet fields Of Colo
rado. Everywhere they have proven
their willingness to work, and their
ability to give good account Of them
selves at the most laborious tasks.
The most common objection to Ma
vajo blankets. woven by the squaws,
of material sheared from their own
sheep. and carded. spun and dyed by
their own hands. is that they are
coarse and rough, particularly when
new. To give them a more finished
appearance and to make them smooth
to the touch most of the dealers now
have them carded before Offering
them for sale, although the Indians
never card blankets intended for their
own use.
The only other noteworthy indus
Try of the Navajos is the making Of
silver jewelry. However, this is not
true aboriginal industry. but was
acquired from the Spaniards. Neither
the Navajos nor any other of the
tribes OF the Southwest had any
knowledge of metals until after the
coming Of Europeans. Considering
the crude and inadequate tools they
use (obtained from the reservation
traders) the Navajo silversmiths dis
play remarkable skill in fashioning
belt buckets, necklaces, medallions
bracelets, saddle and bride orna-
ments and other articles. Bracelets,
spoons and few other articles are
bought by tourists, but most of the
products of the silver workers art
are made for sale to other members
Of the tribe. or to the Pueblos. Utes,
Apachcs and MeXicans.