New-York tribune., 1921-06-26

and for many weeks, while waiting for trial,
was given the liberty of the reservation. The
agent agreed to be personally responsible for
the Indians appearance at the trial. Instead
of putting Chis-chil-ling-be in the agency
lookup, the agent let the Navajo roam about
at will. His faith in the Indians word of
honor was not misplaced, for on the morning
set for the trial the Navajo appeared, ready
to be taken from the agency to Aztec. He was
found guilty and given an indetermnate
prison sentence, but was eventually released,
as prison life induced tuberculosis as it does
in the cases of most Indians
Until recent years the tendency to turn
"bronco" on the slightest provocation was
quite prevalent among the Navajos. One Of
the members of the Indian police at Shiprock,
named Ya-ba-nee, told the writer how, years
ago, he had been cured of the desire to be
"bad man." Ya-ba-nee and several other
young Indians, who had hankerings for the
warpath, attempted to Jump" white trader
and rob his store. The trader showed fight
and managed to rally half a dozen cowboys to
take to the hills and were surrounded It
looked as if they would all be killed, but the
white trader, who proved to be man of exe
ceptional courage and resource, said he would
attempt to get through the line and get help,
and would wave his handkerchief from GER
tain hill if successful.
The Indians saw the f1uttering handkerchief
and knew that the trader must be caught
Ya-ba-nee and another Indian started in pur-
suit of the trader, leaving the rest to guard
the beleaguered cowboys.
In telling the story Ya-ba-nee said he pur-
sued the trader with murder in his heart and
"felt strong enough to kill all the white men
in the world" But the trader halted Just
after going ever the brow of hill, and when
the Indians came upon him he had them cov-
cred with rife and ordered them to throw
w their hands
"When / looked into the barrel of that
gum" said Ya-ba-nee, 81 didn't feel strong
any more. felt as weak as little child"
The Indians both threw down their guns
at the traders direction, and, after he had
contlscated the weapons, he drove the Ma
vajos ahead of him to the nearest settlement
and help was sent to the cowboys. Ya-ba-
nee Joined the Navajo police force, perma-
nently cured of his desire to be 'bronco"
Indian of the By-a-lil-le or Tse-ne-gat stripe.
There are innumerable cases where nothing
but diplomacy on the part of Indian agent
has prevented outbreaks among the Indians
of this southwestern country. Every agent
can relate many instances when dissatisfac-
tion among individuals has threatened to
spread to other members of the tribe. 1t is
said, in fact, that the last Navajo war, which
Kit Carson was called upon to quell, was
caused by cook at Fort Defiance, who threw
dishpanful of dirty water on an Indian who
happened to be at the kitchen door at the post
The Indians are particularly resentful if
their tribal ceremonies are interfered with
For that reason the Navajos are still allowed
to have their Ya-be-chi dance and the South
ern Utes their Bear dance Such cere-
monials though they last for days and inter-
fere with the work of those who are irving
to induce the Indians to become agrculturists,
are safety valves which keep the more rest
less Indians within bounds and add much to
the peace Of mind of settlers in this sparsely
inhabited part of the country.