NAVAJO INDIANS AT THE MARKETPLACE IN NEW MEXICO
Recollections of a visitor about the Navajo Indians in Albuquerque

Navajo Indians at the marketplace in New Mexico

"The most interesting people that I saw of the many races of the southwest," said the toursit newly returned from a transcontinental trip, "were the Navajo Indians in New Mexico. Arriving at Albuquerque late at night, I had begun to dress about half past 8 o'clock the next morning, when a trampling of hoofs called me to the window, and looking out the town seemed to be in the hands of the Indians. Through the doors of the large stores on the main street Indians were passing in and out or, grouped upon the platforms, were examining and cheapening goods as earnestly as country people might do in a New England village on cattle show day. But how picturesque, even in sordid bargaining, were these dusky children of the plains and mountains! "Down the center of the wide sandy street a dozen mounted Indians were driving a band of young, unbroken horses, some riding ahead to prevent a stampede in that direction, and the others, in a half circle behind, urging forward the herd. Here were perhaps 50 wild steeds which had never known stable, fodder, bridle or spur, stepping high and prancing, with wild eyes glancing suspiciously about and tossing manes and tails. Every few yards they would all gather together with their heads toward the center, and it was with difficulty that this circle could be broken and the horses urged along. At a square a little way down the avenue the herd was held by its riders, a crowd of people gathered, and trading evidently begun at once at a lively rate. "'What does all this crowd of Indians mean?' I asked of the boy from Missouri who brought up my hot water. "'Them's Navajos,' he said. 'The first lof of 'em's just got inter town ter do their fall trading. They've brung blankets and ponies ter swap for silver dollars and store truck.' "After breakfast, when I went out on the street, I was much impressed by the appearance and ways of these aborigines. Both men and women are of good size, with massive figures, open, intelligent faces and impressive dignity of manner. Lighter in tint than many of the Indian tribes, their features display markedly the Tartar characteristics. To me they as strongly suggested a MOngolian as some other Indian peoples do a Semitic derivation. "They come in from their reservation every autumn in parties varying in number from a single family up to 50 or 60 members and camp just outside the town, sleeping in the open air or sheltered by old army tents and blankets stretched from poles. Every day of my stay they came into the public square or upon the main street to trade. To see these dusky riders sitting in unstudied picturesque attitudes upon their ponies, holding in check a herd of restless horses while waiting for buyers, was a sight that beat pictures. They wore sombreros or old style but costly fur caps bought from the traders, and some of them had Mexican spurs at their heels. Otherwise their costumes were pure Navajo, with buckskin or calico jumpers, buckskin leggings, moccasins and massive silver ornaments in the shape of bracelets, earrings and crescent charms hammered out from Mexican dollars by their native jewelers. Here and there in the chill morning a Navajo would stalk along draped in one of those splendid woolen blankets which they weave themselves of most substantial texture in great variety of barbaric colors and designs. Although their features were in general impassible, there was an intangible air among these Indians of being on a picnic, and sometimes at some mishap, such as the struggle of a purchaser with tan intractable colt, they would roll in their saddles in uproarious laughter. There were no signs that any of them had indulged in firewater, and I think that among Indians in general the Navajos, like the Pueblos, rank pre-eminent in sobriety. They are too good business men to take the chances of loss through drunkenness. The squaws, who rode astride their horses man fashion, were comely, luxuriant and shapely of figure and both modest and independent if sometimes a little fierce of demeanor. "The Navajo Indians up to a time about 30 years ago were the scourge of all civilized raced of New Mexico, the peaceful Pueblo Indians being favorite victims of their depredations. Unlike other Indians, they, owing perhaps to the Tartar origin already hinted at, have always inclined to a pastoral life and to accumulate flocks and herds. The Utes and Apaches, when raiding ranches and villages, would feast inordinately upn the flesh cattle and sheep, maiming and slaughtering many animals from mere wantonness. They would take back to their rancherios -- villages -- with them only horses and mules and asses which could be ridden or driven ahead at a gallop. The Navajos, on the contrary, would drive to their mountain fastnesses all the cattle, sheep and goats they could capture and collect to add to the stock they already had. When the famous frontiersman, Colonel Kit Carson, in 1862, made his historic campaign against the Navajos, he found no way so effective to reduce them to submission as, after wasting their fields and destroying their villages, to kill all their stock. "Since the lesson of that campaign the Navajos have never been on the warpath, but having renewed their flocks and herds, with some early assistance from the government, have gone steadily on increasing in numbers and wealth. They number now nearly 20,000 souls. Unlike most Indian tribes, they are self supporting, requiring no annuities or rations. They own several hundred thousand -- some say a million -- sheep and many thousand cattle and ponies. Their reservation in northern New Mexico and Arizona contain nearly 6,000 square miles, and they use a wide adjoining region of government land for range." From New York Sun, 1894 The Navajo code talkers The Long Walk of the Navajo Word of Honor of the Navajo Navajo Indians at the marketplace in New Mexico Kit Carson's Expedition against the Navajo Navajo Outrages in New Mexico and Utah Navajo War against White Settlers Proof that Navajos Came from Alaska Navajos in Arms Navajos Outlawed Navajos in their new reservation Navajo Indians starving because of drought Retaliation campaign against the Apache Rights of the Navajo Woman The White Chief of the Navajoes