WITH THE NAVAJO TRIBE
After a couple of days we came to Fort Wingate, which controls the
Navajo Indian Reservation. We camped here for a day to have some repair
work done to our wagons, and I took a stroll over the hills after
rabbits and returned to camp at nightfall. Don Juan told me that he had
been visited by a number of Indians, who had bartered him some blankets
and buckskins and he was highly pleased thereat.
The next morning we started early and traveled until noon. Several
Indians had been following us for some time, and as soon as we made
camp they squatted at our fire, while others were continually arriving,
some afoot, but most of them on horseback. Manuelito, a grand-looking
chief, rode into camp on the finest Indian pony I had ever seen. It was
beautifully caparisoned; the saddle, bridle, and trappings were covered
with silver mountings. This was by far the most gorgeously dressed
Navajo I had ever met. He wore tight-fitting knickerbockers of
jet-black buckskin, which resembled velvet, with a double row of silver
buttons, set as close as possible on the outward seams, from top to
bottom. On his legs from knee to ankle he wore homespun woolen
stockings and his feet were covered by beaded moccasins of yellow,
smoke-tanned buckskin. His bright red calico shirt was literally
covered with silver ornaments and his ears were pierced with heavy
silver rings, at least three inches in diameter. His wrists and arms
were heavy with massive silver bracelets and others, carved from a
stone, which resembled jade. About his neck he wore strings of wampum
and glass beads, garnets, and bits of turquoise. The turquoise and
garnet is found here in places known only to these Indians. His fingers
were encircled by many rings, but the finest ornament he possessed was
his body belt of great disks of silver, the size of tea saucers. All
this jewelry was of a fair workmanship, such as is made by Navajo
silversmiths out of coin silver. In fact, these Indians prefer silver
to gold for purposes of personal adornment. The blanket which this
Indian wore around his waist was worth at least two hundred dollars;
never have I seen its equal in beauty of pattern and texture.
The chief dismounted and withdrew with Don Juan behind a wagon for a
talk, as I presumed. They reappeared soon, and the chief mounted his
steed and cavorted around our camp as one possessed. Furiously lashing
his horse, he scattered our cooking utensils and acted in a most
provoking manner generally. I noticed then that the noble chief was
intoxicated, and when I questioned Don Juan sharply, he admitted that
he had given the Indian some whiskey, and on the day before as well. I
warned the Don to have no further dealings with these Indians and
advised him to break camp at once in order to avoid trouble. I informed
him also that he had committed a serious crime by selling liquor to
Indians and that he was liable to be arrested at any time should a
patrol from the fort happen our way. As the Mexican was frightened now,
we took to the road in a hurry and traveled until a late hour that
night. In fact, we did not stop until the cattle were exhausted.
Hardly had we prepared our camp and were sitting around our fire, when
a horde of Indians appeared, clamoring for whiskey. As they were armed
and threatening, Don Juan became so terrified that he climbed to the
interior of a wagon to comply with the demand of the savages. When I
saw this, I drew my rifle from its place under my bedding and placed it
in readiness. Plainly I saw Don Juan come out of the wagon with the
mischievous stone jug, as this happened in the bright light of our camp
fire. That will never do, thought I, and quickly drawing my revolver, I
persuaded the Don to drop the jug, incidentally smashing it with a 44
caliber bullet, taking care not to hurt anybody; and this was easily
done, as the jug was a large one, it held three gallons.
Instantaneously I grabbed my Winchester, and with my back against a
wagon stood ready for action. The Indians uttered a howl of
disappointment when they saw the jug collapse and its precious contents
wasted, but were silenced by an exclamation of their chief. After an
excited pow-wow between themselves, they disappeared among the hills in
the shadows of the night.
"Muchas gracias, senor Americana," said Don Juan, "quien sabe?" What
would have happened if the Indians had gotten the liquor, which I dared
not refuse them; but I think this ends our troubles. We passed a
sleepless night, and long before sunrise Don Juan made preparations for
our departure.
When the herders rounded up the cattle, they found that several yoke of
oxen were missing, and greatly alarmed, they said that they believed
the Indians had stolen them during the night. Don Juan did not appear
to be very anxious to search for the missing cattle himself, so he sent
out the herders again after breakfast. They returned with the report of
having found the tracks of Indians who had apparently driven the cattle
toward the hills, and stated that they were afraid to follow, fearing
for their lives.
As it was nearly noon by this time, we cooked our dinner, and while
doing so were visited again by a number of the Indians. Don Juan
intimated to them that several of his oxen had strayed off during the
night, and the Navajos kindly offered to go in search of them for a
remuneration. They demanded a stack of tortillas a foot high and a sack
of flour. Nolens-volens, squatted Don Mestal before the fire and baked
bread for the wily Indians as a ransom for his cattle. Of course then
the missing oxen were soon brought up, and we lost no time in getting
under way.
Until midnight we traveled, as Don Juan was very anxious to get away
from the reservation of these Indians, which is seventy-five miles
across. This night we experienced a repetition of the tactics of the
night before, as regarded the safety of our herd, but Don Juan had to
pay a higher ransom in the morning. While we were awaiting the arrival
of the Indians with our lost steers, Chief Manuelito honored us again
with his presence. He sat down at our fire, and producing a greasy deck
of Spanish playing cards, he challenged Don Juan to a game of monte.
That was an irresistible temptation for my companion. By the smiling
expression of his wizened features I divined that he thought he saw his
chance for revenge. Manuelito undoubtedly had a strain of sporting
blood in his veins, as he offered to stake his horses, blankets,
squaws, and everything he had against the Mexican's wagons and cargo. I
warned Don Juan to have a care, as I knew the cunning of the Navajo
tribe, having dealt with them before, and advised him to play the traps
he had bought from them with liquor against a chipper little squaw who
was richly dressed and had come with Chief Manuelito, mounted on a
white pony. I believed her to be the chief's daughter. When she
understood the import of the conversation, she looked haughtily and in
a disdainful manner at Don Juan, but appeared to be pleased with me and
eyed me with symptoms of curiosity. Of course, I expected her to defy
Don Juan to take her, and simply ride off in case he should win the
game. At any rate, I meant to take her under my protection, if
necessary, and send her home to her people. In fact, the liquor which
Don Juan had sold these Indians had belonged to me and had been
presented to me by a friend as an antidote for possible snake bites on
the road to Arizona.
The gambling began, and my Mexican companions became so engrossed in
the enjoyment of their alluring national game of monte that they forgot
everything else. The drivers were as interested as their employer and
bet the poor trinkets they possessed on the result of the game. There
arrived more Indians continually, and I observed a familiar face
amongst these and saw that I myself was recognized. The game was ended
as I had foreseen, with Don Juan as the loser. He was an easy prey for
these Indians, who are as full of tricks as the ocean is of water.
Then Chief Manuelito, who was highly elated with his victory over the
Mexican, challenged me to a game in a very overbearing and provoking
manner. I replied that I despised the game of monte, which was perhaps
good enough for Mexicans and Indians, but was decided by chance; I
boasted that I was ready to bet anything I had on my skill at shooting
with the rifle, and challenged him and his whole tribe to the sport
which was worthy of men, a shooting match. I think Manuelito would have
accepted my challenge without hesitation and in great glee if he had
not been restrained by the Indian whom I have mentioned before as
having just arrived and recognized me. This Indian said something to
the chief, which seemed to interest and excite them all. Chief
Manuelito advanced, and extending his hand in greeting, said that he
had often wished to meet me, the wizard who had beaten the champion
marksman of the Navajo tribe.
Several years before I had in the town of Cubero, at the request of
Mexican friends, shot a target match with the most renowned marksman of
the Navajo tribe, my pistol being pitted against the Navajo's rifle,
and had beaten him with a wonderful shot to the discomfiture and
distress of a trading band of Indians, who bet on their champion's
prowess and lost their goods to the knowing Mexicans.
The chief then requested me to favor them with an exhibition of my
skill. I readily assented and directed them to put up a target. They
placed a flat rock against the trunk of a pine tree at so great a
distance that it was barely distinguishable to the naked eye. I guessed
the distance and my shot fell just below the mark. Then I raised the
hind sight of my Winchester a notch and the next shot shattered the
stone to pieces. At this the Indians went wild. They had thought it
impossible for any man to perform this feat of marksmanship, and were
most enthusiastic in the profession of their admiration. Gladly would
they have adopted me into their tribe as a great chief or medicine man
had I wished to ally myself to them. There was the opportunity of a
lifetime, but I did not embrace it.
As the sun was now low in the heavens, I advised Don Juan to remain in
camp for the night and spoke to Chief Manuelito, expressing my wish to
pass through his country unmolested and without delay. The chief
assured me of his protection and bade us have no care. We slept soundly
that night, a band of Indians guarding our camp and herd under orders
of Manuelito, who had become my stanch friend and admirer. The
following day we came to the end of the reservation and soon crossed
the boundary line of New Mexico into Arizona.