THE NAVAJO BELT-WEAVER. 



BY 



R. W. Shufeldt, U. D. 

 (With Plate XXVII.) 



For a number of years the writer of the present article lived in the 

 northwestern part of New Mexico, and while there such time as could be 

 spared from his duties as a military surgeon at one of the stations in that 

 little frequented part of our country, was entirely given over to studies 

 of everything the region attbrded. 



The camera and pencil were constantly in use and the several tribes 

 of Indians studied with their simple arts, their habits, and their his- 

 tory. I have watched the native weavers, both among the Zuni and 

 the Navajos, manufacture their beautiful blankets, belts and sashes, 

 fabrics now so celebrated in works devoted to the ethnology of these 

 interesting people. Among the Navajos one will see a great many 

 blankets made before an opportunity will be presented for him to ob- 

 serve the labors of a belt- weaver. The reason for this is, that blankets 

 are a universal necessity with them, while the belt is principally used 

 as a supplementary adornment in dress. As my time for leaving the 

 country drew near T almost despaired of getting a good photograph of 

 the belt- weaver and the study of the loom she used. But a month before 

 my departure an Indian came into my study one morning, beaming all 

 over with the welcome information that one of the best weavers in the 

 tribe had started the making of a belt in front of one of their huts. 

 These Indians were then building close to the confines of the garrison. 



The first day I studied her methods of procedure and the second day 

 I succeeded in obtaining several excellent pictures of this weaver at 

 work. My best result is here offered as an illustration, and it well 

 shows the entire scene. The woman has rigged up her loom in front of 

 her house; she is busily employed in her weaving and her child sits be- 

 side her. Standing up by the loom is an excellent figure of a Navajo. 

 Indian wearing the dress of the daily costume of the men of his tribe 

 (See Plate XX.) 



Navajos rear their own sheep, spin their own wool, manufacture their 

 own dyes, and, as we have seen, weave their own blankets. And surely 

 it is a sight not easily forgotten to see one of these superbly coloredand 



ProceedinfTs National Museum, Vol. XIV— No. 860. 



391 



