A NAVAJO ARTIST, ETC, 241 



Long before I knew Choli liad any claims to being one of the artists 

 of tlie tribe I bad been struck on several occasions, when closely study- 

 ing the peculiar expressions of his face, unknown to hiiu, by certain 

 lights of intelligence that would conic into it in spite of its pitiful de- 

 formity; these -veremuch eidiancedby his overflowing good hunu)r, for 

 ho is a warm-hearted, happy type of an Indian, in spiteof his repulsive 

 exterior. 



It is wonderful to see the affection that Esta-yeshi has for this scarred 

 and half-crippled son of hers. She is never so hajipy as when he is 

 about; has tijught him all that lies within her power to teach ; does 

 everything for him, and is pleased to the last degree when he will aUow 

 her to decorate his person with all those trappings so impressive in the 

 eyes of the Indian and in which we see liim decked out in the accom- 

 ])anying engraving. The two eagle feathers at the side of his head de- 

 note his claim to royal blood. 



Fort Win -ite, in common with all fruited States military stations on 

 the frontier, I'as its building known as the trader's store, tliough the 

 post-office iivM other minor estiiblishments are included under the same 

 roof. This building is a great resort for the idle ones among the !Nava- 

 jos, who, during most of the time on week days, lounge about on 

 its veranda, incessantly smoking their cigarettes, or if it be cold they 

 practice the same around the stove in the center of the main room 

 within. 



Choh forms no exception to this almost general failing, but is, indeed, 

 reckoned among the most inveterate of the regular habitues. When he 

 comes, however, his time is rarely spent in idleness, for, after rapidly 

 pufling through one or two cigarettes, he will saunter over to the dis- 

 tant end of one of the long counters of the salesroom, where lie is soon 

 at work on some of the sheets of wrapping-paper there to be found with 

 his bit of illy sharpened pencil. It is a curious sight to see this Indian 

 at his drawing. He is obliged to bring his face almost down in (contact 

 with the paper on account of his eyes, which were permanently injured 

 by the burn 1 have already alluded to above. In this position tlui gi-eat 

 mat of coarse hair which covers his head tumbles all over, so as almost 

 to hide the subject which engages him, from the observer at his side. 



The first time I overlooked Choh to see what he v.as about he was 

 laboring away at a gaudily dressed chief riding at full tilt ui)on his 

 Indian steed. His work ^vas rather above that of the average Indian 

 artist, but as I had seen manj- of their i)roductions before and watched 

 many of them while they executed them, I paid no special attention to 

 this additional example of an old stor}*. 



Choh has been presented at various times with one of those red and 

 blue pencils, when the results of his handiwork exhibit a striking ap- 

 pearance indeed. Flaming red frogs with blue strijjcs adown their backs 

 and sides, with still iripre pretentious birds, will be found on every piece 

 of paper that comes beneath the h;ind ol' this untutored artist. 

 H. Miss. 170 1<; 



