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Subject: THY NATUnS 8-240 Yolk -Ways
Submitted By: New Mexico Normal University
Dr. Lester Raines
Informant: Sarah Okrcia
Oririnal Copy, Not Rewritten.
Wordage: 260
Date: August 31, 1936.
Apnroved: Ina Siser Cassidy, State Director.
8 -240 -Folk -Ways
Garcia; Raines 8/31/36 c1-260
THE NAVAJOS
My great-grandfather's house was a low adobe structure with
a wide veranda on three sides of the inner court and a still broader
one across the entire front, which faced the south. These verandas,
especially those on the inner court, were supplementary rooms to the
house and in htem a greater part of the family life went on. There
the women said. their preyers, took their siestas, and wove their
laces. There the herdsmen and shepherds smoked and trained their
dogs. All the family life centered around the verandas, with no fear
of the Navajos, as the house was well protected by a high adobe wall.
One starry night every one was seated on the veranda. My great-
grandmother was telling her children about her childhood days in
Spain. Suddenly there came the shoops of a band of Indians, their
fiendish yells coming nearer and nearer. My great-grandfather was a
brave old man. He orderdri his children not to move, confident that
the high adobe wall would keep out invaders. My grandfather, who was
the youngest of the gave a loud cry and pointed to the wall.
His mother looked up and saw about fifty Indian warriors clambering
over the wall. She sprung from her chair and called for help. She
seized the younger children and ren to neighbor's house to ask for
help. Her husband and the older boys stayed to fi,tht.
When help came, it was too late, for the Indians had already left
taking with them everythine they could. The house, before comfortable
and beautifhl, was now a ruin, and, worst of pll, two of the Garcia
boys had been killed in the strugx-le.
Mr. Garcia thought he would take revenge by going into the
Indian village and attempting to lay it waste. A month afterwards,
he and soma friends departed for the Indian camp. There Mr. Garcia
lost another of his sons, whom the Indians took prisoner.
Unable to rescue the boy, Mr. Garcia returned home. Before the
party left however, they seised a little Navajo girl, whom they brought
home with them.
The girl grew to be a great help to the family. Later she married
a Spanish youth. She died only a few years ago, leaving to survive
her a daughter, whom we love as if she were of our own blood.