OCR Text |
Show appear to be even now fully eq*l to the ordinary Mexican population of the country in a3 the elements required to make good citizens. Of the Cocopas, who live near the month of the Colorado river, upon Mexi-can territory; the Pumas, numbering some 1,500, living further north, along the eame river: and the Moiaves. Yavanais. Hnalonais. and Chemihuevis, who number allout 8,000,a nd t v e near the'~o1orador iier,bet\seen Fort l'uma and Fort >fnjave, we liave litrrnlly nothing during Lhr last year. Whetl~ero r not thev have been enrraeed in the Lo~til~tirersf vrred to above is not known: but theprobability is tYh2 the warparty was composed of s band known as apache- Mojaves, neither belonging to the one tribe nor the other, but vagabonds from both. Still, it would appear from Mr. Dnnn's letter that the whites were the aggreseors; and this may be laid down as a general rule in re-gard to the Indians of the western slope, that unless provoked by wanton ont-rage, or driven by starvation to plunder, they are a quiet and peaceable people. Nothing has been done in regard to the proposed resewatiou lying between Corner Rock and Halfway Bend, on the Colorado, which was authorized by act of Congress last winter. The reservation, it is underatood, can only be made a~ailablefo r the Indians by an extensive inigating canal estimated to cost sorpe $100,000 in currency, for which Congress made no appropriation. Besides the tribes above mentioned. there are in Arizona a laree number of Apacbes, roughly estimated at 4,000, and the Moquis, who are vifiage Indians, living in a half civilized state, in the northeastern part of the Territory. Some account of these interestine villacers was eiven in-the renort of last bear from tbia office, but no agent ofo the Fovrrnme~> has visited them. yhey "are allied by 1ar.guage to the Pueblos, of Ncw Hcsico, and having eufercd greatly from 8tarvatio11a, delecation visited the nearest Pueblos last winrer. h a ~ i n rtr avelled hundreds of milerto obtain relief, which was given to them by agent John Ward, as stated in his report upon the subject. If it proves, upon examination, to he impracticable to attach this people to any of the Arizona agencies, measures will be taken to supply their moderat,e wants fromNew Mexico, if Congress will provide the means, though it seems doubtful whether the dry plains upon which they live will long sustain them. The want of water for crops and stock is the principal ditliculty, and to the &a dual drying up of the streams and decreasing average of moisture is ascribed many the gradual diminution of the population of this whole region, which, as is evident from the many remains of extensive buildings and settlemente, once teemed with busy life. The Pai-Utes extend their range into northern Arizona, bnt are mostly in M e vada since the change of the boundary of that Territory one degree to the east-ward. It is very much to be regretted that goods sent for the Arizona Indians fmm New York as long ago as the early fall of 1864 had not at last accounts reaehed their destination. They have travelled to San Francisco, thence down , the coast again, and up the California Gulf to Gua mas, where it was found im-possible to laud them, owing to the French siege %en in progress. At last ac-counts, I understand that the goods have gone back to San Francisco upon a United States vessel, and will probably be found there by Mr. Davidson, who has recently returned to his post. A recent eommuuication received from Mr. H. Ehrenberg, who was for some time acting as Indian agent in Arizona, submits certain plans for the benefit of the Indians. I t will be seen tliat be opposes, for reasons given, the project of a resbrvation for the Indiana along the Colorado river. Indian affairs in Nevada, or rather onr advices in regard to tyem, have been I and are in a very unsatisfactory condition. |