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Show “ ed ee ee ee ee sce iar ae a ee heel le bs Soh Puy ie Gk ed ae edt Sad nd oe ear pa} Oo i etloe Oe d 4 Pe eee al lnc lr sl al el ee eee eee a norm .a et"Oe +949 80 MAA el Ce th nm om ee be eet ee eee pa et) el Te ~4 tact ae ne ® inde le ad eal Se the A eS cd fl Ne * ee e TENS s * Ca ee Se ey ae 7 tle hel ie _e-e oe eae Pe a) es F ee 388 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN TERRITORY HISTORY with all his warriors and make peace. One Indian was detained as a hostage, the other being assured that if the chief did not come in and make peace his companion would be put to death. After the Indian had left, the elder Pattie, by way of precaution, put in requisition all the arms that could be found in the neighborhood of the mines with which he armed thirty of the Mexicans working there. He then ordered a trench dug at a point one hundred yards distant from the place where the Indians were to meet with him for the consummation of the treaty. This trench was to be occupied during the consideration of the treaty, ready for any emergency should the Indians prove insolent or menacing in their conduct. On the fifth of August, the Indians to the number of eighty appeared. A council fire, pipe and tobacco had been prepared and a blanket spread upon which the chief might TREATY WITH APACHES— be seated. As soon as the Indians appeared CEREMONIES they threw down their arms; four chiefs came up and all, including the two Patties, sat down upon the blanket. The subject of the treaty was discussed ; the Indians were asked whether they were ready to make peace, and if not, what were their objections? They replied that they had no objections to a peace with the Americans, but would never make one with the Spaniards. When asked their reasons they replied that they had been at war with the Spaniards for many years and that a great many murders had been committed by both sides. They admitted that they had stolen a great many horses, but indig- nantly alleged that a large party of their people, who had come i for the purpose of making within the walls of the town had been brutally butchered had escaped had taken an peace with the Spaniards, when once where the peace was to be negotiated, like a flock of sheep. The very few who unalterable resolution never to make peace with the Spaniards; further stating that pursuant to thei! determination for revenge, great numbers of the Apache natiol had sone to the Spaniards and had been baptized ; there they re mained faithful spies, informing their kinsmen when and where there were favorable opportunities for plundering and killing thet! enemies. The chiefs were told that if they really felt disposed to be al peace with the Americans, the copper mines were now being worked OF THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO 39 jointly by the latter and Spaniards; that the Indians were wrong in seeking revenge upon people who were not guilty of the crimes which they had mentioned; that the Spaniards at the mines had taken no part in the inhuman butchery which they had mentioned, and that if they would not be peaceable and permit the work at the mines to proceed without danger from them, the Americans would consider them at war and would raise a sufficient body of men to pursue them to the mountains and kill them. The chiefs answered that if the mines belonged to the Americans, they would promise never to disturb the people who worked them. They were of this opinion and the Americans did not undeceive them as to the real ownership. The pipe was then lit and all the Indians gathered in a circle around the fire. The four chiefs, in succession, made speeches; the others nodding their heads at times, listened profound attention. The Americans then commenced smoking the pipe was passed around the circle. The Indians dug a in the center of the circle, and each one spat in it. The hole long with and hole was then filled up with earth, they danced around it and stuck their arrows in the ground. A large pile of stones was next placed over the place and the Indians decorated their faces and bodies with red paint. This was the Apache ceremony of making peace. All of the forms of the ceremony were familiar, except the pile of stones and the spitting into the hole which they had excavated ; among the Indians of the plains this part was not practised; they were asked why they had done this and they replied that they did it in token of spitting out all their spite and revenge, and burying their anger. These ceremonies consumed several hours and were finally conelud- ed. The Americans then showed the Indians the reserve force in the trench, They evinced great alarm at the sight of the Mexicans 80 close and ready for action. It was explained to them that the Americans were in good faith if they were and that the Mexicans had been thus posted only to fire in the event the Indians showed any disposition for violence. Their fears vanished and tranquillity returned to the countenances of the Indians. The chiefs laughed and said to each other, these Americans know how to fight as well The chief displayed utter contempt for the Mexi“S make peace. “ans, saying that if we ever had a fight, we would have to get Amer“ans entirely, for the Mexicans would be sure to desert in time of |
