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Show misinterpreted to the Indians. They were told it was only the mines they were selling, and when he wanted to explain to Ignacio exactly what he was doing, the sub- commissioner, Thomas Dolan, forbade him, and told him it was none of his business; that they had worked at them, - the Indians, - and just on account of such explanation it was nearly broken off before would fail and the department would blame him for it. Col. Pfeiffer verified this statement: Genl. Hatch, - To Ignacio, Did you sign any sale of any kind? Ignacio, - We signed at Tierra Amarilla, but were told it was only for their rations and annuities and the country of the mines and the miners were to leave there as soon as the gold was taken out. Mr. Mc'Farland, - The great father thought their signatures were true and that the country had been sold. Tapoche, - The only thing we ever sold was the tops of the mountains; and the only witness we have is Colonel Pfeiffer. Col. Pfeiffer, - That is the only thing they were told they would sell. Genl. Hatch, - Wouldn't it be better for you to sell your lands now and you More [ sic] promptly? Sawaiipatche, - None of the Utes here have sold the land and they don't want to sell it yet. They like the place and don't want to leave it. I don't wish to sell the land and none of the rest want to. Genl. Hatch, - How does he know the others don't want to sell it? Sawaiipatche has an old head for such a young man. Sawaiipatche, - I am just the same as any other man. I talk straight in the presence of my fathers. We don't want to sell the land if we are corraled. We want the Americans put off the land. Genl. Hatch,- We would do it if it wasn't for that. Pointing to the contract: Sawaiipatche, - No so, we never sold the land. The Americans make out the papers and tell the great father that we have signed them. The country is full of Americans and Mexicans, and we have no grazing for our horses. Genl. Hatch, - It is better to have money and less land, than so much land and no money. Sawaiipatche, - I don't know what money is. The great father ought to drive out the Americans. They shouldn't have the same rights in the land that we have. We want to be left alone by ourselves. Tapoche, - The other commissioners that came out here to buy the land - we would not sell it, but the commissioners went to the great father and represented that we had sold the land. When I went to Washington I met one of the commissioners, an old man with white hair, - and when the great father said there is one of the commissioners, the commissioner went off and wouldn't meet me. I told the great father we had not sold the land, but the commissioner did not return. Tawaiipatche, - We have always been used to go where we please. We can't live in winter on account of snow but on the San Juan we can live better there. Genl. Hatch, - You seem to go where you please. I find you in the mountains and on the drives at the south. Nobody wants to fence you in. Sawaiipatche, - The great father said we could go where we please. Genl. Hatch,- We don't object to it. You may go where you please. 33 33. Ibid., pp. 64 70. - 14- |
