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Show 72 VI. NAAKAII^BAHI NINAAD^A' Spaniards. Thus they allowed the colony of New Mexico to be founded. Ohate's capital at first was the town of San Juan de los Caba-lleros near San Juan Pueblo. It was later moved to San Gabriel. Both were close to Navajo lands. The Navajos had seen that the Spaniards could be strong enemies. They watched the conquest of the Pueblos, many of whom were their friends. They also saw the tempting herds that the invaders brought. Soon the Navajos would become the first non-Pueblo people in New Mexico to fight the Spaniards. Ohate spent much of his time exploring the colony. During his journeys, he wrote about a number of Indian tribes that he called "Apaches," "Vaqueros," and "Querechos." The Spaniards used these names for many different Indians. In time, Spanish writers came to use the name "Apache" most often for the non-Pueblo peoples they met. Location often provides the only clue to tell which group the Spaniards meant when they used these names. But some of the Indians Ohate met were surely Navajos, though this name was not yet used to describe the People. Ohate came to New Mexico to extend the influence of his king, but he also came to find wealth. The fabulous stories of wealth heard in New Spain since the time of Cabeza de Vaca still drew men to the north. When Ohate failed to find that wealth, he tried to make up his losses by turning the Indians into gold. People were New Mexico's only riches. Slavery was the colony's most rewarding resource. Ohate soon learned that the Pueblos had not accepted Spanish rule as completely as he had thought. Again and again, Spanish force had to be used to control the Pueblos. The most serious use of that force came in January 1599. The Spaniards massacred eight hundred men, women, and children at Acoma. The adult male captives lost one foot as punishment for resisting Spain. All of the captives lost their freedom for twenty years. Some of the People lived near Acoma. They had had a long relationship with its people. Some Navajos may have seen the slaughter, while others probably gave shelter to refugees. As a result of such incidents and Spanish policies like the demahds for tribute, many Pueblos left their homes. They went to live with the Navajos and Apaches, who learned much from the refugees. The exchange of customs that had begun when the Athabascans came to the Southwest became more important. Now the Navajos |