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Show 90 VII. NAHONZHOOD^A El Pinto led campaigns against the Apaches in 1788. He also oversaw the building of defense works to stop Apache attacks. In late 1788, Governor Concha decided to reward him with the title of general and retire Don Carlos. Relations between the Spaniards and the Navajos were good for the next few years. Spanish payments to the Indians went on. The Navajos visited Santa Fe from time to time to receive gifts. They still acted independently, but they remained friendly with the New Mexicans. In 1792 they joined the Utes to strike at the Comanches. Such actions disturbed the peace, so Concha quickly set up a truce between the tribes. On October 21,1793, Antonio El Pinto died from wounds suffered in a Gila Apache raid. Spanish leaders were sorry for the loss of this leader, whom they had once distrusted. Angered by the killing, the Navajos stayed friendly with the Spaniards and renewed their attacks on the Apaches. As the Apaches were defeated, peace came back to the north. The army made only routine patrols. Frontier towns saw new life. New churches were built. Stock-raisers came back to the Cebolleta area. Miners began to search for precious metals. Soon direct pressure from this Spanish growth began to touch more and more Navajos. Until that time, Spanish contact had been limited to the Indians living closest to the Rio Grande. As the frontier towns grew, the Spaniards learned that many Navajos lived freely, beyond their reach. At one point, General Don Carlos reported that the Navajos could be divided into five local groups. These were San Mateo to the northwest of Mount Taylor, Cebolleta on the eastern side of the Cebolleta Mountains, Oso or Bear Springs near present-day Fort Wingate, Chuska in the Chuska Valley and Mountains, and Chelly far to the west in Canyon de Chelly. Although these bands included the greater part of the tribe, other Navajos lived in more remote areas of which the Spaniards were not aware. Massacre Cave Growing more and more restless because of Spanish pressure, some Navajos restored their bond with the Gila Apaches in 1796. War came back to the frontier. The Navajos again became a constant threat to New Mexico. Each time the governor reported they were under control, news of more raids would come in. Conflict was worst in the Cebolleta region, although the |