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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THE INDIANS. 25 1 Having sold some of our animals we had money to-spare, so we bought an excellent wagon from the quarter-master, at the post near Tucson. We now had a good outfit. Our wagons took the place of the pack animals, but we retained our saddle horses. The next place of importance, to which we looked forward with some anxiety, was Fort Bowie. On arriv-ing there, we presented our letters to Jeffries, who was in charge of the reservation at Bowie. But the Indians seemed to be in charge of both Jeffries and several com-panies of soldiers stationed there, for the Indians did about as they pleased. It was considered somewhat risky to pass through the Apache Pass. According to an agreement made at Beaver with D. H. Wells to be careful, we camped a day's travel this side of the Indians, and with one of the brethren went in to see how things looked. I felt a little uneasy. The Indians were under no control whatever, save that of self- interest. The government gave them everything they wanted, and more. They had provisions of every kind so abundantly, that a great deal was wasted. They had all the guns and ammunition they wanted, and were allowed to raid at will into Sonora and Chihuahua. It was generally believed that they were encouraged by some of the whites in their raiding. When I talked with the agent, he said we were safe enough if we did not happen to run across any drunken Indians on the road ; but as the weather was cold and disagreeable, he did not think any of them would be out. Advised us to stop at the mail station near the fort and not turn out any animals. We went back to camp and reported All felt like we would be safe. We all had faith in being protected |