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Show FORTY YEARS AMONG THK INDIANS. 331 ful, and that the charge was more malicious than rea-sonable. There was scarcely a week passed but what there were miserable, petty charges brought against the Indians, often on the slightest grounds, that had to be met. CHAPTER XLIX. Opposition to the Indians An Exciting Meeting A Commission Appointed to Investigate Indian Water Claims Efforts to Rob the Natives Armed men Begin to Gather Peaceful Settlement. SOON after the events just narrated occurred, Major Chaffee took command at Camp McDowell. He soon " took in" the situation and took an interest in the welfare and rights of the Indians. To him, more than any one else, is owing the preservation of the Indian's rights and the final allowing of the lands to these people. I will give one more especial account and then go on. I could write a book on the doings of Salt river labors, but have not room in this for more than a few items. Once the spirit ran so high against the Indians, that it was determined to drive them away unless they came to such terms as the whites should dictate. A mass meeting was called to meet at Tempe, for both whites and natives. At the time it was hardly safe for me to appear, as my life had been threatened. I had even been told to my face by a Captain Sharp, that he was ready to help put the rope around my neck any day. However, I went to the meeting. Many demands |