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Show f 170 INDIANS OF NEW MEXICO. and frequently, when hard pressed, kill them for foe* but they have no other description of stock, and are always ready for mischief, and hard to overtake in a retreat. Many of this tribe are understood to have made common cause with the Jicaralaa in their recent difficul-ties, and there is little doubt that a number were present and partici-pated in the battle with Lieutenant Davidson's command near the Cienegnilla; and there is as little doubt that many more, and par-ticularly Tamuche's band, were preparing to take sides against us, but were prevented by the prompt and energetic movements of the troops, both regulars and militia, together with the judicious man-agement of agent Carson and special agent Head. They now pro-fess to be friendly with us, but little confidence is to be placed in their professions at any time. The Apaches of New Mexico number probably eight thousand souls, and, like the Utahs, are divided into numerous bands, each having its own chief, and acknowledging no common head or superior. Each band occupies extensive but dflerent sections of the Territory, and act in concert or separately, as their interest or caprice may dictate ; and hence I deem it expedient to notice some of these bands separately. The Jicarilla Apaches formerly occupied the eastern portion of this Territory, extending from the Rio Grande eastward beyond the Red river, between the thirty-fourth and thirty-seventh parallels of north latitude, but were removed, and located by my predecessor west of the Rio Grande. A part of this band, under their chief, Chacon, were as-sembled and fed around a farm in the vicinity of Abiquiu, during the spring and summer of 1853, under the compact heretofore alluded to, but the farm yielded but little produce. Hence, when the produce of the farm was consumed, and the supply of food stipulated to be fur-nished by the United States was withheld, these Indians resorted to theft and robbery for subsistence; and if murder was necessary to the accomplishment of the other objects, they did not hesitate to commit this crime. These depredations have resulted in open war, as you are informed in a former portion of this report. The Jicarillas now claim a region of country of indefinite space, lying west of the Rim Grande, and on the head of the Chama and Puerco rivers, but they roam over many other portions of the Territory. It is confidently be-lieved that no other single band of Indians have committed au equal amount of depredations upon, and caused so much trouble and annoy-ance to the people of this Territory, as the Jicarillas. They are sup-osed to number about one hundred and fifty warriors, and probably gve hundred souls; they own a large number of horses and mules, and whenever there is any mischief brewing, invariably have a band in it. It is this band of Indians, assisted by a party of Utahs, to whom we are indebted for the murder of the party of Americans hav-ing charge of the United States mail in 1851, by which eleven valua-ble lives were lost, and the horrible murders of Mr. White, his wife, child and servant, in 1850, as well as many other murders committed since that time. They rely upon the chase for a subsistence; and when this fails, resort to depredations upon the flocks and herds of the inhabitants. The Mescalero band of Apaches roam over a vast space of country, |
