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Show I,NDIANS OF NEW MEXICO. 173 of the Utahs and Jicarillas; and there is reason to fear that this sk sociation has been productive of no good to the first-named pady. Around this band are collededmost of the bad men of the whole tribe, and many of the depredations committed in that vicinity have been traced tothem; but, on the whole, the Navajoes have during the pre-sent year conducted themselves with great propriety when compared I with the Apachea. The Pueblo or partially civilized Indians are a rery interesting portion of the Indiin population of this Territory, and richly deseme the fostering hand of government. They hold their lands nuder special grants from the governments of Spain and Mexico, many of which are of rery ancient dates-one that I examined being dated in 1661-and they usually cover one league, or nine square miles. In no grant that has come under my notice is the fee-simple title conveyed to the Indians. They and their descendants are merely invested with the possession, use, and benefit of the land granted, so long as it shall be occupied by them. There are twenty pueblos scattered over the Territory and intermixed with the white settlements, and their aggre-gate population numbers from eight to ten thousand: some do not number over one or tn-o hundred, whilst others reach twehe or fifteen hundred. Xany of these grants cover some of the most desirable land to be foundin Iiew Mexico, and I am happy to have it in my power to say that some of them are in aflourishing condition, and Iam sorry that the same remark is not applicable alike to all. But it is a lamentable fact, that some present a dilapidated appearance, and the inhabitants of such seem to be sharing the fate of most other communi4ies of the red man who have come into contact with the whites. Many of these people are superstitious in the extreme, and are firm. believers: in witchcraft. The pueblo of Nambe in March last actually executed several of their own people, who were charged with being witches; and it is probable that several others would have shared the same fate, but for my hastening to the vicinity with the United States marshal, and preventing it. Several were arrested, indicted for murder, tried, and acauitted. on account of the difficult.v of nrovine in what countv the & ', cri'me was committed. These Indians cultivate the soil mostly with rude implements of their own construction, except the spade and hoe, which have recently been introduced among them by the traders, and enough grain, vege-tables and fruits are ~roduced to sustain themselves in comfort and plenty. Indeed, these people will compare favorably, in their agri-cultural labors and productions, with the citizens generally of this Territory; and they have horses, mules, cattle, asses, sheep and goats, sufficient for ordinary purposes. As a general rule the! are s sober, industrious and frugal people. A few individuals among them can read and write in the Castilian language, but the remainder are destitute of education, though most of them speak that language. The Rev. Mr. Gorman, a baptist missionary, has established a school at the pueblo of Laguna, and the advancement of his pupils affords ample evidence of their capacity to receive instruction. Occasionally difficulties arise between the neigh- |