coarse woollen goods for wearing apparel. They have no permanent villages or places of residence, but roam over the country between the river San Juan on the north and the waters of the Gila on the south. The country between these two rivers is about 150 miles wide, consisting of high table mountains, difficult of access, and affording them as yet effectual protection against their enemies. Water is scarce and difficult to be found by those not acquainted with the country, affording another natural safeguard against invasion. Their numbers are variously estimated from 1,000 to 2,000 families, or from 7,000 to 14,000 souls. The Navajoes, so far as I am informed, are the only Indians on the continent having intercourse with white men, that are increasing in numbers. They have in their possession many prisoners, men, women, and children, taken from the settlements of this Territory, whom they hold and treat as slaves. Fourth. The Moques are neighbors of the Navajoes, and live in permanent villages, cultivate grain and fruits, and raise all the varieties of stock. They were formerly a very numerous people, the possessors of large flocks and herds, but have been reduced in numbers and possessions by their more warlike neighbors and enemies the Navajoes. The Moques are an intelligent and industrious people; their manufactures are the same as those of the Navajoes. They number about 350 families, or about 2,450 souls. peo Fifth. The Utahs inhabit the country north of the Navajoes, and west of the northern settlements of this Territory. They number 800 lodges, and about 4,000 to 5,000 souls. Their range extends from the Navajo country, in about latitude 35° to 40° north. Their range of country is very mountainous and broken, abounding in deer, elk, bear, and other wild game, - which serve them for food and raiment. They are a hardy, warlike ple, subsisting by the chase. Several bands of them have been carrying on a predatory war with the New Mexicans for the last two years, and have killed and taken prisoners many of the people, and driven off large amounts of stock. Since General Kearny's arrival, these Indians have sued for peace, and measures are now taking to effect a permanent treaty. Sixth. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes range through the country of the Arkansas and its tributaries, to the north of this Territory. They live almost entirely on the buffalo, and carry on a considerable trade with the Americans and Mexicans in buffalo robes, for which they obtain all the necessaries not derived from the buffalo. They are a roving people, and have for many years been on friendly terms with the New Mexicans. The Arapahoes nuniber about 400 lodges, or 2,000 souls; the Cheyennes 300 lodges, or 1,500 souls. Seventh. The Comanches range east of the mountains of New Mexicoa numerous and warlike people, subsisting entirely by the chase. The different bands number in all about 2,500 lodges, or 12,000 souls. They have been at peace for many years with the New Mexicans, but have carried on an incessant and destructive war with the States of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila, from which they have carried off and still hold as slaves a large number of women and children, and immense herds of horses, mules, and asses. Eighth. The Cayugas range through a part of the same country, and are similar in habits and customs, and are considered a more brave people than the Comanches. They number about 400 lodges, or 2,000 souls. Below I give a tabular statement of the population of the tribes of Indians ranging the country within the Territory of New Mexico and its borders, made up from the most reliable information that I have been able to obtain during a residence of many years in New Mexico and its vicinity. Apaches or Jicarillas 100 lodges Apaches proper, 800 or 900 Utahs, Grande Unita rivers, 600 200 (6 1,000 families 2,500 lodges 500 souls. . 5,500 You will perceive by the above statement that with New Mexico nearly 40,000 Indians will fall under the immediate superintendence of the United States government, and it becomes a subject of serious import how these numerous and savage tribes are to be controlled and managed. As it becomes my duty, by virtue of my office, to lay before you all the information I possess in regard to these tribes of Indians, I will also venture to make a few suggestions for your consideration. Agents and sub-agents are absolutely necessary for the regulation and control of the various tribes of Indians above named. A very desirable effect might be produced upon these Indians by sending a delegation from each tribe to Washington. They have no idea at this time of the power of the United States, and have been so long in the habit of waging war and committing depredations against the Mexicans with impunity, that they still show a disposition to continue the same kind of warfare, now that the Territory is in possession of the United States. I am convinced that a visit to our capital by some of the principal men of each of these nations would secure future peace and quiet to the inhabitants of this Territory. I would also suggest the propriety of sending with this delegation of uncivilized Indians a delegation from the "Pueblos," or civilized Indians, who are by law citizens of this Territory and of the United States. They compose a very considerable portion of the population of New Mexico, and if excited so to do, might cause a good deal of difficulty. A small expenditure by the government in this manner now, might be the means of avoiding bloodshed hereafter. You are doubtless aware that presents of goods are indispensable in all friendly communications with Indians. I would respectfully suggest the necessity of goods of that kind, or the means wherewith to purchase them, being placed at the disposition of the superintendent of Indian affairs for this Territory. I deem it highly necessary to establish stockade forts in the Utah and Navajo countries, with sufficient troops to keep these Indians in check, and from continuing their long-accustomed inroads in this Territory. One should also be established at some suitable point on the Arkansas river, for the purpose of protecting travellers between this Territory and Missouri and the settlements that may be extended in that direction from the Indians of that vicinity. Another establishment of the kind will be required in the southern part of this territory, to serve as a safeguard against both the Apaches and Mexicans on the frontiers of the adjoining Mexican States, who, it may be confidently expected, will continue to make inroads on this Territory from that quarter for many years to come. I neglected to mention, in the proper place, that Colonel A. W. Doniphan received orders from General Kearny, before leaving the territory for California, to march his regiment against the Navajoes. Overtures of peace had been made to them without effect-they have continued their depredations up to this time. General Kearny, after leaving Santa Fe, wrote to me, advising that full permission should be given to the citizens of New Mexico to march in independent companies against these Indians for the purpose of making reprisals and for the recovery of property and prisoners. In conformity with his suggestions, I issued a proclamation to that effect. Colonel Doniphan left here a few days ago with his command for the Navajo country, and I feel confident that, with the aid of the auxiliary war parties, he will soon compel the nation to sue for peace and to make restitution of property and prisoners taken since the entrance of the American forces on the 18th August last. The existing laws of the United States regulating trade and intercourse with the Indians are doubtless amply sufficient as applied to the Indians referred to in this communication; and, at your earliest convenience, I earnestly solicit your full and particular instructions in reference to the application of these laws in the regulation of the various Indian tribes. above mentioned. By so doing you will greatly oblige your truly obedient , servant, To the Hon. WM. MEDILL, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. CHARLES BENT. 1 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office of Indian Affairs, April 7, 1849. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a commission, constituting you Indian agent at Santa Fe, to include the Indians at or in the vicinity of that place, and any others that may hereafter be designated by this department. Your compensation will be at the rate of $1,500 per annum, in full of salary and all emoluments whatever, to commence as soon after the execu tion of your bond as a notification can reach the person now holding the appointment and receiving the salary, advising him of the change which has been made in the location of the agency, and of the discontinuance of his services and salary. I enclose, also, the form of a bond to be executed by you, in the penal sum of $5,000, with two or more sureties, whose sufficiency must be certified by a United States district judge or district attorney. So little is known here of the condition or situation of the Indians in that region, that no specific instructions relative to them can be given at present; and the department relies on you to furnish it with such statistical and other information as will give a just and full understanding of every particular relating to them, embracing the names of the tribes; their location; the distance between the tribes; the probable extent of territory owned or claimed by each respectively, and the tenure by which they hold or claim it; their manners and habits; their disposition and feelings towards the United States, Mexico, and whites generally, and towards each other; whether hostile or otherwise; whether the several tribes speak different languages, and where different, the apparent analogies between them; and also what laws and regulations for their government are necessary, and how far the law regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes (a copy of which I enclose) will, if extended over that country, properly apply to the Indians there and to the trade and intercourse with them; and what modification, if any, will be required to produce the greatest degree' of efficiency. You are authorized to employ one interpreter permanently, by the year, and such others from time to time as you may find necessary in the discharge of your duties. As the law limits the compensation of interpreters to $300 per annum, that amount cannot be exceeded; but, in case of those employed temporarily, you will engage their services on the best terms you can, and employ them for as short periods and as seldom as possible consistent with a proper discharge of your duties. You will be allowed a horse for yourself and one for your interpreter, to be held as public property, and accounted for as such. As you will doubtless avail yourself of the military escort which will leave St. Louis shortly, funds will be placed in the hands of the superintendent of Indian affairs at that place to be turned over to you. The remote position of the scene of your operations has induced the Secretary of the Interior to authorize an advance of one year's salary to yourself and your interpreter, together with other sums for other objects, as follows, viz: do for interpreter Pay of additional interpreters Contingent expenses, including presents to Indians, purchase of two horses, forage for the same, house rent, fuel, stationery, collection of statistical information, together with your travelling expenses to your agency For the release of such Mexican captives as may be found among the Indians, and for which a demand may be made on the gov-. ernment of the United States $1,500 300 200 1,500 300 3,800 It has been represented to the department that there is a Mexican boy in captivity among the Indians either in New Mexico or California, and for whose release the Mexican minister has made a demand on this government; but as the department is, as yet, unacquainted with the particulars of the case, it will be made the subject of a special communication to you as soon they can be ascertained. After obtaining all the information you can collect with regard to any captives, you will report their names, ages, whether they are Mexicans or Americans, the length of time they have been held in captivity, and, if they are Mexicans, whether they were taken prior to the termination of the war and treaty with Mexico, or subsequently. In dispensing the presents to the Indians, you will be as economical as possible, and confine the disposition of them to cases where some important end is to be accomplished. You will report directly to this office, and will lose no opportunity of doing so, as it is extremely desirable that the department should be kept well advised of the state of affairs in that region. I enclose blank forms to guide you in rendering your accounts, which must be done quarterly-yearly, or as nearly so as possible. In rendering your accounts you will account for the money placed in your hands under the following heads of appropriation, viz: Pay of superintendents and Indian agents $1,500 500 1,800 3,800. I enclose a copy of a communication from Charles Bent, esq., governor of New Mexico, in which you will find a good deal of information that will be useful to you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, · W. MEDILL. P. S. I enclose a copy of the late treaty with Mexico, and also copies of the reports of Messrs. Frémont, Emory, Abert, and Cook. W. M.. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office of Indian Affairs, July 16, 1849. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your official bond as Indian agen at Santa Fe. On examination, I find it is defective in several particulars, viz: the omission to fill in the names of the sureties in the body of the bond, the date of its execution and of the oath of office, and also the official character of the officer who certifies the sufficiency of the security. These defects must be supplied, and I therefore enclose the form of a new bond, to be executed by you, and forwarded to this office with as little delay as possible. In the mean time, the bond forwarded by you will be retained, and placed on file. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES S. CALHOUN, Esq., Indian Agent, Santa Fe, ORLANDO BROWN. Care D. D. Mitchell, Superintendent, &c., St. Louis, Mo. |
