132 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



America now comprehended within the boundaries of Mex- 

 ico, and who have left such startling evidences in their 

 track of a comparatively superior state of civilisation. 

 They now form an outcast tribe of the great nation of 

 the Apache, which extends under various names from the 

 Great Salt Lake along the table-lands on each side the 

 Sierra Madre to the tropic of Cancer, where they merge 

 into what are called the Mexican Indians. The whole of 

 this nation is characterised by most abject cowardice ; and 

 they even refuse to meet the helpless Mexicans in open 

 fight unlike the Yuta or Camanche, who carry bold and 

 open warfare into the territories of their civilised enemy, 

 and never shrink from hand-to-hand encounter. The 

 Apaches and the degenerate Diggers pursue a cowardly 

 warfare, hiding in ambush, and shooting the passer-by 

 with arrows ; or, dashing upon him at night when steeped 

 in sleep, they bury their arrow to the feather in his heav- 

 ing breast. As the Mexicans say, " Sin ventqfa, no salen; " 

 they never attack without odds. But they are not the less 

 dangerous enemies on this account ; and by the small 

 bands of trappers who visit their country they are the 

 more dreaded by reason of this cowardly and wolfish sys- 

 tem of warfare. 



To provide against surprise, therefore, as the hunters 

 rode along, flankers were extended en guerilla on each 

 side, mounting the high points to reconnoitre the country, 

 and keeping a sharp look-out for Indian sign. At night 

 the animals were securely hobbled, and a horse -guard 

 posted round them a service of great danger, as the 

 stealthy cat-like Diggers are often known to steal up 

 silently, under cover of the darkness, towards the sentinel, 

 shoot him with their arrows, and, approaching the animals, 

 cut the hobbles and drive them away unseen. 



One night they encamped on a creek where was but little 

 of the coarsest pasture, and that little scattered here and 

 there, so that they were compelled to allow their animals 

 to roam farther than usual from camp in search of food. 

 Four of the hunters, however, accompanied them to guard 

 against surprise; whilst but half of those in camp lay 



