XII 



THE Apache of the present day is the exact reverse of 

 the Comanche. His habitat is the Sierra Madre Mount- 

 ains in Arizona. He is not born and bred with horses, he 

 knows little about them, and looks upon ponies as in- 

 tended rather for food than for transportation or the war- 

 path ; or, at all events, as ultimately destined for the cui- 

 sine. He at times outdoes the Frenchman in hippophagy, 

 for he will eat every one of his ponies during the winter, 

 and rely upon stealing fresh ones in the spring. He and 

 the Cheyenne are the most dashing of the Indian horse- 

 thieves. He raids down in Chihuahua, where the va- 

 queros raise stock for the Mexican army, and often drives 

 off large numbers. When pursued, the Apache takes to 

 the mountains, and is not infrequently compelled to aban- 

 don his herd. But such is his expert boldness that he 

 rarely lacks a supply at his neighbor's expense. JSTot con- 

 tent with ponies, he steals his saddle and bridle in Mex- 

 ico ; he wears spurs when he can get them to drive on his 

 pony, and if these do not suffice to make him go his gait, 

 he will goad him with a knife. The Apache is hideously 

 cruel by nature, even more so than other Indians, if this 

 were possible; and his pony is often the sufferer. He 

 takes no particular interest in him. Except for his sum- 

 mer's use and his winter's salt-junk, the pony has no fut- 

 ure value. He takes a certain care of him only for the 

 present value of the little fellow. In the mountains, where 

 the sharp, flinty stones wear down the pony's unshod feet, 



