A NAVAJO CHIEF. 97 



we met on the route were timid and degraded. But we 

 heard that parties of the bold Apaches and Navajos had 

 penetrated but recently to the settlements, and committed 

 many outrages. The Navajos are the most powerful of 

 all the Indian enemies of the New Mexicans. They ai e 

 a handsome, intelligent, daring people, far superior in 

 every respect to the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico. 



On arriving at Santa Fe, the capital of the territory, 

 I had an opportunity of seeing a Navajo chief, who had 

 been captured by a large party of New Mexicans, while 

 recklessly exposing himself in an attack. He was a fine, 

 manly looking fellow ; but the ill treatment of his captors 

 threatened to reduce him to a most wretched condition. 

 In spite of the cruelties of which he had been guilty, I 

 was compelled to pity him. 



In descending the valley of the Rio Grande, we found 

 excellent pasture for our animals; but the game was 

 scarce, and not of the most inviting kinds. Mr. Barrill 

 repeatedly expressed the wish that he had determined 

 upon another route. At length, after weeks of dull tra- 

 velling, we approached the Gulf of Mexico on the east side 

 of the Rio Grande. At Point Isabel, we found a schooner, 

 about to sail for Galvezton, and Mr. Barrill immediately 

 secured a passage for us both. 



I had never been upon the sea before. My sensations, 

 as the schooner made sail from Point Isabel, were so novel 



9 



