SUMMARY^ EXECUTIONS. 291 



the meat of the mule than that of any other 

 animal. I haA-e seen about encampments 

 which they had recently left, the remains of 

 mules that had been slaughtered for their con- 

 sumption. Yet on one occasion I saw their 

 whole tniil, for many miles, literally strewed 

 with the carcasses of these animals, which, it 

 was evident, had not been killed for this pur- 

 pose. It is the practice of the Apache chiefs, 

 as^ I have understood, whenever a dispute 

 arises betwixt their warriors relative to the 

 ownership of any particular animal, to kill the 

 brute at once, though it be the most valuable 

 of the drove; and so check all further cavil. 

 It was to be inferred from the number of dead 

 mules they left behind them, that the most 

 harmonious relations could not have existed 

 between the members of the tribe, at least 

 during this period of their journeyings. Like 

 most of the savage tribes of North America, 

 tlie Apaches are passionately fond of spirituous 

 liquors, and may frequently be seen, in times 

 of peace, lounging about the Mexican villages, 

 m a state of helpless inebriety. 



The range of this marauding tribe extends 

 over some portions of Cahfornia, most' of 

 Sonora, the frontiers of Durango, and at cer- 

 tain seasons it even reaches Coahuila : Chi- 

 huahua, however, has been the mournful 

 theatre of their most constant depredations. 

 Every nook and corner of tliis dhce flourish- 

 hig state has been subjected to their inroads. 

 Such is the imbecihty of the local govern- 

 ments, that the savages, in order to dispose of 



