314 COMANCHE TRAFFIC. 
induced to leave them after a few years’ cap- 
tivity. In fact, these prisoners, it is said, in 
time often turn out to be the most formidable 
savages. Combining the subtlety of the Mexi- 
can with the barbarity of the Indian, they 
sometimes pilot into their native frontier and 
instigate horrid outrages. The department 
of Chihuahua has been the greatest sufferer 
from their inroads. 
But, though at continual war with the 
south of the republic, for many years the Co- 
manches have cultivated peace with the New 
Mexicans—not only because the poverty of 
the country offers fewer inducements for their 
inroads, but because it is desirable, as with 
the interior Mexican tribes, to retain some 
friendly point with which to keep an amica- 
ble intercourse and traffic. Parties of them 
have therefore sometimes entered the settle- 
ments of New Mexico for trading purposes; 
while every season numerous bands of New 
exicans, known as Comancheros, supplied 
with arms, ammunitions, trinkets, provisions 
and other necessaries, launch upon the Prai- 
ries to barter for mules, and the different fruits 
of their ravages upon the South. 
This powerful nation, combined with the 
petty southern tribes, has also waged an al- 
most unceasing warfare upon Texas, ever 
since her independence. War-parties have 
frequently penetrated to the very heart of the 
settlements, perpetrating murderous outrages, 
and bea away into captivity numerous 
Women and children. They have e 
