180 NEW TEACKS IN NORTH AMEEICA. 



otlier natiye towns, "barely escaped destruction, and tliis too 

 since the annexation. How many perished previously, who 



can 



tell ? 



GoTcmor Charles Bent thus spoke of them in 1846 : — "The 

 ISTavajos are an industrious, intelligent, and warlike race of 

 Indians, who cultivate the soil, and raise sufficient grain and 

 fruits of various kinds for their own consumption. They are 

 the owners of large herds and flocks of cattle, sheep, horses, 

 mules, and asses. It is estimated that the tribe possesses 

 thirt}" thousand head of horses, mules, and asses. It is not rare 

 for one individual to possess from five to ten thousand sheep, 

 and four or five hundred head of other stock. Their own horses 

 and sheep are said to be greatly superior to those reared by 

 the Mexicans: but a large portion of theii- stock has been 



ed by marauding expeditions against the settlements oi 



this territory. They roam over the country, between the 

 waters of the River San Juan on the north, and those of the 

 Gila on the south. This country is about 150 miles wide, 

 consisting of high table mountains, difficult of access, affording 



them as yet effectual protection against their enemies. "VN ater 

 is scarce, and difficult to be found by those not acquainted 

 with the country, affording them another natural safcgu 

 ainst invasion. Their numbers are variously estimated 



1 



from one to two thousand families, or about foui-teen thousantl 

 souls. The Navajos, so far as I am infonned, are the only 

 nation on the continent, having intercourse with white mei 

 that is increasing in numbers. They have in their posses- 



soners — men, women, and children — taken from 



J 



many pr 



the settlements of this territory, whom they hold and 



sla\' 



Such was their condition in 1846 ; since then their history 

 has been one lone: series of misfortimes. As fai- back as auy 



