THE NAYAJOS AT LAEGE. 181 



m 



information can be obtained about tliem, they have been at 

 war with the Mexicans and white men, the system of reprisals 

 being sytematically carried out on both sides. The Mexicans 

 of one settlement would collect together, and make a raid on 

 a marauding band of Navajos, capturing all they could, not 

 only in stock, but in women and children. The Indians 

 would retaliate, not caring particularly w^hether it was the 

 aggressors or some peaceful neighbours they attacked in 

 rotiu'n. This being the state of affairs, we imd even as early 

 as the autumn of the first year of possession, that General 

 Kearney (United States army) gave orders to Colonel A. W. 

 Doniphan, then in California, to march against the Navajos ; 

 and to Governor Ecnt, advising him that "full permission 

 _ should be given to the citizens of IS'ew Mexico to march in 

 independent companies against these Indians, for the purj)os6 

 of maJcing reprisals^ and for the recovery of property and 

 prisoners." 



From this time until 1863 war has been unceasing with 

 this hardy tribe. Theii- hand has been against every one, and 

 every one's hand has been ag-ainst them : even the Pueblos 

 left their villages and j oined the whites against them ; and 

 as they had actual property in corn-fields, flocks, and herds, 

 they could not, like their wild neighbours, the Apaches, who 

 lived by the chase and marauding only, altogether escape from 

 the hands of the military. It was cruel work, however 

 iiecessary. 



I have spoken to many who helped to hmnlle the ]S'avajos. 

 As soon as harvest time approached, the soldiers would enter 



theii 



but they cut them all do\\ni, and fired the dis 



tnct wherever thev went, driving off 



numbe 



single raid, and oxen al 



