130 MOQUIS TO FORT DEFIANCE—-ARRIVAL AT FORT DEFIANCE. 
most of the things to those standing about. The women were highly delighted, and not long 
after some of the men, whom I supposed to be their husbands, brought into camp a quantity 
of cheese and joints of mutton—enough to have lasted our company a week. I effered to pay 
for what we required, but they insisted upon my accepting all as @ gift. 
Camp 103, Fort Defiance, May 99.--A mile or two from Pueblo creek the trail passed a little 
south of a lake more than a mile long and half a mile broad. A little beyond was a stream of 
considerable size, and sixteen miles further a ravine with a large deep body of water. The 
3 : rita, LAS 
Fig. 41—Valley of Fort Defiance. 
region traversed was covered with well-beaten trails, and parties of Indians were constantly 
riding by. Near all the watering places were immense numbers of horses and sheep, attesting 
the wealth of the tribe.* Pines were mingled with the cedars, and the latter became larger as 
we travelled east. At the end of twenty-three miles we camped. Fort Defiance is not yet im 
sight, but the Indians have pointed out the crest of a mesa a little way ahead which overlooks 
the post. 
CONCLUSION. 
Early the following morning we reached Fort Defiance, and the field labors of the expedition 
terminated. Lieutenant Tipton with his detachment we found encamped in the valley a mile 
or two below the fort. The night but one before our arrival a Navajo had eluded the vigilance 
® An interesting and valuable memoir respecting the Navajo tribe was prepared a few years since by Dr. J. Letherman, 
assistant surgeon United States army, and published in the annual report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1855- 
It presents a graphic description of the character and habits of the Navajons, as well as of the appearance and resources of ber 
country which they inhabit, and conveys to the reader an excellent idea of a large portion of the Territory of New Mexico 
and its aboriginal inhabitants. 
