TO THE RIO FLORIDO. 447 
miles from Santa Cruz, where we encamped, about one 
hundred and fifty yards from the river Conchos. 
As we entered the village, which consists of a clus- 
ter of mud houses, mostly in a decaying state, we 
noticed the whole population running to and fro in a 
great state of alarm, and at the same time a train of 
wagons entering from the south. We soon learned the 
cause of the excitement. The town had been entered 
an hour before by a band of Comanche Indians; who 
attempted to drive off the cattle. They were pursued 
by the men of the place, and in retreating, lanced an 
unarmed man who was driving cattle. Each of these 
fiends, out of mere sport, plunged his lance into the 
poor creature, as they passed him lying on the ground. 
The people were just bringing in his dead body. The 
Indians had also attacked the train that was entering, 
and succeeded in causing a stampede among the loose 
animals, fifteen in number, which they drove off. To 
save the rest, the party returned to Saucillo, which they 
had just left. This was the train of Sefior Olivares, 
Which had proposed joining us at Chihuahua. 
In their. attack to-day, the Indians killed eighteen 
head of beef-cattle, which they could not drive off. The 
bodies of eight of these were secured by the villagers ; 
from which we obtained a supply of beef. Such is the 
Course pursued by the Indians. When they cannot 
Carry off cattle, they destroy them; and even when 
they want food, they do not kill and preserve their 
meat as the Mexicans do, but take merely what they 
Want for a meal, and leave the remainder. Hence, the 
immense destruction of beef cattle and mules. A band 
of one hundred Indians destroy cattle enough to sub- 
