84 MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, WEST INDIES. 



bones, and oblique eyelids, features wbicb are all cbaracteristic of the Kergbiz and 

 Kalmuck types. I.ike some Siberian peoples, tbey also plait tbe bair in a single 

 tress, wbicb falls over tbe nape of tbe neck. 



But wbatever be said of tbe bypotbescs affiliating tbese tribes to tbe Asiatics, 

 botb tbe Tepebuans and tbeii' soutbern neigbbours, tbe Coras, bave been classed 

 by Bnscbmann and Orozco on linguistic grounds in tbe same family as tbe Pimas, 

 Opatas, and Tarabumaras. On tbe otber band tbe Sabaibos, Acaxees, and Xiximes 

 of Dui-ango, as well as tbe Concbos of Cbibuabua, wbo dwell on tbe plain watered 

 by tbe river Concbo, would appear to be ratber Nabuas. 



Tbe space comprised between tbe Rio Grande and tbe east slope of tbe Sierra 

 Madre belongs to tbe various Apacbe tribes, wbo form a separate family related 

 in speecb to tbe Atbabascans of tbe Mackenzie basin. Tbeir name, wbicb is 

 probably of Opata origin, is said to mean " Bad Dogs" ; but tbey call tbemselves 

 Shis Inday, or "Men of tbe Woods." Till witbin a recent epocb, all tbe nortbern 

 provinces of tbe republic were exposed to tbe raids of tbese ferocious Indians, and 

 even in Durango, over 360 miles from tbe American frontier, crosses set up on 

 tbe outskirts of tbe towns recalled tbe murders committed by tbe Apacbe savages. 

 Districts wbicb, during tbe first years of tbe conquest, tbe Spanisb troops were 

 able to traverse wi^bout fighting, and where peaceful colonies bad been founded, 

 were afterwards invaded by tbe marauders, and all security disappeared beyond tbe 

 fortified towns and stations. Journeys could be made only by large companies or 

 caravans, and tbe armed men, whose track was followed by tbe savages lurking in 

 tbe surrounding brushwood, took care not to lag behind tbe main body. 



How were tbese irrepressible foes to be got rid of ? Mounted on tbeir swift 

 and hardy horses, tbey could cover 60 or even 120 miles in a single day. 

 Everywhere tbey found shelter in tbe cactus scrub or thickets, and the shepherd, 

 aware of their presence, dare not betray them. Tbe system of large landed estates, 

 wbicb bad brought about tbe invasion of Italy by tbe Barbarians, also facilitated 

 the incursions of the Apaches by suppressing tbe little centres of culture and 

 resistance formerly scattered over the land, by replacing tillage with stock-breed- 

 ing, and lastly by leaving tbe defence of the country to mercenaries who had often 

 strong inducements to come to an understanding with tbe plunderers. 



To get rid of tbe Apache robbers, a war of extermination was proclaimed 

 against them. A price was put upon tbeir beads, tbe tariff being regulated accord- 

 ing to tbe age and sex of tbe slain. The Apaches on tbeir part put to death all 

 adult men that fell into tbeir hands, sparing tbe women and children to recruit their 

 bands, which, by this process of miscegenation, at last became a mongrel group 

 of all tribes and races. In this atrocious war, it often happened that the heralds 

 tbemselres were not spared. The military authorities, jealous of their privileges, 

 contributed on tbeir part to prolong tbe " reign of terror " by arrogating to tbem- 

 selves tbe exclusive right of carr^^ng on defensive operations, and absolutely 

 prohibiting tbe municipalities from combining against tbe common enemy. But 

 the regular troops proved insufficient for the task tbey bad undertaken, and an 

 appeal bad to be made to foreign mercenaries. Thus in 1850 a band of Texans 



