CHARACTER OF THE TRIBES FORTRESSES. 



123 



into Caihuas, Yamparicas, and Llaneros. The Apaches are 

 braver than the Cumanches, and are known as Meselaros and 

 Lipanes. These barbarians arm themselves with guns, rifles, lances, 

 bows and arrows. They manage their weapons admirably, are 

 agile horsemen, and shoot with unerring aim. Tall and majestic 

 in figure ; muscular and capable of enduring fatigue ; accustomed 

 to live on the simplest food of the forest and to win it when neces- 

 sary by the arrow alone ; uniting the sagacity of men with the in- 

 stinct of animals, these knights of the southern wilderness realize 

 perfectly our ideas of the daring aborigines who peopled this 

 continent before it was subdued by the white man. Their hatred 

 of the Mexicans and the savage fury with which they pursue their 

 male captives of adult age, appear to denote even a stronger, if not 

 a worthier motive than robbery in their attacks. At least six hun- 

 dred women and children are borne off by them every year from the 

 settlements to their mountain fastnesses, and they openly confess 

 that they are not unwilling to improve their race by mingling it 

 with the white. 



In order to maintain the southern frontier intact from these sav- 

 ages, Mexico designs the establishment of these military colonies, 

 and will, in all probability, support them by a second or rear line 

 of troops from the regular army as well as by forts and strongholds 

 erected in positions affording easy access from the wilderness to 

 inhabited regions. A frontier so open, and thronged with such 

 barbarous hordes, could not be protected by military colonies alone. 



The principal Fortresses and strongholds of Mexico have 

 hitherto been those of Perote, Acapulco, Ulua, and the citadels at 

 Mexico and Monterey. The present government has ordered the 

 citadel of Mexico, situated a short distance out of the town to be 

 abandoned, as it only formed a nucleus for the assemblage of the 

 military factionists who have constantly disturbed the peace of the 

 republic. The citadel of Monterey is to be maintained and suita- 

 bly supported. 



The castle at Acapulco, an extremely important point on the 

 southern or Pacific coast, is greatly impaired, and will require at 

 least a hundred thousand dollars to adapt it for defence. The 

 fortress of Perote was designed originally by the Spanish govern- 

 ment as a depot for the treasure intended for shipment from Vera 

 Cruz, in which the gold and silver would be safer than at an ex- 

 posed sea port during that dangerous period of Castilian history, 

 when all the nations of Europe were anxious to plunder her colo- 



