COPPER MINES. 
321 
position to take more liberties ; and when my guest 
had finished his meal, he managed to leave his plate 
pretty well filled, and beckoned to another to take his 
seat. This was submitted to once or twice ; after 
which, finding it encroached too much on my supply, 
I no longer invited any to my table. I was willing to 
give a place to a chief occasionally ; but to have half 
a dozen hungry fellows standing outside Avaiting to 
take their turn, was more than I was able or willing 
to put up with. They kneAv that we had killed seve- 
ral bears, and that we ate their flesh. They always 
asked if we had bear on the table, for they wished to^ 
avoid it, but, with our cooking, could not tell it from, 
beef I never deceived them, nor urged them to eat 
bear’s meat. I found they had some superstitious 
prejudice against it, but could never prevail on them- 
to tell me what it was. 
During this time the members of the Commission^ 
went about freely in small parties or alone, for twenty 
or thirty miles around our camp, and were on no occa- 
sion molested. They also visited the Apache camps, 
where they were well received. Our wagons with 
stores, went unprotected to and from the Surveyors, 
and their attendants, who were scattered in small par- 
ties for fifty miles along the line, where the escort 
could afford them but little protection. Hence the 
great importance to the success of the Commission in- 
maintaining friendly relations with these Indians. 
My experience established the truth of the opinion 
I had always entertained, that kind treatment, a rigid 
adherence to Avhat is right, and a prompt and invaria- 
ble fulfilment of all promises, would secure the friendr 
VOL. I. — 21 
