EL PASO DEL NORTE. 385 
have learned from personal observation, and my inter- 
course with the Indians. 
It is known that we already have along this fron- 
tier, but chiefly in the State of Texas and the territory 
of New Mexico, a large military force, embracing full 
two-thirds of the army, which 1s supported at an enor- 
mous expense. Military posts have been established 
at various points on the Rio Grande, and in the very 
heart of the Indian country, in Texas, and New- 
Mexico. Yet two of the largest and most widely 
spread tribes, the Comanches and the Apaches, are as 
actively hostile to the Americans and the Mexicans as 
they were before the country occupied by them, be- 
came a part of the Union. At no period have the 
incursions been more frequent, or attended with greater 
atrocities, than at the present time. The Comanches 
pass across the Rio Grande into Mexico, in bands of 
300 or 400, and penetrate the very heart of Chihuahua; 
they have passed into Durango and Zacatecas, and have 
traversed Coahuila and Nueva Leon. The extent of the 
depredations and murders committed by them would be 
appalling, if summed up.* Yet the system flourishes 
in full vigor, notwithstanding the efforts made to sup- 
press it on the part of the United States, in compliance 
with the solemn stipulations of the Treaty with 
Mexico. 
_ The depredations of the Apaches are less serious, 
only because their numbers are less, and they have a 
more thinly settled country for their operations. In 
* Some idea of the extent to which this predatory warfare is carried 
on, can be formed from the following report of the amount of stock stolen 
by the Indians in the territory of New Mexico, from the Ist of August, 
VOL, —25 
