386 INCIDENTS AT 
Mexico these are confined to the northern portions of 
the States of Sonora and Chihuahua. These regions, 
once inhabited by a peaceful and happy population, 
are now deserted, and the fertile valleys they tilled 
are reverting to the condition of a wilderness. 
The numbers of both these tribes have been, in my 
opinion, much overrated. That of the Comanches, 
from the most reliable information I could obtain, 
falls short of 12,000. Their range is from the Mexican 
States alluded to, to the Buffalo region, north and east of 
Santa Fé. In the fall and winter season their home is 
near the Rio Grande, in the olson de Mapimi, a vast 
basin shut in by high mountains at the west. Here 
they enjoy uninterrupted possession of a wide extent 
of country, whence they make their sallies into the 
heart of Mexico. The Apaches, whose number 
does not exceed 5000,* extend from the vicinity of 
the Pecos through the States of Chihuahua, Sonora, 
1846, to the Ist of October, 1850, as taken by the Assistant-Marshals 
of the United States : 
Counties. Sheep. Mules. Horses. Horned Cattle. 
Santa Fe 16,260 570 267 894 
Taos 17,080 1,032 1,764 5,600 
Rio Arriba 43,580 1,960 658 2,382 
San Miguel 50,000 7,000 3,000 21,000 
HIDES ANTES EM |) ga ons 749 987 1,302 
Bernardo 
Valencia leo os 376 372 1,463 
Total, 453,293 12,887 7,050 31,581 
* Tt is no easy matter to form a correct estimate of the number of 
Indians in a tribe, unless they are actually counted. This is evident 
from the varying reports of different agents and travellers. In the tables 
of the Indian population of the United States, in Mr. Schoolcraft’s great 
