CHAPTER YII. 
History of the Apache Nations and other Tribes , near the parallel of 35° north latitude. 
In the historical library belonging to Col. Peter Force, of Washington, is found an unpub¬ 
lished manuscript, dated 1799, giving what appears to be a truthful description of the Indian 
tribes then inhabiting “the northern provinces of New Spain.” It was written in the form of 
a report, by Don Jose Cortez, an officer of the Spanish royal engineers, when stationed in that 
region, and was doubtless transmitted to the King. How it escaped from the royal archives of 
Spain is not known. But by some means it reached London, and thence was brought to the 
United States, where now it very properly belongs. Those portions of it which follow, relate to 
the region through which we passed, and will be found of considerable interest. The remainder 
contains valuable information, and it is hoped that some individual or society will make a 
generous contribution to literature by publishing the report entire. 
The translation has been made by Mr. Buckingham Smith, now secretary to the American 
legation at Madrid, whose name is a sufficient guarantee for its accuracy. 
SECTION I. 
Territories occupied by the Apache and other tribes, to the northward of the province of Neiv Mexico. 
1. That the tribes of wild Indians who inhabit the territory beyond the frontier of the 
internal provinces of New Spain may be understood with all possible accuracy, and likewise the 
localities which they occupy, it will be necessary to define the lines that separate them. Those 
that are known as the Apaches will be treated of in an article apart; then others, commonly 
called those of the north, will be spoken of as eastern tribes; and afterwards, others as western 
tribes. In every particular the clearest statements will be given, from the most authentic 
sources, and the knowledge that exists, omitting nothing that can be of any value in this 
curious and interesting history. I proceed to treat of the tribes of wild Indians who inhabit 
the northern countries of the Spanish empire in this quarter of the world, unfolding thereby 
not a little that should excite admiration. 
2. The Spaniards understand by Apache nation the Tonto Indians, the Chiricaguis, Gilenos, 
Mimbrenos, Taracones, Mescaleros, Llaneros, Lipanes, and Navajos. All these bands are 
called by the generic name of Apache, and each of them governs itself independently of the 
rest. There are other tribes, to whom, it is usual to give the same name, such as the Xicarilla 
Indians. Of them, and of the situations other tribes occupy, that have been seen to the north¬ 
ward of New Mexico, we will speak in the second part. 
3. The Tonto Indians (or Coyotero, which is a name they equally bear) are the westernmost 
of the Apaches, and the least known to the Spaniards. On the west they are bounded by the 
nations of the Papagos, Coco-Maricopas, and Yavipais; on the north by the Moquinos; on the 
south by the Chiricaguis andGrilenos; and on the east by a country between the Mimbrenos 
and Navajos. 
