Chap. X. EXAMPLES OF MEXICAN BEAVEKY. 347 
killed, — called upon their neighbours in another village for 
help, and undertook an expedition into the mountains 
against the robbers ; but they were censured by the Go- 
vernment for thus helping themselves, and told not to 
meddle with what belonged to the military power of the 
State ! And, while these Mexican Regents are jealous of 
any indication of self-reliance in the people, every lower 
official turns against the higher and demands help and pro- 
tection. In the " Pronunciamiento " of the garrison of 
Chihuahua with which, on the 23rd of December, the 
Revolution of 1852 and '53 broke out, one of the faults 
attributed to the government of the President Arista 
was the absence of protection against the Indians in the 
Frontier States. 
Farther details of my narrative will bring to light the 
fearful condition of those portions of Mexico which are 
exposed to these Indian marauders ; and I will now men- 
tion only a few instances of the bravery of these greatly 
decried Mexicans, with which I became acquainted during 
my residence in Chihuahua. 
Gabriel Guzman, a herdsman on a neighbouring estate, 
with seven others, in order to protect their master's cattle, 
resisted a band of sixty-seven Comanches nine hours, 
instead of seeking their own safety in flight, as they might 
have done. All eight remained upon the ground, after 
having killed or mortally wounded a much larger number 
of the savages. Guzman and a Comanche were found 
grasping each other's hair, and each with the knife of his 
adversary in his body. This happened not very long 
before my arrival. 
Another of the same class, Jesus Dominguez, was my 
companion in several excursions, and was well known for 
