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rifle erect in hand, the spectacle was very imposing. But soon I percieved there was likely to be some more serious work than mere talking. It appears that it was ascertained very satisfactorily that there was then among the horses in the possession of the Navajos present one which belonged to a Mexican, a member of Colonel Washington's command. The colonel, particularly as the possessor of it acknowledged it to be stolen, demanded its immediate restoration. The Navajos demurred. He then told them that, unless they restored it immediately, they would be fired into. They replied that the man in whose possession the horse was had fled. Colonel Washington then directed Lieutenant Tores to sieze one in reprisal. The Navajos, immediately perceiving it, scampered off at the top of their speed. The guard present were then ordered to fire upon them the result of which was, that their head chief, Narbona, was shot dead on the spot, and six others (as the Navajos subsequently told us) were mortally wounded. Major Peck also threw among them, very handsomely much to their terror, when they were afar off, and thought they could with safety relax their flight- couple of round shot. (See plate 31 for a sketch of Nabona, taken just before his death the scourge of the Mexicans, doubtless, for the last half century.)
These people evidently gave signs of being tricky and unreliable, and probably never will he chastened into perfect subjection until troops are stationed immediately among them.
They had, previous to the affray, during the day, brought in about one hundred head of sheep, and four horses and mules; and immediately after it, some thirty or forty more head of sheep were driven in by the troops.
It is to be regretted that, in the hurry skurry movement of the enemy, some of the pack animals, which were at the time ready to accompany the troops to the next camping ground, should have been frightened off.
Immediately after the affair alluded to, at about 5 p. m., the command resumed the line of march. We had not proceeded more than a mile before a Navajo appeared ahead of us, as if anxious to hold a parley. Mr. Conkling was sent forward to see what he wanted. He said he wished to talk to the commanding officer. Colonel Washington told him to come forward. He did so; and, with tears in his eyes, (I do not know how easily these fellows may cry,) he said he did not wish to live any longer among these people; that he wanted peace; that lie was related to Sandoval, and wished to convey his mother to Sandoval's people, among whom he desired to live. The colonel told him to go home and keep the peace; that he was at liberty to convey away his mother.
Our march this afternoon was only 4.32 miles. The soil of the valley we have been threading for the last two days, it occurs to me, is (a great deal of it) good, and could doubtless be cultivated much more extensively than it is.
General character of the country traversed east of the Sierra de Tumecha.And now, as we shall commence the ascent to morrow of the Sierra de Tumecha, which traversed, according to the report of one of the guides, is to introduce us into a more fertile region, the opportunity seems to be a "
Sandoval is the recognised chief of a small number of friendly Navajos, living near Ceboletta, on the head waters of the San José. (See map.)