Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the nativesJones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
History
Forty Years Among the Indians: A true yet thrilling narrative of the author's experiences among the natives
Jones, Daniel W. (Daniel Webster)
Frontier and pioneer life -- West (U.S.); Indians of North America; Latter Day Saint pioneers -- Biography
He now got a pamphlet and commenced reading. This was the printed
circular of the Pope. I listened patiently until my opponent finished.
The house, a large one, was crowded, nearly a hundred persons present.
I now asked permission to answer the Pope's letter and explain our side.
Don Pedro objected. My reply settled him. I told him I had been much in
Mexico and mixed among the people a great deal and I had always found
them mannerly and polite, especially to strangers and in their own
house. That I was now under his roof and protection--a stranger--and
appealed to him as a true Mexican gentleman to hear me. At this many of
the crowd said, "Let the stranger speak."
Don Pedro now consented, but soon interrupted me. I reminded him that
I had listened to him in perfect silence, and unless he did the same I
should claim to be more of a gentleman than he was. This made quite a
laugh, and the voice was for me to have the floor uninterruptedly.
In brief I will say that I fully satisfied myself; spoke with perfect
freedom and handled the priests and Pope without gloves. When I got
through Don Pedro said his whole opinion was now changed, asked for a
book, saying he would read and study it whether the priests liked it or
not. When we left all was friendly.
The district of country we had been passing through appeared to be the
most desirable for colonizing. We made diligent enquiries about lands,
titles, conflicting water interests and making notes, all of which were
reported to Prest. Young on our arrival home.
As we neared the frontier settlements there was great excitement as
the Apaches were out on the war path and had killed some men near Fort
Bowie. They had had a fight with the soldiers and whipped them, and
were now raiding the country in every direction.
Some of the officials at Galiana talked of stopping us from going any
further. But we were very anxious to continue on so we told them we
would be careful and not run into danger.
After leaving Casas Grandes our road was really lonesome and dangerous.
It was some three days' travel to Cow Springs before we would see a
ranch. However, we made the trip without accident, traveling the most
dangerous parts in the night time.
One night we had our nerves sorely tried. My intention was, if we ever
met the Apaches, to approach them alone, believing I could make peace
with them the same as I had done before with other Indians.
While traveling along one night. Brother Ivins and my son riding ahead
of the wagon, our little watch dog that had been of great service to us
many times, gave notice that someone was approaching in the road.
I called to the boys to stop. I went and got on my son's horse, telling
him to go back to the team. Brother Ivins and I rode on a short
distance. The night was rather dark, but soon we saw a lot of what
appeared to be savage-looking Indians coming. They were on foot and
armed. They halted on seeing us.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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