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
"To compensate for this lack of mechanics, there is but one doctor and
one lawyer; and the latter is supposed to be _insane_, as he has quit the
practice, walks quietly around the town, says but little to anyone, is
polite, dresses neatly and seems to mind his own business. My opinion
is that he is the most sensible lawyer I have ever seen.
Limited Commerce.
"The commerce of the country is limited. The people sell their wines
and dried fruits generally as soon as ready. They go to all the
surrounding country; to Chihuahua as well as up the country to Santa Fe
and Arizona. There are three Jew stores and one Mexican store. Their
business is small.
"There are many small dealers of various kinds, and there are many
people who seem to live on occasional small amounts; but how they get
their money deponent saith not.
Non-Progressive.
"The people are slow to adopt improvements. Things look about the same
as they did when I was here about thirty years ago, in '47. The town
looks about the same. A very little has been done about the square
and church--hardly perceivable. They use wooden-wheeled carts, and
everything seems as though it was but a short time since I was here and
saw things just as they now are.
Hospitality.
This is natural to the people of this country. A kinder-hearted
people, naturally, I do not believe can be found. They are polite
and mannerly--even the lowest of them. Their children are quiet and
obedient, there being no 'hoodlums' here. Parents are affectionate to
their children. Husbands are polite and affectionate. They have great
reverence for Deity, their religion and old age. Get them once directed
right and they will be the best people on earth.
Health and Morals.
"The people are generally healthy, there being but little disease among
them. There are a few Americans living here.
"As to their morals, I believe the people of this town stand above par,
compared with more civilized communities. The Apaches are the only
people said to be strictly virtuous that I have met on this journey as
yet, though it is generally admitted that the aborigines are much more
virtuous than the mixed race of this country.
"Here the people are a mixture of the Spanish and native--the native
blood predominating. Of the pure bloods there are only about two
hundred remaining in this town. Catholicism prevails more here than
in the interior, so I am informed by persons from the lower States of
Mexico. There liberty of conscience is beginning to be more popular,
and priestcraft is beginning to lose its power over many, but not
enough for them to be popular as yet.
Stock.
"The stock of the country is scarce and inferior. Horses, cattle and
goats are tolerably plentiful. There are a few pigs and fowls. The
circulating medium is corn, copper coin greenbacks and a little silver.
Dogs are in great abundance, noisy but seldom bite.
Local Government.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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