Out of half a dozen Mexican captives that happened to be with our new visitors, we only met with one who manifested the slightest inclination to abandon Indian life. This was a stupid boy about fifteen years of age, who had probably been roughly treated on account of his laziness. We very soon struck a bargain with his owner, paying about the price of a mule for the little outcast, whom I sent to his family as soon as we reached Chihuahua. Notwithstanding the [Pg131] inherent stupidity of my _protégé_, I found him abundantly grateful--much to his credit be it spoken--for the little service I had been able to render him. We succeeded in purchasing several mules which cost us between ten and twenty dollars worth of goods apiece. In Comanche trade the main trouble consists in fixing the price of the first animal. This being settled by the chiefs, it often happens that mule after mule is led up and the price received without further cavil. Each owner usually wants a general assortment; therefore the price must consist of several items, as a blanket, a looking-glass, an awl, a flint, a little tobacco, vermillion, beads, etc. Our trade with the new batch of Comanches {46} being over, they now began to depart as they had come, in small parties, without bidding us adieu, or even informing us of their intention, it being the usual mode of taking leave among Indians, to depart _sans cérémonie_, and as silently as possible. The Santa Fé caravans have generally avoided every manner of trade with the wild Indians, for fear of being treacherously dealt with during the familiar intercourse which necessarily ensues. This I am convinced is an erroneous impression; for I have always found, that savages are much less hostile to those with whom they trade, than to any other people. They are emphatically fond of traffic, and, being anxious to encourage the whites to come among them, instead of committing depredations upon those with whom they trade, they are generally ready to defend them against every enemy. CHAPTER XIX {III} Ponds and Buffalo Wallows -- Valley of the Canadian, and romantic Freaks of Nature -- Melancholy Adventure of a Party of Traders in 1832 -- Fears of being lost -- Arrival of a Party of _Comancheros_, and their wonderful Stories -- Their Peculiarities and Traffic -- Bitter Water, and the _Salitre_ of New Mexico -- Avant-couriers for Santa Fé -- Patent Fire-arms and their Virtues -- Ranchero Ideas of Distance, and their Mode of giving Directions -- The Angostura, and erroneous Notions of the Texans -- A new Route revealed -- Solitary Travel -- Supply of Provisions sent back -- Arrival at Santa Fé -- Gov. Armijo, etc. -- A 'Flare-up' with His Excellency.