New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-16
NEW-MEXICO.
A Talk with the Navajoes.
Correspondence of The Missouri Republican.
SANTA FE, Wednesday, Dec. 81, 1851

SANTA 7 h, wednesday, DeC. 81, icOI'
GENTLEMEN The official party, including
Col Sumner and tie Governor, who went out TO
meet the Navajoes at Jemez, on the 25sh have re-
turned TO Santa Fe.
So far as can learn, ard have pretty good means
of information, there were between one and two hun
bred Navsjoes on the ground How far those who
were present this occasion oueh TO be treated as
in any proper sense, representation oil the great
Navajo family, consisting of from five to ten thous and
souls, is extremely DOUBTFUL. There is really no
small difficulty, even here, OF getting at the truth.
have far found, aInosg persons who have had the
best means of Knowing the most contradictory state
ments as 10 the numbers OF the NavdloeS. Some es-
Inmates 60 low as COO warriors Others as high as
1900. Were the Indians Who presented themselves
az Jemez the proper representatives. OF these one or
four thousand Or were they mere lodge or two
in other woIcs, handful OF the great t0e only re-
sponsble for Themselves ard for 10 Others Of their
tribe
The person relied uponfor the necessary informa-
tion this head IS nos as far as can learn so well
qualified to give 1t some others who might nave
been selected. There is another person, Mexican
OF Santa F6, named Caravajal, who was for five
years, when young, prisoner among the NavaJoes,
and has since for the most part OF forty years Deen
trading with them. SO far as Identifying these In
dians goes, seems to me that his means oil kno"l-
edge far superior 70 those OF the person To whom
tins business was cOnided 1t PROBABLY would have
been taken by CaTavala well as the otaer person
and Why 1t was not done cannot say.
There vas considerable talking with the Indians.
Col Sumner addressed them, telling them that the
President tued of the which had been so
long Kept UP between the NaEdlOe5 ana heAl;ihs,
and meant TO put stop 70 1t For that purpose SOL
dieis had been sent lntO Their country, ani more
wOu q be sent II Necessary. The Presldcnt INTENDED
them no harm II they behaved well on the contra
~ he would send them SEEDS and tools for farming,
and teach them how 10 improve their lsncs and
stock-to live comfortably aGd grow rich. There
were two paths Cptn 10 them. One vas very bad
and bloody, ard would lead them 10 destruction;
III. other would c9ndl : lhcm TO peace and 10 all
that was good for themseNes and their wives and
children.
TIE Naysloes in answer declared they wOpii
take the paln that led TO peace.
The Superintendent of lGrlan Affairs tGOv Cal
houD) addressed them-teiliDg them that the PEST
dent was willing 10 co a good deaf for them, and
asking them What they were wiling 10 90 ioI the
PTeSlOeLt
Their answer was sor an Indian, a very curious
one, II the movement bad not been prompted be-
fore / an d. Two or three of the Indians came for
ward ard shook hagts with the Governor, ut.ering
some woes III thtlr language and making signs
This was interpreted 10 he a declaration on their
part they were wllingto go with HIN hostages.
The Governor tfen told them substantially what
follows, IN reference 10 teoSe hostages " Gu viii
SO Nth ne and .Cuge N the same house taat shall
leis me, aid ear OF HE sline food OF which eat"
How tar this leaves these hostages 20 60 aad
when they please, Is a question
A good ceal said about in'emnlty, aad the
Ns,aloes promised to bring in stolen property
and capiiyes TO Santa Fe, oy The 25.h OF January
They complained, however. thar The MeXlcAnS mad
robbed them. To some extent this Is true Blu. as
general remark, these roooeTies, OF which the Ma
ais which dIc not restore 10 the MoNcsns one for
one hundred that had been s.olen from tAem.
The Governor then made preparations 20 distribute
presents among these inarSuieIs, who had been
most necessarily breaking the treaty by virtue OF
whose stpulaiions these presents were made
Again ST such sn acs, Col. Sumner protested "a one
that was both unnecessary and iIapOlItic. | think
that IN tins opinion he is supported BY almost every
person in the Territory.
The conference Was managed through several in
teIpIeteTs-the WORDS passing from English 70 Span
lSh. thence 10 Pueblo and thence to Navajo H.
am told, Carayaial, whose native languaReis span
isA, has very good knowledge OF Navajo, II Is on
this account 20 be regretted that he was not taken
Slorg.
How these hostages are actually 10 be treated. re-
mains TO be seen. IL Is supposed that the Supern-
tendeLt desires 10 take TO Washington a company Of
lndlsIs when he goes has Il is rumored ne viii in
February ana that these NavSOes are Intended 10
give interest TO his progress
You will possibly have the pleasure Of meeting
M AuoIy he great Plains Courier, as soon as TINS
letter reaches you. HIS travelling enterprise and
eIcoisnoe exceed, perhaps, those Of ell other men
h,ug. lie has now maze thee trips across the
Plains in one year, with loaded wagons The mali
last month, With all is advantages for moving
spt ecly, had 20 !eaVe nile tenthS % is burden be-
hind, While Aubr came through ~lh heavy teams
aid without the loss % ga animal
You have % doubt seen . map OF his new route,
which now lies before me- II IS unQ geS,ionaoy far
superior, IA The important advantages Of wood,
water grass anc easy travelling, over he Clmafone
route. Mr.. AuoIy has no doub. Z: has too the ad-
NaItsge Of saving distance. Il can Re undoubtedly
uacen a Shcrter lme-NhicA IS the same thing
Mr.. AueIy has 50 far, on ms Way IN, alter crossing
the Arkansas, pursued Tire usual ro2d down the bank
Of the river. Ills Intention IS, ~ NaVcT he
formed me, 10 stTke oil from She A4kGns-S Crsc-
ton ,owsId Pawnee Fork IN the expectation % 6ni-
lng road that VIII SUIT HIN 10 crossing much
above the present crossing Of The F0rk and oehsT-
thst he can nnd COCO route 20 near tue present
crossing Of tie CotIou~ood Fork OF the Arkansas.
by n route he expects 20 be able 20 save iu'thsr
cls'SNce Ills calculation Is. that tae whole JouT-
~ re MI mske gain Of ffty miles, UitA upon
the Whole, much better road
NJ AOuTy, l. - needless - say. has gtinSd the
bisheN admiration for his daring QUALITIES and IN
tQualed achievements, the electric traveller
Further ne deserves great credig for his unsirnS ef
tor's 20 explore new paths. which shall facilitate The
communicated sith New-NeNi co and add 10 me
comio and safety OF the traveller en- the deser. routs
which leads 10 IT,
The mail to this place from the States has this
month the last failed 10 bipg US the newspapers
Can II not be contrved 10 send on al least on ME
OF your paper by the letter mail that we shall NOT
be kepg. are IN almost utter ignorance Of hat
is gong on in the rest of the worlds
We have TO-DAY further reports OF Apache depre-
datons and oursgcS q. the last date from Fort FIJI
more Below pona Apss they had stolen forty-aTe