The distance to be traveled over while on this duty was in the vicinity of two hundred and fifty miles, and was performed, like all of Kit’s previous journeys, on horseback.  Indeed, there are but few men living or dead, who have ridden in the saddle over as much territory as the man we write of.  On his way to the Utah village, Kit accidentally fell in with the Apaches; but as he was constantly on the look out, and therefore first in making the discovery, he lost no time in effecting his escape from them, by changing his course.  He thus was able to pass around them in perfect safety.  Kit Carson met with no difficulty in finding the Utahs, among whom he spent two days investigating their affairs.  Just before parting with them, he left directions for them to be at the council at the time appointed, which was in the new moon of October.  Notwithstanding his path was beset with the same perils that existed on his outward journey, yet by careful traveling he surmounted them all, and arrived at his home safe and sound.  Little or nothing worth noting transpired until the time arrived for him to set out for Abiquiu, where all parties soon assembled in grand council and proceeded to business.  Speeches were made by the superintendent, by Kit Carson, and also by the head chiefs.  After these interesting proceedings were gone through with, the annuities, to which the band were entitled according to their treaty, were presented to them, which they received with outward signs of friendship, though the knowing ones who were on the ground could see, lurking beneath that stoic appearance which a savage usually assumes when facing his white brother, that the red men were not entirely satisfied with past events.  However, every means had been employed to pacify the band, who, on first coming into the council, had succeeded in showing that they had been greatly outraged and injured, and that they had sufficient cause for resentment.  The following circumstances will show the truth of this.

Just previous to the holding of this council, one of the warriors who was much esteemed by his tribe, had been waylaid and murdered by a small party of Mexicans.  The only excuse offered by the latter for committing this bloody deed was, that they wished to deprive the warrior of an old coat, which, by some means, had come into his possession.

The killing of a human being to deprive him of a garment which was almost worthless, is perfectly characteristic of the depravity exhibited by the lower classes of Mexicans.  It is a singular fact that these people love to steal trifling articles, or, sums of money.  We remember two instances where this trait is singularly illustrated.  An American, on one occasion, left on a table, in his log house, a large sum of money in gold.  He sent a Mexican into this room to bring him something which he wanted, but the man returned saying he could not find it.  The American now went himself to look for the article, and, while in