f the province of the same
name, and another of those ancient towns whose history forms one of the
most interesting features of the country. It was founded in 1691 and a
quarter of a century later, when the adjoining silver mines were in full
operation, had a population of 70,000, though today it has scarcely a
fifth of that number.

The position of interpreter was more dignified than any yet held by
Carson, and it was at his command, as long as he chose to hold it; but
to one of his restless nature it soon grew monotonous and he threw it
up, making his way once more to Taos. The employment most congenial to
Carson's nature, and the one which he had been seeking ever since he
left home, was that of hunter and trapper. The scarred veterans whom he
met in the frontier and frontier posts gave him many accounts of their
trapping experiences among the mountains and in the gloomy fastnesses
where, while they hunted the bear, deer, beaver and other animals, the
wild Indian hunted them.

Carson had been in Taos a short time only when he gained the opportunity
for which he was searching. A party of trappers in the employ of Kit's
old friend had just come to Taos, having been driven from their trapping
grounds by the Indians. The employer set about raising a party strong
enough to return to the trapping grounds, chastise the hostiles and
resume business. Knowing the skill and bravery of the young Kentuckian,
the gentleman made him an offer to join the party and Kit eagerly
accepted it.

The Mexicans have never been particularly friendly toward their
neighbors north of the Rio Grande, and at that time a very strict law
was in force which forbade the issuance of any license to American
citizens to trap within Mexican territory. The company which mounted
their horses and rode out of Taos gave the authorities to understand
that their errand was simply to chastise the red men, whereas their
real purpose was to engage in trapping. With a view of misleading the
officers, they took a roundabout route which delayed their arrival in
the section. Nevertheless, the hunters were desirous of punishing the
Indians who had taken such liberties with the small party that preceded
them. On one of the tributaries of the Gila, the trappers came upon the
identical band whom they attacked with such fierceness that more than a
dozen were killed and the rest put to flight. The fight was a desperate
one, but young as Carson was, he acquitted himself in