costume and armed at every point with lance, bow
and arrow, knife, tomahawk, etc., were drawn up under command of the
principal chief, in single line. At the head of this line was placed
a kind of chaplet, or crown, the possession of which by any woman was
supposed to confer the power of necromancy or magic, rendering her
able to heal diseases and to foretell events. The line having been
formed, all of the young maidens of the tribe were drawn up in a body
at the further extremity and any of them who aspired to the possession
of the chaplet was at liberty, having first uncovered her back and
breast as far as her waist, to march before the line of warriors
within ten paces of their front and, if she lived to reach it, take
possession of the crown. On the other hand, it was the duty of any
warrior, who knew aught by word or deed against the virtue of the
advancing maiden, to kill her upon the spot. If one arrow was shot at
her, the whole band instantly poured a flight of arrows into her bare
and defenceless bosom until life was extinct. Again, it was the belief
of the untutored savage that whatever warrior failed to make his
knowledge apparent, if he possessed any, by sending his arrow at the
aspirant, would always be an object of revenge by the Great Spirit
both here and hereafter; and, that he would always live in the
hereafter, in sight of the Happy Hunting Grounds, but never be allowed
to enter them. This latter belief made it a rare thing for young girls
to brave the attempt; but, sometimes, the candidates were numerous
and the horrible butchery of the young girls which took place formed
a terrible expose of their lewdness. To kill an innocent girl was
equally a matter which would be forever avenged by the Great Spirit.

The warm friendship which sprang up between Kit Carson and the
proprietors of Bent's Fort, under whom he held his situation
as Hunter, is a sufficient index of the gentlemanly conduct and
amiability of heart evinced towards him on their part. The names
of Bent and St. Vrain were known and respected far and near in the
mountains, for, in generosity, hospitality and native worth, they were
men of perfect model.

Mr. Bent was appointed, by the proper authority, the first Civil
Governor of New Mexico, after that large and valuable country
was ceded to and came under the jurisdiction of the United States
Government. He held this distinguished position however only a short
time; for, in the year 1847, he