Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-04
TEXAS.

do, are not apprehenslve OF any attack from the
Indians, which they cannot repel. Occasional
skirmishes between the whites and them, have
taken place ever since the settlement OF the
country--but it is not anticipated that any IN
creased or combined attack will be made imme-
dately. We state this fact, because the State
Gazette Of New-Orleans, seemed to hold out the
idea some time since, the savases were making
increased preparations for war, and that the.
President of the United States ought to look to
the defence of our citizens on this frontier. we
have not heareo either, of any expedition set
on foot by settlers, to nfilct an injury Upon the
indians but we have heard thatat St. Anto-
MO, (Which is 200 miles beyond .Austin's vii
age, and under the protection OF Mexlco) re-
cruits are making foi the defence OF that place
they purpose to raise two hundred men. he
Editor Of the Gazette remarks, that lie has no
information as 10 the names OF the tribes, and
the number Of each, who inhabit the nelghbor-
ing provinces of Mexico, and says "we are as
much in want oflight TO day as we were yester-
day. The Indians who trouble the Mexican
provinces and the Camanches. They are the
most powerful and warlike tribe OF Indians in
America. Were they organised and brought
together, they can bring into the field $4,000
fighting men, as has been ascertained by the
Mexican Government. They inhabit country
which commences not far west Of this, and ex-
tends to the sources of Red River, in the Rocky
Mountains, and even beyond that to the west
ern ocean. They are well armed for sayages-
most Of the warriors having gun, spear and
an arrow. They are tall, robust, and muscular
some Of them measuring six feet six inches
in heis ht--but the more common size is near
six eet---they are said 10 be the largest race OF
| men in North America There is no instance
we believe, where they have ever united their
forces to any great extent for purposes of mis-
| chief They wander, most of them, through
trackless and dreary wilderness from year TO
year, without any fixed place of residence. 1t
| is impossible to conciiate them, which is ow-
ing. principally to their unsettled state-they are
scarcely ever your neighbors for two weeks at
time. We believe that their separation into
many parties have given rise to other names for
! some of ,hem---but we understand that most Of
the Indians between this and the ocean are Of
that tribe We submit this brief outline of the
tribe from the authority of gentleman who
left that country not many days since. But it
is not in our power to give the geographical po-
I stion Of those countries west and south west Of
us-nor is there any thing said of them on the
can tell how the country lies. Our informant
states that seventeen were killed at ST. An
drews, from January until April, by the Ca
manches-.three CT whom were Americans, the
others Spanierds These acts were committed
by small parties Of the tribe at different times,
who save themselves by flight. He states that
the two hundred men recruiting will be suffi-
Gent for the defence Of tina, place. Austin's
grant is said to be settling fast, and the people
engaged in their domestic pursuits, in security.
westward, the star ofempire takes its way"
Why q man measures more in The Morning than
an The EUeniag, &c.-There is an odd phenome-
non attending the human body, as singular as
commons; that person is shorter standing than
lying; and shorter in the evening when he goes
to bed, than in the morning when he rises.
This remark was first made in England, and
afterwards confirmed at Paris, by NJ. Morand.
member Of the Royal Academy of Sciences
in France, and by the Abbot Foutina likewise
The last mentioned person found, from years
experience, that ordinarily in the night hegained
S or E lines, and lost nearly as much in the day.
The cause Of which effect, so ancient, so com
mon, but so lately perceived, proceeds from
the different state or condition Of the inter-
vertebraI anular cartilages. The vertebre or
joints of the spine, are kept seperate, though
joined by particular carriages, every one Of
which has spring. These yield on all sides,
without any inhexion of the spine, to the
weight Of the head and upper extremities,
but this is done by very small and impercepti-
bic degrees, and most Of all when the upper
parts Of the body are loaded with any exterior
weight. So that man is really taller after ly-
ing some time, than after walking, or carrying
burthen great while. For this reason it is
that, in the day and evening, while one is sit
ting or standing, the superior parts of the body
that weigh or press upon the inferior, press
those elastic annular carriages, the bony joint
ed work is contracted, the superior parts of
the body descend towards the inferior, and pro-
Portionaby as one approaches the other, the
height OF the stature diminishcs. Hence it
was, that fellow enlisting for soldier, by
being measured overnight, was found deficient
in height, and therefore refused; but by acct
dent, being gagged again the next morning,
and coming up TO the stature, he was admitted
On the contrary, in the nighttime, when the
body is laid a-bed, as it is an horizontal, stu
alton, or nearly SO, the superior parts do not
weigh, or but very little, upon the inferior;
the spring Of the carriages is unbent, the YER
tebrae are removed from one another, the long