The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-14

edition they furnish subscribers gratt
lion OF them vested n The subordinate chiefs or
tans as they are called, and are promptly and rgldy
enforced
The only property of these people, with the exception
OF lew articles pertaining to their domestic economy
consists entirely in horses and mules, OF which they
possess great numbers These mostly pillaged from
the Mexcans and The man who has been very success.
ui IN heir iorays often owns many as one hundred
animals In respect TO the rights OF property their code
is Spartan.
They are perhaps freeboeters be found
on the face OF the earth They regard stealing from
strangers as perfectly legitimate and honorable, and he
who IS most successful in this mos, highly honored by
ms uioe. indeed, young man who has not made one
or more robbng excursions into Mexico Is held In but
little repute In evidence of this, an old chief Of the
northern Cumanches called s-sa keep In conversation
with me- SAID he was the father OF four who were
as promising young Een could be found that they
were great comfort TO him in his old age, and could
steal more horses than any youths in his band
AS these foays are often attended with much toll and
danger they are called war expeditions" IL not unfre
quenuy happens that but eight young out
upon one OF them and the only outfit they require is
horse, with suitable war equipments, consisting OF the
bow and arrows, lance and shield and occasionally
gun Thus prepared, they start journey Of thou
sand niles or more. through perfectly wild and desolae
country, dependent wholly upon such game as they may
| chance 10 find for a subsistence
They thus make their way to the northern provinces
OF Mexco where they lay in waiting, near some hacien-
da, until favorable opportunity offers to sweep down
upon solitary herssman and, with the most terrific and
unealhy yells, drive before them the animals they
/
make precpltate retreat, as they invariably kill such
men offer the slightest impedImen to their operations.
and take prisoners the women and children whom they
hold in bondage OF the most seryile character They
sometimes absent from their tribes Tor two years,
before their is sufficient, to justify their credtabe
| return.
Some few OF them, who have visited their Great Father
at Washington have gone home strongly impressed with
The numerical power and prosperity OF The whtes but
the great majority OF the nation being entirely ignorant
Of everything that relates TO US and many OF Them hav-
ing even white man, believe the Cumanches
TO be the most powerful nation in exisence and the ela
tion OF facts which conflict with this notion by their own
people to the OF the trbe al their prairie fre
sides. only subjects the Raator 10 dcue and ne is set
down whose brain has been turned by the NEGRO
NANCY OF the and is henceforth regarded as
wholly unworthy OF confidence
Having upon one occasion Delaware and Cumanche
conversation which passed between them in my pres
ence, and which was interpreted to me by the Della
ware.
1t appeared that the latter had stated to the other the
fact OF the spheciy OF the earh's surface The idea.
being altogether and ncomprehensbls 10 the Gu
manche, received with much ncreduy, and, alter
gazing Tor moment at the Delaware, 10 ascertain he
sincere he asked that person took him Tor child
or il he looked like idiot, The Delaware said no, but
the white people, who knew all about these matters had
such be the fact and he added that the
world not only round but that revolved round the
sun. The Cumanche very Indignantly replied that any
man OF sense could by looking of upon the prares,
at glance thai the earth level and, moreover that
his grandfather bad been west 10 the end OF i, where
the passed down behind vertical wall. The Della
describe 10 the Cumanche the operations Of the steam.
engine and other objects OF interest that he had
all of which the Cumanche regarded as effort Of
ferhle Imagination, expressly designed TO deceive him
and the only reply he deigned TO NIKE occasion
al exclamation in his language, the interpreta-
lion OF which the other pronounced to be, Hush, you
fool -
then endeavoed 10 explain 10 the Delaware the ope-
ration of the magnetic telegraph and, in illustrating its
practical utility, told him that message could be trans
mited thousand miles and returned. in the
short period of ten minutes He seemed much interested
in this and listened aitentvely to my remarks, but made
comments unil requested him 10 explain II 10 the
Cumanche, when he smilingly said, " | don't think I'll
tell him that, captains tor the truth is don't believe II
myself"
The mode OF life among the prairie tribes. owing to
their unsettled and wandering habits, such 10 render
their condition OF constant danger and apprehension
The security OF their numerous animals iron the en-
croachmens OF their enemies, and their constant ab
" 10 attack make II nperauvey necessary Tor them to
be al all times the alert Their herdsmen are sta
toned with much regularity the sentnels OF mill
tay post and in times of the most profound peace
they guard their animals both night asd day, while
mounted scouts are patrong on the neghboring heights
to give notice OF the approach oil strangers, when their
horses hurried 10 place OF security and everything
made ready for defence.
The manner in which they salute stranger is som
what peculiar my own reception at OF their
campments will show. Their chief was very corpuent
old man, with exceedingly seanty attire, who imme-
dlatey on our approach declared himself great friend
OF the Americans, and persisted N giving evidence o
MS sincsriy by an embrace, whicl, 70 please hun,
forced myself 10 submit TO- although Il lar from
agreeable To my own teellngs SEEING me IN his bfawny
arms, while were yet IN the saddle and lay ing his
greasy head upon my shoulder, he inflicted upon
most bruin.like squeeze, which endured with degree
OF patient fortude worthy of the occasion and was
consoling myself the completion OF the saluaiion,
when the savage again seized IN his arms, and |
doomed another similar torture, with his head
my other shoulder, while al The time he rubbed has
greasy face against mine in the most aiectonae manner
all Of which proceeding, he gave to understand was
10 be regarded most distinguished and signal mark Of
affection for the American people ia geneal, whom,
he EXPIRE It, he loved much that it almost broke
his heart and IN particular for myself wbo their rep
resenave, can bear testimony 10 The strength Of his at
iachment.
On leaving his camp the chief shook me heartily by
the hand telling me at the same time that he was not
Comanche, but an American and as did not feel dis
posed TO be ouido1e in politeness by an Indian, re-
Piled, in the spirit. that there not drop OF
Anglo Saxon blood in my veins, bat that was wholly
and absolutely Cumancbe, AT which he seemed de-
lighted, duly understanding and appreclang the compli
ment r. 49,
these people are hospabe and kind TO all with whom
they not war and the arrival OF stranger al
their camps lodge is prepared for him. and he il enter
lained long as he chooses 10 remain among them
They also kind and aeeonate 10 each other and a.
long anything comestable remains in the camp all are
permitted TO share alike but, with these exceptions they
are possessed of but few virtues Polygany ia sane.
toned, and s very common among them every man
being allowed many wives as he can support Their
women oi low stature III shaped and filthy and ugly
10 the extreme. while the tall. wellfomed and
fine looking.
Many OF their children, owing 10 able exposure
die young The boys, however, treated with great
and kindness while the girls are frequently beaten
and abused numerically. $50