The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-23

where we observed frequent and eopious rains during
the reason of the June flood, and I am of opinion
that here Is the source Of much of the water in the
lower portion Of the stream.
As the water has very bitter and disagresable
taste. it has been conectured that it passed in its
cure through extensive salt plains But this also
found to be error there il no deposit OF chic
ride of sodium upon the river, the peculiar taste be-
ing communicated by some ingredient which it re-
oaiyes in its flowing for hundred miles over gyp-
sum formation, which extends from the Arkansas
river in southeasterly direction, to the Rio Grande
This great belt Of gypsum, which / have myself
passed through ct four different points. embracing
range of three hundred miles, Ia considered by DR..
Hitchcock To be the most extensive in the known
world. have everywhere found it characterized by
the peculiartes with the water issuing from it
invariably bitter and nauseating.
The Arkansas, Canadian, Brazos, Colorado, and
Pocos rivers also pass through this formation, and
similar taste is impaired to the waters Of all These
rivers also have their sources in the borders OF the
same elevated table lands, and where they make
their exit from this plateau their beds are confined
TO vast sluices or cahons, the sides Of which rise
very abruptly to an enormous height above the sur
face OF the water. ,
the escarpments from five to eight hundred feet
high ON each side and in many places they approach
near the waters edge that there Is not room Tor
man to pass; and occasionally it IS necessary 70
travel for miles in the bed of the river before spot
Is found where o horse can Chamber up the preepi-
tous sides of the chasm ! could not determine in
my own mind whether this remarkable defle had
been formed after long lapse OF time by the action
OF the current or had been produced by some great
convulsion OF nature.
The barren mesa in which these rivers take their
rise, extends from the Canadian river in southery
course, for about four hundred miles, between the pa
raels of north latitude 80 degrees 80 minutes and
sc degrees 90 minutes. II is in some places nearly
two hundred miles in width, and is embraced within
the merdans of l0l and l04 degrees west longitude
The approximate elevation of this plain above the
l. to
and six hundre and fifty feet it is also much ele
waited above the surrounding country very level, and
extends off, in every dire ton as far as the eye
reach without tree, shrub, or any other vegetation
TO intercept the vision. The traveller, in passing
over t. sees nothing but one vast, barren and mono
tonous waste and dreary solitude. 1t is an ocean Of
patlless tra:kless desert prairie where the voice of
man is seldom heard and where no living being per-
manontly resides. II may with propriety be termed
the Great Zahara of North America. The almost
total absence OF water causes all animals to sun it
the Indians do not venture to cross it, except at
two points, where they find few small ponds.
Many years since the MeXic3ns marked out q route
across this plain with stakes, and hence the name
by which il is known throughout Mexico, OF a Ldno-
cstGCado, or the Staked Plain"
The geological features OF the country along the val
ley Of the upper Red river are generally character
lied W rocks Of the secondary formation. The
wichita mountains however, are composed OF gra-
mite rool1s, with veins Of quartz running through
them similar 10 the gold bearing rocks of California.
Ofec OF 0DpffF, ts very uT6 lOunu IN
many places throughout the valley, aud we also dis.
covered few small PARTICLES OF gold in the detritus
frum tie mountains.
Tie country embraced within the basin of the up
rer Red river much frequened by several tribes Of
Indians, all having similar habits. but speaking differ
ent languages. The most numerous and warlke Of
these are the Comanches, who are separated into
three distinct local grand divisions, namely-tho
Middle and Southern. Each OF these Is
sLbdiyided into several bands, commanded by sepa-
rate chiefs. The Northern and Middle Comanchcs SUBJ
sis almost entir,y the flesh OF the buffalo and are
gercrly found AZ their heels, migrating with them
from place " place. on those vast aud inhospitablc
plains, which cannot in the nature of things, be
made available for agricuture and they seem to be
de- tined in future they have been in former ages
70 be the empire OF the cratic savage And II Is
fact worthy Of remark. that man. In whatever stua.
ton he may be pla ed Is Influenced in his modes of
existence, bis physical and moral condition, by the
natural resources OF climate, SOIL and other circum
stances around him. the operations Of which he
has control. Fortunately, such il the fiexbility
of his nature, that he soon adapts himself to the
hardest and most untoward circumstances, and in
deed, Ultimately becomes, not only rec0nciled to his
lot but ances his condition far preferable to that OF
most others. The example OF our border settlers is
Illustrative Of this fact since they continue to remove
further and further West as the settlements
incruach upon them, prefeTing life OF
dangerous adventure and solitude 70 pers anal
curly and the comforts ind eujUynen.s On society;
and what was AZ hrSt necessity % them, becomes in
nadc Indian Of the prairie demonstrates the position
s.!ll more forcibly. Free "a the boundless plains
over which he roams, lac knows nor wants any
luxLrics beyond what he finds In the buffalo or the
deer at his door These serve him fcrfood, clothing
and covering for his lodge and he signs no. Tor the
dis irctions which occupy the thoughts ard engage
the energies Of civilized man. HIS only ambition Is
that he may cope successfully with his enemyiu war;
and manage his steed with unfailing adrsitness. He
Is in the saddle from boyhood to old age, and his
favorite horse i his constant companion. Its when
mounted that the Comapche exhibits himself TO the
best advantage; he Is then at home, and his skill in
the various man9uyres which he makes available in
battle, such as throwing himself entirely upon one
eide of his horse, and discharging his arrows with
great rapdity in the opposite direction, from beneath
the ainlas neck. while he is at full speed, is truly
astonishing Every warrior has his war horse, which
Is TIC fieetest that be obtained lie prizes him
more highly than anything else in his possession,
and it is seldom that he can be induced TO part with
him at any price. He never mounts him except
when going into battle for the buffalo chase, upon
state occasions. On his return from excursion,
he Is net at the door Of his lodge by Of his wives
who takes his steed and attends to its wants with
the utmost care. The prairie warrior performs no
mental labor; bis only occupation Il in war and the
chase. His wives, who but little dearer 10 him
than his horse, perform all the drudgery. He fol-
lows the chase, he smokes his pipe, he eats and
sleeps and thus passing his time, in his own esti.
nation he Is the most lordly and independent OF
sOy6reigns.
Such are some Of the characteristics Of the prairie
Indians and cannot dismiss the subject without
iemarking that. in addition 10 the physical simtade
between tie deserts Of Arabia and the steppes Of
central Asia to the elevated prairie mesas Of our own
country, striking resemblance alse exists between
their respective inhabitants. 4 The Arabs Of the
desert the Tartar tribes, anal the aboriginal occu-
pants Of the fraires alike wanderers having no
permanent abiding places still living in their travel
ling looges, aud where these are pit he'd making
Their homes. They acknowledge no other rule than
tie ratrarcha aud no other alliance but that Of FRA.
tenity, and they arc allie insensblc 70 the wants
and comforts Of civilization. Tlcy know neither
poverty nor II hes vice nor virtue and they al Ike
exempt from the deporsble ycissitades Of fortune.
Theirs i happy state Of equality, which knows not
tic pCnloxit.cs Of ambition nor the crimes ~ ava
rice. They never cultivate the SOIL but subsis alto
gcihcr On game, plunder and pillage. They are the
most expert IOYremcn In tie world, and cherish the
same fond attachment for tho animal.
III thorpOltica end domestic relations there J. al-o
similarity. They are governed by chiefs. wi0-e
Office j hereditary 30 long tLeir administration
meets the rotation Of their followers. Toe chief
lCads Thorn u war and pre- des II theii deliberations
in c0uGc hUt I'll rid he G~race him eli by any act
81 coN4rdlte q aladml tration, they DO not hesi
Z. a. T.