Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-16

Dy
Indians, who constantly their trail, migrating with
them regularly the round, with the
ravenous wolves that always at hand TO destroy one
OF them wounded gives the poor beast but little rest
or prospect Of permanent existence Ii only eight
since the western borders Of Texas abounded with buff
iaoes but now they seldom go south of Red river, and
their range upon the and west has also very much
contracted within the time, that they are at
present eonhned TO belt of country between the
outer settlements and the base Of the Rocky Mountains
With this rapid dimnution in their numbers, they must
In the course OF a very few years, become extinct
what VIII then become Of the prairie Indian, who as
nave already remarked relies for subsistence shelter
and clothing the flesh and hide Of this animal He
must either perish with them increase his marauding de-
predaons the Mexicans learn to cultivate the soil
As the first law of nature IS sefpreservation it is
not probable that he will sit down and quietly submit
starvation lie therefore resort to one of the latter
alternatives but, as he has knowledge of agriculture
considers it the business of slave, and very much be-
meath the dignity of warrior il appears reasonable that
he will his attention the Mexicans over whom he
has held the mastery for many years Heretofore his
plumber Of them has been for pastme and for glory but
when he is obliged to resort TO this Of subsis
ence, wo 10 the poor Mexican. Ii will be necessary
devise to DO away with the nveterae pre-
JUDGES which the Camanches entertain against the habits
and customs Of the whites before they will be induced
remain in any fixed abodes cultivate the soil.
In common with most other Indians they very
persttous. They believe in dreams, the wearing of
let's medicine bags &c. and the dedication Of offerings
secure the favor OF invisible agents also in the efficacy
They submit with mperturbable stoicsm and apathy
mforune of the serious character and in the pre-
sence Of strangers manifest surprise curiosity at
the exhibition Of astounding novelties yet this apparent
indifference is assumed and they in reality very in
| quisitiye people
In every village may be small structures consist
ing of framework of slight poles, bent into semi
spherical FORM and covered with buffalo hides These
are called medicine lodges, and used vapor baths
The patient is seated within the lodge beside severa
heated stones upon which water thrown, producing
dense hot vapor which brings profuse perspration
while at the sametime the Shamans medicine who
profess TO have the power of communicating with the
unseen world and of propating the malevoence of evil
spirits performing various ncantaons accompanied
by music on the outside Such means resorted to
for healing all Diseases and am also informed that their
young men are obliged to undergo regular course of
bathing before they considered worthy Of
Stunning the responsible duties Of warriors.
The knowledge they possess of their early history is
very vague and limited and does extend further back
than few generations They say that their forefahers
lived precisely they do and followed the buffalo that
they came from country towards the setting of the sun
| to which they expect to return after death
! They acknowledge the existence and power Of great
supernatural agent who directs and controls all things
but this power they conceive to be originally in the sun
which they worship, and appeal to all occasions Of
moment They also anticipate future state of existence
similar to the present and invariably bury with the
warrior his hunting and war equipments
Thus far efforts have been made to improve the
moral or physical condition of the people No mission
have idea of Christianity than they have of the
religion of Mahomet We find dwelling almost at on,
doors barbarous and heathensh exists the
face Of the earth and while benevolent and philan
hropc citizens making such efforts ameliorate the
condition o. sayages other continents should not
do something for the benefit of these wild Of the
prairies
These dingy nobemen of nature-the original proprie
tors of all that domain included between the shores
of the Atlantic and Paci6chaye been despoiled sup
planted and robbed of their just and legitimate heritage
by the avarciou and rapid encroachments Of the white
Numerous and powerful nations have already be
come extermnated by unjustfabe wars that he has
waged with them and by the effects Of the vices he has
introduced and ncucated and of those that remain but
few be found who contaminated by the per-
nicous influences Of unprinepled and designing adyen
I turers
1t is at this late day. in power to atone for all
the injustice inflicted upon the red but il seems e
me that wire policy would dictate almost the only
compense il is possible to make that of introducing
among them the lights Of Christianity and the blessings
Of civilization with their attendant benefits Of agricul
ture and the arts.
THE thanks OF the society unanimously voted t
Captain NANCY for his paper, which was highly eompi
mented BY Mr. BANCROFT, Mr.. LEAvIrT, and other gen
5 tlemen of the sOciety.l