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

20 large uumbcs az men, Il sacrificed 70 furnish
''bo~ t1seis" Tor The rich ericure. THIS Wholesale
slaughter on the part az the white man, with the
number consumed by the Indians. who are constantly
ON their trail. migrating with tbein ~ regularly ~
TIE season come round, with the rayehoCs wolves
that arr alwa-x at hand 70 destroy one 81 them II
wounded. gives the poor bsass but little ret pros
pect a permanent existence. u h only eight years
Stree the western borders 81 Texas aboundcd with
buAloce; bit they seldom so south OF Red river
aud their range upon the east and west has also very
much coutuctcd within the same time % that they
are nj present confined a. a narrow belt q country
between the outer settlements and the base OF the
Rocky Mountains. With this rapid dirninusion in
their numbers. they must "a the course OF q very
few years, become cxterminaied.
What will then become OF the prairie Indian who,
~ have already remarked relies for subsistence,
shelter and clothing. on the tcsh and hide OF this
animalr He must either perish with them, increase
his marauding depredaions on The Mexicans, or
learn 70 cultivate the SOIL
As the hrst law Of our nature y solfprcseryation,
IL il not probable that he win sit down and quietly
bmit Ia starvation; he must therefore, resort 70 one
oithe latter Alternatives but he has no knowledge
Of agriculture, considers II the business Of slave,
and very much beneath the dignity OF warrior, IL
appears reasonable that he viii turn his attention to
the Mexicans, over whom he has held the mastery
for many years Heretofore his plumber Of them
has been for pastime and for glory; but when
Of subsistence, wo 10 the poor Mexican.
1t will he necessary to devise some measures to do
away with the inveterate prcjudices which the Ca
manches entertain against the habits and customs Of
the whites, before they viii be induced TO remain In
any fixed abodes or cultivate the soil.
In common with most other lnaians, they are very
superstitous they believe in dreams, the wearing OF
amulets, medicine bags, &C., and the dedication OF
also in the efficacy Of music and dancing for the
cure of diseases
They submit with imperturbable stOcism and apa.
thy to msfortunes of the most serious character and
On HIN
curiosity at the exhibition Of astounding novelties;
yet this apparent indifference is assumed, and they
are in reality, very innquisitive people.
In every village may be seen small structures, con-
sisting of framework OF slight poles, bent into o
semsphercal form, and covered with buffalo hides.
These are called medicine lodges and are used as
vapor baths. The patient is seated within the lodge,
beside several heated stcnes upon which water Is
thrown, producing a dense hot vapor, which brings
on profuse perspiration, while at the same time
the Shamans, or medicine men, who profess TO have
the power OF communicating with the unseen world,
and Of propitatng the malevolcncc of evil spirits.
are performing various nominations panied by
music on the outside. Such means are resorted TO
for healing all diseases; and also informed that
Their young men are obliged to undergo regular
coure Of steam bathing before they are considered
worthy OF assuming the responsible duties Of
warriors.
The knowledge they possess of their early history
Is very vague and limited, and does not extend fur
Their back than few generations They say that
their oretathers lived precisely as they do and fol-
lowed the buffalo; that they came from country
towards the setting sum- to which they expect to re-
turn 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 orgi
nally in the sun, which they worship and appeal to
on all occasions OF moment. They also anticipate q
future state Of existence similar to the present and
invariably bury with the warrior his hunting and
war equipments
Thus far, no efforts have ever been made to i'm
prove the moral or physical condition Of the people
No missionaries have, to my knowledge, visited
them, and they have no more idea Of Christianity
than they have Of the religion of Mahomet. We find
dwelling almost at our doors as barbarous and hea-
thenish exists the face Of the earth; and
while our benevolent and philanthropc citizens are
making such. efforts to ameliorate the condition of
savages on other continents, should we not do
thing for the benefit Of these wild men Of the
prairies?
These dingy noblemen Of nature original pro-
prietors OF all that vast domain included between the
shores of the Atlantic and Pacifc-haye been de-
spoiled, supplanted and robbed of their just and le
climate heritage, by the avaricious and rapid
encroachments Of the white man. Numerous and
powerful nations have already become exterminated
by nnjustiiable wars that he has waged with them,
and by the effects of the vices he has introduced and
nculcated; and Of those that remain but few can be
found who are net contain mated by the pernicious
influences OF unprncipled and designing adyen-
turers.
for all the injustice inflicted upon the red man. but
it seems to me that wise policy would dictate al
most the only recompense it is now possible to
make. that OF introducing among them the lights OF
Christianity and the blessings of civilization, with
their attendant benefits Of agriculture and the arts.
The thanks Of the society were unanimously voted
to Captain Marcy, by the society, for his paper,
which was highly complimented by Mr.. Bancroft,
Mr.. Leavitt, and other gentlemen of the society.