The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-11-27
TRAITS OF INDIAN CHARACTER.

lHauuNi h"o ohly uutIolltlt "h,'
ceases with the campaign in Others, the nc-
knowledged chief takas the lead 1t is not
unusual for party to remain absent while op-
Grating in Mexico, for the space OF twelve
months.
A young warrior will make any sort of
sacrifice to equip aud mount himself for an eN-
petition The officer second in command al
ways places himself at the head of the column
the superior officer is in the extreme rear,
superintends movements rectllies errors, and
is presumed to be in a position to have every
thing under his immediate inspection. A front
guard usually precedes the main body from a
quarter of mile to two miles in advance They
keep q strict look. .out-ride to the top of emf
nences-scan the surrouning country in every
direction. When an enemy is supposed to be
near, they approach the apex of n hill with very
great caution. They will ground carrying be-
fore their faces bunch of green branches or
grass, TO prevent suspicion, if discovered I'm
less to one well acquainl ed with Indian coutr-
vances, the disappearance or moving of u bunch
Of leaves would be attributed to the agency of
the wind
Discoveries made by the vanguard are speed
| lily communicated 10 the officer in command
There is a rear guard, whose duty it is to pre-
vent surprise in that direction. Flankcrs are
often thrown out. When large body is mo-
wing, upon approXimatng point Of danger,
p!ckcts are sent out in every direction, which
operate on more extended scale than the
aforementioned guards.
There is place of rendezvous appointed at
which everything in relation to the expedition
is concluded upon. For instance, if foray
upon the country adjacent to Laredo is con
tcmplated, time, manner, and second place of
rendezvous are arranged. Formerly they used
to make the Balces the point where they
would send out scouts, to ascertain the cond-
ton OF the conntry-the presence of troops
upon the information thus acquired they would
act. Sometimes they would move down in a
body, fall upon the ranches boldly in the day
time, kill, plunder, and carry off women and
children prisoners; at Others, when secure from
danger, they would divide into two squads,
and make II simultaneous attempt upon differ
cnt ranches. After having made prisoners.
collected horses and other booty, they would,
if unpursued, remove te the Balces, and re-
main in camp several days, recruiting animals,
ieasting and preparing for quick march TO
their own camp. If another party should be
still behind, they leave signs, designating all
they wish them to know
A small branch supported BY little heap
Of rocks. is inclined TO the direction they will
move. The grass is removed from the earth,
line drawn, number of marks made on each
side TO represent the number Of men and horses
in the party. They have a species of hero
gyphic and symbolic characters they use in
conveying ideas. When they wish to inform
their friends of the death Of warrior, it isl
done by drawing an indian without head; ifI
wounded only, the figure is complete, with a
streak Of red at the part wounded Upon a
tree on the Nucces, about some thirty or forty
miles above the Laredo and San Antonio eros
sing, at place known as the Comanchc eros
sing. are number of these synsbocal repre-
sentations. One of them is descriptive of n
combat between a Comanchc with lance and
and Mexican with sword The sword is
miserably deficient in length The rough pain
ting contains rather ludcrous idea Of the
matter, cyircng very clearly the contempt
in which the Indians hold Mexican prowess,
and the almost inevitable conclusion that the
fight resulted in the Don's overthrow and
death.
The full Of the moon is the time they are
usually looked for. The rays of this lnninary
afford til EN- the means of discovering animals,
and Of travelling during the night. In the
event of being pursued, Immediately after the
preparation of dcpredations, the Comanchcs
move day and night, very often not breaking
gallop, except to change horses, which they
do several times and to water the coballad0, |
until they deem themselves safe. Under these
circumstances they will travel at least seventy
miles day which is long distance, with the
encumbrancc Of loose animals.
A party of warriors, dressed in their trap
pings -cmbellishcd shields-fancy moccasins
long pigtails bedccked with silyer-shoulder
belts worked with beads and adorned with
shells-fine leggings- ornamented cases for
bows and arrows, mounted upon spirited horses
singing Il war song, and sweeping over pra
riv, is a beautiful spectacle to a man with pcn-
ty Of brave fellows to back him Their motions
are easy and graceful. They sit on horse
admirably and manage one with master hand.
Charge them and they will retreat from you
with double your numbers but beware, keep
your men together--wel in hand--wth at least
half their arms loaded, or else you will find
when it is too late, Il flying Comancle well
knoWc thn nnl- ot tiOa turn al,