The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29
lNKLINGS FROM THE FRONTIER;
LIFE ~ THE PLAINS AND ADVENTURES IN
THE TENTED FIELD

THE TENTED FIELD
CAMP ON BEUNA VISTA PLAIN.
To the Editor fhe National Era:
But before speaking of these Indians, or de.
scribing the picturesque landscape scenery of
this beautiful plain and its charming envirous,
| must say something of the fine country over
which ''e travelled, coming here from Cyots
creek.
pioneer party were sent out to prepare
road Their first work was to cut passage
down the steep red banks of the Washita, and
up agail on the other side, where we had the
river to ford. When over the river, our course
lay down the south side, over a rich bottom of
alluvial soil, and across several fine wood belted
creeks running down from the mountains.
Over two of those streams the pioneers had
to build bridges before the column could pro-.
coed. After travelling down the river bottom
for several hours, we turned to the right, and
assembled to the high table-lands by a gradual
slope. From the point of view now obtained,
We had grand and imposing landscape in
sight.
AS | rode along, took great pleasure in no.
ticing how Nature seems to have exerted her
self in forming lovely sites for rural retreats
and charming country villas. Man has here
only to avail himself of the hints and kind offers
of Nature, to make this valley blooming para
disc, far surprising Italy, or any other spot on
earth, in all that is quiet and beautiful. Here
he will find every natural advantage, lovely
wales, deils, lawns, parks, gently-sloping hills,
terraced hillsides, smiling little prairies, and
charming sylvan haunts, all of Natures own
fashionirg, and wanting but little decoration
from ar: And to make human happiness
complete, numerous springs of pure cold water
gush our at convenient distances, fine trout
streams go purling along, thousands of gay birds
Ait hithet and -thither, and gladden. the day with
their merry songs, thousands Of sweet-scented
flowers GIT the air with fragrance; pure, health
full, invigorating atmosphere supplies the lungs
with fresh oxygen; bright, blue, unclouded sky,
and mild, salubrious climate, not unlike that
of Southern Italy.
How long must this fine country, with all its
loneliness, lie undisturbed in its native solitude,
before civilization is permitted to make its i'm
press upon it?
After tsaveling a few miles on the highlands
we camein sight of an extensive Indian en-
campmeia, lying far off to our left in a beauti-
full valley plain. Heading off several deep ra-
vines, we turned to the left and went down near
the camrt where we pitched our tents.
Buena Vista Plain is truly beautiful view
| Its lengsf from north to south is about six
| miles, willie its greatest width is about three
| and hale miles. The surface of the plain is
perfectly fevel, varied only by three brooklets
of clear, fresh water, which start from springs
| in the hillside, and meander their course across
| to the river. On one side it is environed by
majestic, crescent shaped forest, betting the
Washita, while crescent Of terraced hills rises
from the ,ther side, and continue their upward
slope until they reach the Wichita mountains.
The Indian lodges and wigwams are pitched
along the margin of the forest, extending in a
line for niles. Our camp is located on the first
terrace th Il rises above the plain. All the sur
| roundings'are picturesque in the highest degree.
This Indian encampment is composed of the
| remnants and fragments of several tribes COM
prising the Caddos, Camanches, Delawares
| Shawnees, Tonkawas, Wacos, and Wichitas-
and among them, wandering representatives
of ancient tribes, now extinct as organized
clans, thoroughly Indianized negroes and mu-
| lattoes.
| They have but Just taken the first step to-
wards civilization, yet they evince willingness
sible. They have placed themselves under the
care and direction of an Indian agent, and
are at present dependent almost solely upon
| Government for their food and clothing. At
this time, they are all in one encampment,
having but recently removed from their old re-
serve in Texas But by winter this section Of
country may be apportioned off for them, and
each tribe established on the respective share
| allotted to it. i have not learned exactly
| how large these reservations districts are to
| be- but / believe from ten to twenty miles
square, according to the size of the tribe.
The young and more enthusiastic portion of
highly elated with the idea that they are to be-
come stockraising and agricultural people
| And it is to be hoped that they will not be
disappointed - that Government will supply
them with efficient agents, missionaries, and
| instructors, good schools, manual labor farms,
mechanical workshops and all other requisites
| for tanning their wild natures, cuturing their
untutored minds, and bringing them into the
| folds of religion and civilization.
| The population of this encampment is quite
numerous, comprising near three thousand In
dams, probably over two thousand ponies, about
fifteen hundred head of horned cattle, (beeves
belonging to Government two or three thou
sand dogs and CATS and numerous pig,odmhOld
pigs and sheep. The yelling, singing, and
dancing of the Indians the laughing, crying,
and frolickng of their little ones the neighing,
careering, and prancing of the ponies the low
| ing and believing of the cattle; the barking
and playing, squalling and frisking, Of the dogs
and cats; the squealing of the pigs, and the
bleating of the lambs, all together, furnish a
striking contrast to the quiet scenes of solitude
we have left behind and give grand exhibit
ton of busting life and intense animation.
| An old Indian told me that it was the de-
termination of his people, the Tonkawas, to
adopt the white peoples mode of life. after
wards had an interesting conversation with q
merry group of dusky boys and girls, who were
| very enthusiastic in their anticipations of the
future. They told what pretty houses and fine
farms they are going to have-how they are
going TO raise horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs,
and all sorts of domestic fowls what fine wheat,
corn, pumpkins, and melons, they intend to
grow. 1t was really a rich treat to hear these
little folk run on and tell their hopes, aims,
and ambition, in their broken English, SO Curl
ously mixed up with Spanish. And hope
! some day to visit them, when their brightest
hopes are realized.
At night time, when all nature is in repose,
these Indians steal forth from their quiet wig
vans to enjoy social sports, and indulge in
| conviyia psstimes, And, on the sweet scented