The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-18

two branches speak nearly identically the
same language, being able to- converse
with each other fuently-an uncommon
thing among savages, after a few years of
is ever refined, that of the Pawnee and
Wichita must be; at least, it is smooth,
soft, and very musical.
In this region game is exceedingly
plenty-bear, otter, wolves, deer, turkey,
ETC.; and, in addition, poisonous serpents
are numerous and large. These last
named are great seekers after comfort ,
and are ever hunting out a good bed To
rest IN. It Is no uncommon thing to find
them IN the morning in possession OF your
best blanket, and sometimes your rather
too intimate bed-fellow. AS for tarantulas
and centipedeS-they are innumerabl~;
but they seldom do any harm.
The Indians never kill the tarantula:
but when 1t is found in camp, they carry
Il away with great care, and let it loose.
ii urged To destroy one OF them they
refuse, on the ground that if one is killed
IT'S companions will revenge its death by
biting somebody's horse. The centipede
would soon become so numerous that life
would not be safe in Texas If it were not
Tor another species of reptile, the lizard -
their active and deadly enemy | have
seen one Of these animals attack cent?
pede as large as itself, kill it and carry it
to the top of tree, and there devour it at
leisure.
A WHITE sQUAw.
On one OF our fOrays toward the head
waters OF the Colorado we killed a white
woman, and captured another with her
cnild. They were in an Indian village.
upon which we charged with great sud
denness and violence; and though a DOR
ton OF the inhabitants made their cscape.
all who remained were killed, including
this woman. On seeing US she turned
the horse on which she was mounted.
threw her buffalo robe around her. and
covering her head, shouted, "Americanol
Americana But the men did not know
her sex, nor understand her words. and in
moment she fell, riddled with bullets
Inc Whlte woman who was fortunate
enough I'd be captured was taken down to
the settlements, where she was identified
as niece OF Capt. Parker, an old frontiers
man, who was among the earliest pioneers
in that region; having built himself fort
which is still known by his name. He
was attacked one night, when this
woman was girl of nine years of age,
and the whole family, except the Captain
and one or two others, supposed to have
been killed. His wife was brutalIy muir
dered IN the presence Of her children.
There were several families in the fort at
the time, and but few OF the entire
number assembled escaped. The chill
dren had all been taken out on the trail a
short distance, and, except this one, muir
dered.
Although she could distinctly recollect
all the details of the affair, and the form
and features of her mother, she had
enirely forgotten her native tongue. and
we could only communicate with her
through an interpreter. She happened to
have her youngest child with her. at the
time OF her capture, which had been
named To-ca san, for one of the war
chiefs of the tribe. 1t was about three
years old, and violent in it's disposition
as catamount.
She informed us that she had one son.
who was a good warrior, and also another
boy and girl. She informed us that she
had never seen white person over nine
years old allowed to live, and that she
had been spectator on numerous occa-
sions when they had been put to death:
and that II was uncommon 10 allow even
child TO escape with its life. Their
prisoners" she continued, ARE tortured,
and then killed and eaten"
ANOTHER CAMPAIGN.
On the 18th Of August we left Radzi-
mlnski finally. All the men who had
lost their horses, or whose animals were
unht Tor service, were sent back to Fort
Belknap, with quarter rations, but with
sufficient ammunition to enable them TO
subsist of the country. After sending
away these, Col. Johnston found himself
with barely ITO men; and it was with this
small force that he proposed to invade the
Indian country, and teach the savages 10
respect the property and power of the
white man.
The friendly Indians regarded this de-
: termination as the freak of a mailman,
, and the chiefs waited upon him in a body
in order 70 induce him to desist from his
! undertaking. They represented to hin