The National tribune., 1898-08-11

A light gray column of dust was rising.
the cause of which WE were at no loss
to decipher. We must hasten away or our
scalps might soon grace the lodge of the
COmanche, as compensation for the
losses they had that day sustained.
We rode rapidly ina southeasterly di-
elevation which might be denominated
either a high hill Oria Small mountain,
near which was dense thicket. Reach
ing this, Casa Maria again sounded the
whistle, the tones at first being soft and
plaintive, but afterward gradually deep
ening like the screaming of frightened
bird. 1t was instantly answered from the
thicket, when we galloped up, and saw
Indians-friends-ris up, like Rhoderic
Dhu's clansmen, and greet us.
we lay down to sleep supperless, and
by daylight in the morning were off again
for the agency, at which we arrived with
out accident; and here for the first time
| discovered that half dozen of the
Caddoes were wounded, some of them
severely. l remained here only long
enough to enable my horse to recruit a
little, when l left for Radziminski, to de-
liver the chiefs report to the Colonel
On the following morning l started
back again to the agency, bearing mes
sage from the Colonel to Placido, who
was then at that point. On arriving at
the Ionchue village, | found everything in
state of deep excitement. party of
wild Indians had invaded their territory
with view to stealing their horses, but
being discovered in time, the intruders
were driven off before they had accom-
plished anything.
INDIAN CANNIBALIsM.
| A party was just starting in pursuit,
and desiring to see the fun, | secured a
fresh horse and started with it at full
| speed. We chased the fucitiyes some Is
| ,ar 4
ches and two Kiowas, all of whom were
| killed and scalped.
| The bodies of the slain were carried
back by the victorious Tonchues. who
made feast upon them. This may seem
| strange to one unaccustomed to the man
ners of this and other Southwestern tribes.
but, shocking as it is, the custom OF eat
| ing their enemies slain in battle is almost
| universal among them.
AT hrSt tried to avoid seeing the dis
| gushing spectacle; but when the Indians
| saw this, they insisted on my presence
| During the cooking, grand war dance
| was progressing, at which all the achieve
| mentS OF the tribe from the beginning of
time were duly paraded and expatiated
| upon by lmprOvised song set to an I'M
earthiy music, timed by monOtOnous
tap, tap, tap, on a little deerskin drum.
| "A pole was erected and the scalps dis
played upon it, when the grand scalp
| dance was commenced. At first, only the
warriors who had taken one of these
| trophies Joined in the ceremony, but after
wa, Waiu tne old men fell in, and gradually
the crowd increased until the entire tribe,
| save the women, were whirling in circles
| around the Scalp-pole
Ihat portion Of the flesh which was not
| eaten on the ground was given out and
taken to the various lodges for future use
any d,i W DC SET before visitors as choice
dehcacy AS was sitting beneath the
shade OF mesquit tree three or four
venerable heads of the village came to me
bearing two large pieces of the meat,
Wnich appeared to have been cut from the
thlgh' ana offered them 70 me to eat. The
unearthIy, graveyard smell; and.this, with
the sight, sickened me. | refused the
protiered delicacy politely, but firmly,
seeing which, Tocasan, a war chief. and
several others of the principal men who
had been in the chase, gathered about
hah-ut,' which was the name they gave
me; 1T VIII make you mighty much
brave; mighty much BRAVE"
seeing tnat something must be done, !
tod them l wanted to 20 to a house near
the agency, where iieouu get some bread
was out OF their sight than | buried it,
ana returned to their dance, which was
eaely moment getting more and more
They had managed, by some means. to
secure supply OF whisky. and their wells
and screams, beside other frightfuI moi Sc S,
together with their frantic gestures, made
them appear more like demons than
human beings.
In the midst of their excitement | left
them LOT the night, and on my return in
the morning, found the whole population
completely exhausted, stupid, and almost
torpid. During the day, however, they
sobered Off, and on the following morning
were ready to Join us in a grand circle
hunt for wild horses.
ITO be continually