[216] This custom was perhaps once quite extensive. It prevails among the Creeks to the present day, and was anciently practised by other southern nations; and "Among the Miamis," says Father Charlevoix, "the Husband has a right to cut off his wife's nose if she runs away from him."--GREGG. [217] The Comanches employ usually short-handled javelins or lances, declaring, like the Spartan mother, that cowards only need long weapons.--GREGG. [218] The Comanche had been hostile to the Spanish in Texas, preventing its settlement, and about 1757 destroying the mission of San Saba. In 1785 the troops were obliged to retire into the Alamo at San Antonio, in order to be secured from their raids. The Texans were at first friendly with the Comanche; but in 1832 a Mexican deputation visited the border tribes, and incited them against the Texans. Open war broke out in 1837, and several battles were fought. In February, 1840, twelve chiefs with a numerous retinue came to San Antonio to make peace. Refusing to deliver up their white captives, troops were set upon them, and in the ensuing mêlée all the chiefs and twenty other Indians were killed. The Comanche retired to plan revenge. Early in August, they advanced, avoiding Austin and San Antonio, and fell upon the town of Victoria. The inhabitants resisting, about fifteen of them were killed. When the Indians reached Linnville, a village of only five houses, its inhabitants fled to a ship in the bay, whereupon the hamlet was destroyed. A pursuing party under General Felix Houston defeated the natives, and recovered the white prisoners. In September, an expedition headed by Colonel John Moore attained the Comanche village high up on the Colorado River, and severely chastised them, killing one hundred and twenty-eight, and capturing thirty-two. After this the Comanche avoided the Texans for some years.--ED. [219] For the Arapaho, consult James's _Long's Expedition_, our volume xv, p. 157, note 48. A brief notice of the Cheyenne is in our volume v, p. 140, note 88.--ED. [220] Most of the plains Indians had superstitions regarding the buffalo. Consult on this subject, James O. Dorsey, "Study of Siouan Cults," in U. S. Bureau of Ethnology _Reports_, 1889-90, pp. 361-544; George A. Dorsey, _Traditions of the Skidi Pawnee_ (Boston and New York, 1904).--ED. GLOSSARY [Pg353] CONTAINING SUCH SPANISH OR HISPANO-MEXICAN WORDS AS OCCUR UNDEFINED IN THIS WORK, OR RECUR WITHOUT DEFINITION AFTER HAVING BEEN ONCE TRANSLATED. _A_, _al_, to, to the. _Abajo_, down, under, below. _Acequia_, ditch, canal. _Adelantado_, governor of a province. _A dios_, adieu, farewell. _Administrador de Rentas_, a custom-house officer. _Adobe_, a sort of unburnt brick. _Afuera_, without, abroad. _Aguador_, water-carrier. _Aguardiente_, brandy. _Alacran_, scorpion. _Alameda_, public walk, with rows of trees, usually the _álamo_. _Alamo_ (in Mexico), cotton-wood.