History of the Indians, of North and South AmericaGoodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
History
History of the Indians, of North and South America
Goodrich, Samuel G. (Samuel Griswold)
Indians of North America -- History; Indians of South America -- History
Close by the Pawnee Picts are the Kioways, who are described as being
a fine looking race of men, very tall, some of them being seven feet
high, and having a Roman outline of head. They are decidedly distinct
from the Pawnee Picts and the Camanches, and also differ from them in
language and customs.
The Camanches are supposed to be at least twenty thousand strong.
Catlin even estimates them as high as thirty or forty thousand, and
says they are able to show some six or seven thousand warriors, well
mounted and well armed. They are a very warlike tribe, traversing the
immense space of country extending far north and south, and east and
west, from the Red River to the Pacific Ocean. They were long the
dreaded enemy of the Spaniards, as they now are of the Mexicans, on
whom they make frequent incursions, and bear off prisoners, especially
female children, whom they adopt and marry. About sixty years ago,
the daughter of the governor-general of Chihuahua was stolen by them.
The father, by an agent, some weeks after, was allowed to ransom her.
But she refused to return to her parents, and sent them word that
the Indians had tattooed her face, and given her to be the wife of a
young man of their tribe; that her husband treated her well, and had
reconciled her to his mode of life. In her present circumstances,
therefore, she preferred remaining where she was. She continued in the
nation, and raised a family of children.
The Camanches have fought many a bloody battle with their enemies,
and have always succeeded in preserving their independence. They
particularly excel in catching and taming for use the wild horses of
the plains, and form a terrible cavalry in war, particularly as they
are able, in a moment, to throw themselves over to the opposite side of
the horse, so as to be screened from their enemy, while they can shoot
their arrows, either over or under the horse’s neck, with such force as
to pierce through a buffalo. They also carry, in war, a shield, and
a lance of fourteen feet in length, which they use with great effect.
Numerous instances of their intrepidity are on record. The following
incident is related by Farnham in his travels. About the middle of
June, 1839, a band of fifty or sixty crossed the river in the night,
and concealed themselves near where the animals of the establishment
were feeding during the day. As they concealed themselves in the
bushes, they were not perceived by the Mexican horse-guard, who, after
having driven out his charge within reach of the guns of the fort, took
his station, as usual, beyond them, holding his horse by a long rope,
and suffering him to graze around him. While here on duty, the Indians
suddenly rose, and ran towards the animals with horrible yells, seeking
to drive them across the river. “The guard, however, nothing daunted,
mounted quickly, and drove his horse at full speed among them. The
mules and horses, hearing his voice amidst the frightening yells of the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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