OCR Text |
Show NOTE ON THE COMANCHES. 491 are the Comanches. 38 In Tejas ( qu: in Taos?) have they said that they come from afar, and that they set forth from a great river; wherefore would it be fitting that before undertaking any expedition, peace should be effected with them, when they come for the sale of their antelope skins. For the effectiveness of this expedition I consider necessary at least 80 men, well-armed and well- disciplined, with whom may go two priests; that there be taken the wherewithal to regale the Indians, and for barter awls and other trifles ( bugerias), together with red ribbons ( encarnados lis tones), for I have noticed that this is the color which best suits them; not permitting the very least { mas tninitno) misbehavior on the part of any one of the company; and that the trade with the Indians by barter be in the presence of the chief, 8* so that there may be no " A tribe of the Shoshonean stock, occupying the southern plains region, especially of Texas and Indian Territory within historic times ( since about 1700), but there is good traditionary evidence that previously their habitat was more generally confined to the north and northwest. They call themselves N* em or Ntme, are the Padoucas of the early French, and the Aliatans, Iatans, Ietans, etc., of other writers. Their popular designation, Comanche, is believed to be of Mexican origin. They are now gathered on the Kiowa and Comanche reservation in Oklahoma, where they numbered 1,526 in 1897. They were formerly regarded as one of the most warlike tribes of the plains, their raids extending far into the north and southward as far as Du-rango, Mexico.- F. W. H. * Gefe- the first instance of the use of this term in our MS. |