PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR 193 delightful and healthy summer retreat-an_d secondly you might have obtained some practical knowledge of the character and habits of the Comanche Indians and of the peculiarly exposed condition of this frontier that would have been essentially useful in your approaching administration of the Government. Of your election there appears to be no 6oubt even on the part of your opponents- The people of this section are looking to you as as [sic] their only hope both as regards the title to their lands and protection against the Indians. The latter are exceedingly annoying so much so indeed as almost entirely to suspend the surveying-There is not perhaps any great hazard of life where three or four are together as the policy of the Indians is never to attack where there is danger. Thero object is plunder and they seek it by stratagem not by arms-They are scattered all about the country and whenever a party of Ameri- cans or Mexicans goes out if they do not keep strict watch their horses are stolen-occasionally one killed-If a party goes out after them the pursuit is fruitless as the Indians are better mounted and by their knowledge of the country escape with their plunder-noth- ing has been recovered from them in a single instance since I have been here-Between Indians and :Mexicans it is almost impossible to keep a horse. The latter I believe are almost as great a pest as the Indians-They come in from the Rio Grande trading bringing in a drove bf horses and mules-They sell out and buy what mer- chandise they want and steal all the good horses they can lay their hands on to carry back with them. In most instances the Indians bear the blame. There is at present a constant communication between the Mexicans on the Rio Grande and this place-It is encouraged on account of the trade but the policy appears to me exceedingly doubtful-for they steal almost as many horses as they bring in-It appears to me general that it would not be difficult to protect this frontier-I ·believe that the frontier from the Guada- loupe to the Rio Grande might be efficiently protected by from two to five hundred men well appointed and stationed in parties of 50 to a hundred at the different passes thro the mountains. I think 50 well provided and weU mounted men would be sufficient except on the Nueces which perhaps should be stronger-T'hese me[n] could very nearly support themselves so that the expense would not be great and the benefits incalculable-If this section is protected from the Indians emigration will flow in so rapidly that it will very soon be able to protect itself against all enemies-It is certainly the finest region of Texas below the mountains-To you the people a[re] looking anxiously for aid-I am sure they will not be disappointed- -With much respect I remain yours truly Wm McCraven
[Endorsed]
[Addressed] Gen. l\L B. Lamar Houston Texas Favour of Col S. M. Luckie
·wm M'cCraven San Antonio 29 Sept 1838 on Protection of frontier &c &c·
13-Llbrary.
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