Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. II

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1844-1845

407

Department. we left the seat of Government on the 29th ult and proceeded directly to this place, for the purpose of holding a council and making treaties with the various tribes of Ind'ians who should meet us at this place for that purpose agreeably to previous appointments. On our arrival we found no Indians on the ground. They were however, reported to be, in the neighbor- hood in considerable numbers. They were very slow in coming in. They commenced coming in about the 10th Inst. by the 13th the Chiefs of Waco, Tawakoni, Keechi and Wichita, together with a number of their warriors, women and children, were upon the ground on that day we went into council with the chiefs of the tribes above mentioned. The wheather becoming very incliment, we did not finish the Council until the 16th Inst. On that day, the treaty, a copy of which we have the honor here- with to inclose, was signed, by the commissioners on the part of Texas and the chiefs, of the tribes above mentioned. Entire harmony prevailed amongest all par- ties during the whole council, The Indians manifested the best disposition towards the white people, and although we felt it necessary to rebuke them somewhat sharply, on account of depredations committed on our western frontier in violation of treaties heretofore made with the white people, They bore it without complaining and acknowledged its justice. and more- over promised in future to use greater endeavours to restrain the bad men of their respective tribes. They further promised to deliver up to any agent which we might think proper to send for them, all the stolen horses now in their possession, and also the white youth named Parker which the Keechi have as pris- oner. For this purpose the superintendent dispatched one of the agents and interpreter and a sufficient number of men, to accompany them to this villages. The inclosed paper marked B contains a list of presents handed over to us by the superintendent and which we distributed amongst them according to the numbers of their respective tribes. They departed this morning not only well pleased, but apparently much gratified with the talk they had heard, and the treatment they had received, and with many professions of their determination to preserve inviolate the peace between the white and the Red man in all time to come.

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