TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1844-1845
42
Houston has said the paths were all white; they are so still, I am glad and my people are glad at the straight talk we have heard and I have given you a straight talk too." Talk of Red Bear tke Caddo Speaker. "I am going to talk a little; like as before, the same way as when I met Col. Williams and others on Red River; then I lived at the Tawehash village and at that time the Delaware and my- self talked little with the white people and made few friends; now we talk much with the white people and make many friends. because we are men that spill blood from none, but are for making peace with all. I do not like to see guns firing and blood spilled, for I am a friend of peace. I am one of the oldest oj my tribe. all the red men and all of my other brothers know me well: they know I want to travel on in the white road. I like peace; my hands are clean and I like to see others the same. Now I see so many different nations here in friendship I like it for it looks like peace. I am glad to meet my white brothers here, I am glad to hear their talk; it is good, and makes me, an old man, feel glad. I want we should all live together as broth- ers, eat out of the same dish, drink from the same cup, smoke the same pipe. that will be good and I shall be glad to see it. Our young men here must not go to war, but kill game and make money, not steal and murder. I live upon the Brazos: Jose Maria the Anadarko chief is my neighbour. when our brothers steal horses and take them through our towns the whites blame us for it. Some Caddo, Joni, Anadarko live with the Tawehash. I saw nine going to war and told them to turn back, yet they went on; if red captains talk of peace and go to war their words are nothing. Why do the captains and chiefs leave the council house? such conduct is not good. I have talked but little. to- morrow Bintah, Jose Maria and other brothers will talk. This is the iast of my talk. I fear if the Tawehash or other indians take horses from the whites and I try to get them away, that they will kill me. This is all I have to say. my hands are bloody only from killing deer." (This caused a great laugh among the Indians, as Red Bear had never been known to kill game of any kind.)
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