Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. I

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843

215

patch in meeting them. Runners have also been sent over the Brazos to the place Shaw says was agreed upon by him and Pah- hah-yuco so that there is every reason to suppose that we shall be fully advised in a few days. I cannot but believe that these unforseen delays and visits have been highly beneficial to the completion of a general treaty with the Indians. All tbe Cheifs with whom I have met were ex- tremely anxious to see me when they learned from where I came and the object of my coming, and I have no hesitancy in saying that if I or some other agent had not been sent with the Dela- ware the treaty this fall would have been an entire failure and only some few and unimportant tribes of the wild Indians would have been in. The Delaware seem to be unacquainted almost with the objects of the mission, and have no distinct idea as to the manner of bringing it about. They interpret most wretched- ly and I am often at a loss to understand whether they mean he, she, it or they, and am obliged to put all my notes together to obtain any idea of what they wish to communicate. They a1,pear also much more anxious to facilitate their trading op- erations than the objects of the commission-To give you some idea of the manner in which they wish to conduct business. I would mention that Shaw proposed to me this morning that pack horses and men should be sent to Red River or the settlements on the Trinity for corn, (a distance of about 150 miles) as he was tired of living on meat alone, of course I did not entertain the project for a moment, notwithstanding these drawbacks I yet hope on my return to give your Excellency a report of the successful issue of the expedition. I cannot as I could wish give you a full and minute account of all my doings surrounded as I am with all the 1nconveniences of a camp and an hundred indians pestering me to death, but a diary is kept of every occurence which will be submitted on my return. I received a message from the Tawakoni chief last evening, seying that he wished to talk with me. I went to him where he addressed me to the following effect. "I have councilled with my brother the Waco Cheif and my people about the object of your coming among us, and the words you spoke to us in coun- cil, anci we think it doubtful whether the Comanche and Wichita will attend a council at Bird's Fort. It would be better to have it on the Red River. They would then see the people from the

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