TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
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Cnited States and be satisfied that they were safe. The Co- manche are like "mustangs'' hard to catch and bring into the settlements. They remember the San Antonio affair and suspect treachery. We and they want to see the Chief of Texas himself, not his Commissioners-We want to talk with him, take him by the hand and hear the words of his own mouth, then there can be no mistake but all will be understood. The Delaware were first in trying to make peace between Texas and the Indians. The Waco followed and now I and my people are ready and willing to do our part in bringing it to a final close- When I saw Acaquash return home safe, and the prisoners your Chief had sent my heart was glad but he has another prisoner a Ta- wakoni girl, my own sister and I want him to give her to me too.-When we have the Council the Texians should [arrive?] first, so that the Indians may see them there and not have to wait, for we have no powder the Buffalo are scarce and if we wait a long time for them, we shall have nothing to eat- At Coffee's old fort on Red River is the best place for a Council- l tell my brother Houston this, because I know that the Co- manche, Kiowa and Wichita would be much more willing to come there than any other place- They all know 'it and can go to i~ There are plenty of good springs and timber there-an- other reason is that bad men have been among the Indians and said the Texians want to get them to come low down in their country and then give them poisoned tobacco to smoke and kill them all off and that the Delaware were in league with them- I want to see all the Indians at the Council that I may point to these liars, that it may be seen who they are- For these reasons, we think it would be best for the council to be at Coffee's old fort." In reply to this I told him, "I have heard your counsel and it is good, and I have no doubt but that "if my great Cheif Houston, had received it in time it would have been adopted- But now it is too late to profit by it- Bird's Fort on the Trinity was the place, selected, and all interested had been told that the council would be there and if the place was now changed many would be disappointed and the object in view defeated-as for my- self I have no discretion in the matter-my Chief has ordered me to find the Comanche and if possible to bring them "in to that place-my heart is glad that you are willing to assist me in making this peace and affording me so many facilities, and I shall now procede to the Comanche and use every exertion to
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