Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. I

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843

217

get them in. If we fail in doing so I cannot help it, I will have obeyed my Chief's orders and am not responsible for the conse- quences. If I find that the Comanche will not come to Bird's Fort, but are willing to meet on Red River, I will return to him and tell him, and he can then do as he sees fit and best"- To this he assented, and said "he would do all he could to help me obey my instructions and that Acaquash would go with me and he would send a message by him to Pah-hah-yuco and tell him that it was good to make peace--for Houston spoke truth and had given up prisoners to the Waco, that Pah-hah- yuco [should?] hear his words when he spoke for he was his b1·other and when Pah-hah-yuco spoke he regarded his words-- That now the object was to ascertain where he was and then go to him- To do this we must send to the Wichita village for there was no knowing from Shaw and the others, for at one time they said that when they met him last fall he told them he was going to Matamoros, and at another time they said he was to meet them ai the two mountains on the Brazos-They reminded him of a stray Buffalo bull who had lost his herd, looking every way to find them." I am thus particular in regard to our interview, as he is the principal Chief and his counsel looked up to and regarded by the Waco, Keechi Wichita Tawakoni and other smaller tribes, in the same manner that Pah-hah-yuco is with his associate bands- I have learned this fact not only from the Delaware but from observations. The Chiefs of the Keechi and Waco when in council with me spoke only for themselves and their own warriors. But he in council spoke for them all, that they should, all keep peace and steal no more horses until after the great Council. He also at the Council at this place took the foremost seat and spoke all that was said while the Waco chief Nah-ish-to-wa and Acaquash the second Chief were silent and listened to his words- The Indians all say they want to see you in person-Nothing else it seems will satisfy them, and I take the liberty to suggest to your Excellency the beneficial effect your presence at the Council would have, I am confident that more could be effected by yourself, than all the commissioners that could be sent- The Indians have been told so many lies by bad men trading among them, that they have but little confidence in any Texian save

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