261
TEX.\$ 1:--:DI.-\~ P.\?EP.::. 1825-1843
to give way to them. A-cah-quash was highly indignant at their procrastination and would sit for hours venting his anger at their conduct. He was extrerp.ely anxious to proceed and ednced more interest in the expedition than all the Delaware. On the 24th of July the Indians having no possible excuse for farther delay, preparations were made for a start. Before leaving the Tawakoni Chief called upon me and wanted to have a talk. He stated that a long time ago peace was made with all the tribes including the Tonkawa, that the Wichita stole the Tonkawa horses they retaliated on other tr'ibes and war broke out again among them all. Again p;.>ace was made with the Mexicans at San Antonio, the Wichita interfered and after involving all the tribes in war retreated into the United States leaving the Texas tribes who were inno- cent to bear the brunt of the war. At another time peace was made with Texas at Nacogdoches the Wichita also infringed upon that treaty. Now that peace Wf-ll'l again to be made with the U. S. as well as Texas he wanted it known who it was that made the trouble in order that they alone might. be punished and the other tribe:1 not im·oh·ed in war. In compli- ance with his request I stated these facts in a letter to Capt. Blake at Fort Washita. The day being somewhat ad\·anced and not having anything to eat, our departure was delayed by a report that a hunting party would arrn·e in the evening with plenty of Buffalo meat and that we would be able to procure some to take with us, there being hut little or no game on our route over Grand prairie. I omitted to mention that during ti,e long absence of Shaw and Conner our hunters were often for days together unable to procure game and I was obliged to purchase of the indians vegetables for our subsistence, paying for them out of the goods I had with me, and at exorbitant rates. Early on the morning of the 5th we started. Shaw and Conner having sent their women and children back to Red River, I was strongly in hopes that we would travel expeditiously and be back in time for the Council. But in this I was disappointed. I observed upon leaving that Second-Eye, and Jack Harry one of our hunters, took an oppo- site direction. I rode up and asked them where they were go"ing, they rerlied that Shaw had ordered them to go to Red Ri\'er and join •1s again at the Wichita \"illage in ten clays. I enquired
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