TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
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received in relation to the Comanche. Shaw informed me that if they were far off he would go no farther and Conner said if it were not that he had goods with him he would not have come thus far for $150. This showed the interest they felt in the suc- cess of the Expedition. Three months would have enabled us to have gone to the Pacific Ocean, much less 250 miles from this place where the Comanche are supposed to be but the mission had been completely changed into an Indian trading expedition and the Delaware felt no farther concern than the amount of skins,and mules they could purchase, and to that fact and on them alone must rest the responsibility of its failure. On the 14th a report was re- ceived that a Wichita had returned from hunting and met some Comanche women picking plums within about two days ride of our camp. I was extremely anxious to move on, but Shaw in- sisted we could not leave until the Wichita came. On the 15th the report of the da previous was confirmed. A Keechi came in who had seen th Comanche Chief who informed him that he should soon visit the Wichita village to get corn. I requested Shaw to send run- ners on to him immediately or else that we should all go and meet him and hurry through with our business that we might get back in time for the Council. This on some trivial grounds was objected to, he seeming to think it quite unimportant whether we returned or not. On the 18th the Chief having returned we met the Wichita in Council. About four miles dis- tant from this village is a settlement of Keechi, who becoming dissatisfied with the balance of their tribe residing on the Brazos and Trinity seceded, elected a Chief of their own and moved up here to live. They with the Wichita have been the most troublesome indians 'in the country. I was desirous tha't their Chief should attend this Council and sent for him he promised to come but did not make his appearence. A-cah- quash informed me that he did not wish to make peace, but that it made no material difference as he would be forced to come into measures if the Wichita made a treaty. I spoke to the Wichita on the usual topics and was followed by A-cab-quash and the Delaware when the council adjourned till the next day to receive the talk of the Chiefs. I requested of Shaw and Con- ner that every thing might be in readiness early on the morrow
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