TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1825-1843
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desire of the Chiefs of his council that there should be no more war and shedding of blood-but that the tomahawk should be buried-the pipe of peace smoked-and the path between the white man of Texas and the red man of the prairies cleared of all the obstacles that hitherto have made difficult the way-For this purpose he has sent me with two others to you having in our hands this white flag an emblem of peace-and these pres- ents-they are not the offerings of fear but the gifts of friend- ship--as such you will receive them for no more will be given you until a firm treaty of peace is made-The chief Houston is not the same who was chief in Texas when your people were slain at San Antonio-He looks upon such things with ab- horrence-If the Comanche have been deceived by our people they will never again be told falsehoods-The same chief who has directed me to speak these words to you made a treaty with the Comanche at Houston and while he was chief in Texas it was not broken-It was broken by bad men-and the white man as well as the Comanche have had much trouble and sorrow since-Let us now forget our sorrows and in future live like brothers-There is room enough for the Comanche in the prai- ries-there you can hunt the buffalo and the white man will not harm you-and when you come to us in peace you will be met as brothers-and trouble will no more come among us-my chief eA-pects if you des'ire peace that you and your head chiefs will go with me to the great council on the Trinity this moon, and that all the white prisoners you have, you will take with you- Your prisoners shall be there also and will be given up to you as a proof of my chiefs sincerity he has sent you these two, this b~y and girl-I now present them to you ,1,•ithout price or ran- som"- at this moment I advanced from my position in the council with the prisoners and placing their hands in that of the Chief-who embraced them cordially and seated them by his side-This action seemed to give great satisfaction and a gen- el'al burst of applause from all followed-The grandfather of the girl a very old man then approached and with fl.owing tears embraced us all affectionately and expressed his thanks for his chilrl and his sincere hope that the peace now making would be ad lasting as the hills -I then continued my remarks. "My Chief also expects you to send runners to all your different bands with talks of peace, saying that the tomahawk is buried that there is to be nc, more blood ir. the path and that the head chiefs must
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