TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859 97 tier; and their present equivocal condition is to be regretted. They are more enterprising and warlike than the Comanche, who regard them with a respect, in which fear is a chief ingre- dient. Their habits are very similar to the Comanche in ~ome respects; but they have made somewhat more progress towards civilization. Many of them speak the Spanish language, having formerly had much intercourse with the Mexicans. They can now raise about 200 warriors of their own band. The Seratick live on the Rio Grande, above the Passo del Norte. Very little is known among us, in relation to them. The Mescelaro inhabit the river Puerco, a considerable eastern affluent of the Rio Grande:-from the best information I have, they number 1000 to 1500 warriors-are of dark complexion-peaceable in their habits-eultivate the ground and raise stock-have many horses and mules-also sheep, goats, and black cattle. The Tonkawa.are a separate tribe, having no traceable affinity to any other band of Indians in the country. They are erratic -live on game, and are quite indolent-and often in extremity of suffering. They have generally been friendly to the whites, though often suspected of having stolen horses from the fron- tier. A few of these accompanied our small army in the cam- paign against the Cherokee in 1839, and rendered good service. There are about 150 warriors of this tribe--they have usually warred within the limits cf our settlements. The Waco-Tawakoni-Tawehash-Aynic-San Pedro's-Na- baduco-Nacadoche, and Hitchi are small tribes or fragments of tribes, and, separately considered, are quite insignificant. They have been long resident in Texas, and properly belong to it-but they are, originally, the Hitchi excepted, of the Caddo stock, being offsets from that family. The Waco are the most considerable of these bands, amounting probably to 150 war- riors, it being understood among Indians that every adult male is a warrior. They are a stealthy, thieving, faithless race, and have done much mischief, first and last, on our frontier. They live in a village on the Upper Brazos, and raise corn, beans, pump- kins, etc., and usually spend the winter months in hunting. The other small parties, amounting to about fifty families each, live in villages, on the waters of the Trinity and Neches, and cul- tivate the ground to a small extent. The Hitchi, once a distinct and isolated tribe, have so inter- married with their neighbor bands, that they have lost their
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