TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859
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Each warrior provides his own horse and equipments; and they manage to mount themselves upon white or cream-coloured horses, if possible, which they paint all over, in the most fan- tastic figures· imaginable; and every morning their war exer- cises are gone through with. The whole thing is voluntary; but one who behaves cow- ardly is disgraced; nor do they return until the wish to do so is unanimous. Should the expedition prove unsuccessful they separate into small parties, and, on their way back to their tribe, rob and kill whenever an opportunity occurs, as it is considered disgraceful to return empty handed; they also shave their horses' tails and manes, and put on mourning for a long time. If it is success!ul, they send a herald ahead, to announce their arrival, when great preparations are made to receive them-the old women set up a shout of exultation; when tney appear, the scalp dance commences, and is performed with all the ceremonies. Religion, Funeral Ceremonies, etc. These people have no more idea of Christianity than they have of the Hebrew language; and as in forming the vocabu- laries obtained, I could find no word signifying 'IJ'irgin,-nor could I make them understand it-my conclusion is, that it will be a difficult task for the missionary to make them understand the atonement. The Comanche acknowledge a supreme ruler and director, whom they call the Great Spirit; but in their devotions, appeal directly to the sun and earth, saying, that one is the great cause of life, and the other the receptacle and producer of all that sus- tains life; accordingly, when they eat or drink, they sacrifice a good portion to the Great Spirit, saying, that otherwise he would be angry, and-bring upon them ill fortune. They say they cannot worship God, he is too far off; but they can worship the sun, who is between them and the Supreme Being. They believe all go up to a place above, where they are happy, that they are permitted to visit the earth at night, but must return at day light. When a warrior dies, he is buried (upon the top of the high- est hill near camp,) in a sitting posture, with his face to the east, his war horse is killed, and his weapons burnt up, the rest of his horses and mules having their manes and tails
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