Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

354

aclmowledge no legal summons from the whites to council on any subject, except it coincides with their own views; and always inquire into the subject of consultation before attending. There are no subd;visions of land acknowledged in their ter- ritory, and no exclusive right of game. He who kills the game retains the skin, and the meat is divided according to the ne- cessity of the party, always without contention, as each 'indi- vidual shares his food with every member of the tribe, or with strangers who visit them. No dispute ever arises between tribes with regard to their hunting grounds, the whole being held in common. The intercourse laws of the United States Indians, never hav- ing been extended over those in the state of Texas, no conclu- sions can be drawn from their effect. Negotiations can be carried on with better results in their own country than at the seat of government, as absent chiefs do not place much reliance in what they are told by others, but at the same time, an actual intercourse with the head of the government gives the tribe a decidedly better view of its character and influence. The prin- cipal chiefs have shown every disposition to advance in civiliza- tion, and only require the co-operation of the Americans, to influence their followers in the same course. No individual action is considered as a crime, but every man acts for himself acco!'ding to h'is own judgment, unless some superior power, for instance, that of a popular chief, should ex- ercise authority over him. They believe that when they were created, the Great Spirit gave them the privilege of a free and unconstrained use of their individual faculties. They do not worship any Evil Spirit, and are not aware of its existence, at- tributing every thing to arise from the Great Spirit, whether of good or evil. They :.ise fire in all their religious observances and dances, or Medicine-making, but I am unacquainted with the estimation in which it is held. They believe in the immortality of the soul, in their happy hunting-grounds, but have no definite idea of its transit from this life to another, or in what manner they will re-appear here- after. The ties of consanguinity are very strong, not only with regard to their blood relations, but extends itself to relation by marriage, &c., who are considered as, and generally called "brothers"-all offences committed against any member, are avenged by all, or any member connected with the family. In this nation a hunte: will generally supply a sufficiency of food

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