Indian Papers of Texas and the Southwest, Vol. III

TEXAS INDIAN PAPERS, 1846-1859

85

Sir: During the years 1818-19, I spent a considerable time with, or in the vicinity of, the Comanche Indians of Texas. My purpose was the renovation of an impaired constitution, seriously threatened with pulmonary consumption, in wr..ich I succeeded beyond my utmost expectations. This residence in the Indian country, enabled me to collect some facts in relation to the Comanche, and some minor tribes of Texas, which may possibly be worthy of being communicated to the Department of Indian Affairs, in reply to the very vo- luminous inquiries concerning the aborigines of the United States, lately promulgated by the Chief of the Department, a copy of which you have furnished me. My information is en- tirely too limited and imperfect, for me to attempt a specific answer to the several queries propounded. The want of an adequate interpreter would alone have precluded me from ac- quiring the minute statistical and other information necessary to that end, had my mind been specially directed to such an ob- ject. I shall therefore condense the remarks I have to make, and which, in the absence of all memoranda, I must draw frorr a recollection of near thirty years. The Comanche are the most numerous tribe of Indians in Texas. They are divided into three principal bands; to wit, the Comanche, the Yamparack, and the Tenawa. The former, with whom we have most intercourse, from their geographical position, occupy the region between the Rivers Colorado of Texas and the Red River of Louisiana; ranging from the sources of the Colorado, including its western affluents, down to the Llano Bayou; and from the vicinity of the Pawnee, on the Red River, to the American Settlements on that stream. They are fre- quently at war with the Pawnee, and sometimes make a hostile incursion upon the Osage. The Yamparack range the country north and west of the Comanche; and the Tenawa again interior from the latter. They are essentially one people: speak the same language, and have the same peculiar habits, and the same tribal interests. In 1819 the three bands consisted of 10,000 to 12,000 souls, and could muster from 2000 to 2500 warriors. They have been generally estimated at much higher numbers, but I am persuaded the above would comprise their entire population and their ut- most military fo1ce. Since the period above named, I presume

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