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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
The Tonkaways, were a small, impertnent and contemptible tribe, who had no fixed grounds they claimed, but roamed Austin's Colony at large; involved in difficulties with other tribes, fearing to approach the gulf on account of the Cokes & Karankays, and unable to asscend high up into the country lest they should meet with the Comanches - such was their situation on the arrival of Austin in the country and such is still pretty much present condition, unchanged - They were never warlike or brave, but the damdest of all thieves. In the first settlemt of the country by the whites, they would come about the farms, and as long as they had skins to barter, would purchase green corn and other articles of the whites, and when their stores were exhausted & they could no longer buy, they would steal - Their thefts, the Americans were affraid to resent, being then too weak to protect themselves - In this way the whites were kept in awe, & were greatly annoyed by the Tonks - One summer of 1823, on Varner's Creek, (now the farm of the Pattons 1844) near Columbia, they came to Bayley's house and intruded on him to such an extent that he could not stnnd it any longer. Bailey at length proposed that he would sell one half of his crop of corn being 20 acres, for two horses to be delivered some future day - The Indians agreed - after counting the rows The middle one in the field was cut down, all on one side was Bailey's all on the other was the Indians. The Tonk however insisted upon hav- ing the dividing row which was cut down - this was yielded - He now gave his note to Bailey for two horRefl which were to be delivered in some specified time - The Tonk was not punctual. Bailey dunn'd him - The Tonk laughed at him and asked, if he Baily ever knew an Indian to pay a debt. Bailey threatened to have him brought be- fore the big Captain of the whites, (Stephn F AuRtin) at San Phil- lippi. The Indian was accordingly, a short time after, taken in dur- ance r sic] vile & brought before Austin. The case was explained to the judge. The Tonk did not deny the debt, but entered upon his own defense, by saying to Austin, "Me buy the corn; me eat it; it is gone; me got no horse to give. did de white tink I ever pay; he know bet- ter; he fool to tink so. Indian no pay; and de white shouln not trust him. he fool too much, and ought to loose de horse" - This speech satisfied all parties and the Tonk was discharged from custody and from the debt The Tonks th~ first summer, eat most inorninately of (rfeen corn, cucumbers and other deleterous vegetables, so that they suffered much from the Chills & fevers & Billous fever -.<rreat many died - They believed the whites had poisoned them, and left the settlemts for some time on that account - They however returned, and commenced a sys1em of stealing that greatly annoyed the whites- Thev were hell on horses - The Americans rel'mrted to flogging them. To this the Tonks protested, preferring bPing shot, than to be whipped, death be- ing honorable & the last, degradation - The Chief used to say if we would shoot the thieves when caught, they would steal no more; but if flogged, would only get mad and steal more. This was their reasoning. Both methods were tried, but neither seemd to have any effect in checking- this propnsity r sic l in them. They still kept up the practise, until the people would frequntly rise up with determina- tion to exterminate them. The Tonks would not fight; but would al-
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