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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
No. 2441 [184-f, M. B. LAMAR, RICHMOND? TEXAS] "PRUDENTIO McGILL"" Prudentw McGil,l. Next to the Comanchees, the most :fierce and formidable tribe of savages in Texas was the cannibal Koronkaways, whose name in english signifies Carrion-crows. They have been always distinguished for their courage, and still more for their audacious roberies. But thP chieftan of whom we now purpose to speak formed an honorable excep- tion to the disgraceful trait of this ~ribe, whilst he was looked upon , by all as the brightest exemplification of their nobler qualities. Pru- dentio McGill was no less energetic and fearless than he was wise and just His undeviating integrity and truth were proverbial, and several oppurtunities occurred in the course of his adventurous life for the exhibition. of these virtues. One I will mention. An american trav- eller through Texas was robbed in the settlement of the Ayeshe Bayou and on complaint being made to Prudentio, the offender was summoned before the chief who ordered an immediate restoration of the the [sic] plundered property; whereupon, the insolent robber kindling with shipne and resentment, threatened the life of the traveller. "Thou shalt not have it" replied the indignant chief until you :first take mine." And so saying, a glance, significant of deadly strife was exchanged be- tween them, and closing in with each other, the blood rattling in the throat of the strangling victim, soon announced the death of the guilty. The stranger was escorted by three chosen warriors across the Sabine into the territory of the United States; and on his arrival at home repaid the generous savage with a pension for life which my informant tells me was promptly paid to the day of the Chieftan's death. The Koronkaway's day of glory has passed by. Once they were a terror to the surrounding country; and leagued with another formi- dable tribe, the Lepans, they were dangerous to encounter and difficult t.o subdued [sic]. But in the repeated wars with the Comanches, they [ther ?]e found the grave of their national existence; and they are now but the vagabond fragment of an overthrown tribe roaming the country at large, without home or habitation, snatching precarious sub- sistence on the brink of danger, and are lookeed up rather as the enemies of all and all as the enemies of-them. But however considered by the present generation they were once .viewed with the eye partiality by the spanish authorities and be- came the repients [sic] of public benefaction. The traveller landing in Aransas bay and ta.king his way up to Copeno's landing, will find, not many miles from the road leading to Bexar a stupendous edifice, standing in solitary dignity, in the midst of a lonely wilderness. This is La Mission Refugio, the church of refuge, and was erected about half a century ago, at vast expense by the spanish Govt. for the benefit of a tribe whose power hath departed like the magnifisince of their falling temple - It is impossible to look upon this superstructure with- out experiencing the feelings of sadness and regret. It is a venerable
48 A. Df.
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