Tl1e Development of Friction, I820-I835
229
Along the coast were the Karankawas and their allies: the Cocos, the Cujanes, and the Jaranames. The Karankawas, reputed to practice cannibalistic rites, occupied the lower course of the Colorado and the Brazos. They were a serious threat to all colonists coming to Texas by sea. They habitually preyed upon new arrivals, who usually left their goods and supplies under light guard while they went to the colonies to secure wagons. The Indians would surprise, overpower, and often kill the guards and pilfer the supplies. Though not much more numerous than the Tonkaw_as, they were much more warlike, and sel- dom failed to take advantage whenever they were faced by inferior numbers. "Nine-tenths of the encounters during the first three years of the colony were with these Indians." 22 Unlike the other Indians of Texas, they neither rode nor traded; they, consequently, had no use for horses and stole only to obtain food. They, nevertheless, had a vicious thirst for blood. Much of their time was spent fishing and swimming in the numerous lagoons along the coast. Their familiarity with all the inlets made them the best pilots along the whole coast. 23 The first campaign against these coastal tribes by the colonists was undertaken in June, 1824. Captain Rawls pursued the Indians to the coast, and secured help from Austin, who later reported that five Karankawas had been killed at the mouth of the Colorado. Rumors of retaliation by the Indians in force caused Austin to take the field in person with about ninety militia. The Indians, properly impressed, took refuge in the mission at La Bahia and offered to make peace. Through the mediation of the kindly Padre and the alcalde of La Bahia, a treaty was negotiated, by which the Karankawas agreed not to roam again east of the San Antonio. This agreement was modified shortly after- wards, at the Indians' request so as to permit them to penetrate as far as the Lavaca.u The third group of natives with whom the colonists had to contend were the Wacos and the Towakoni (Tohuacanos). Numbering between two and three hundred warriors, these Indians had their headquarters on the Brazos, north of present Waco. The Taovayas, their allies, had their principal villages on the Red River in the vicinity of modem Wichita Falls. Both groups were bitter enemies of the Tonkawas, and frequently pursued them into the new settlements, even beyond San Antonio. In March, 1824, a large group of Tawakoni in search of
22 Barker, op. cit., 105. 23 Almonte, "Statistical Report .
" Tire Quarterly, XXVIII, 194.
·14 Barker, Life of Step/ren F. Austin, 105-106.
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