The village of the Camanchees by the side of which we are encamped, is
composed of six or eight hundred skin-covered lodges, made of poles and
buffalo skins, in the manner precisely as those of the Sioux and other
Missouri tribes, of which I have heretofore given some account. This
village with its thousands of wild inmates, with horses and dogs, and
wild sports and domestic occupations, presents a most curious scene;
and the manners and looks of the people, a rich subject for the brush
and the pen.
In the view I have made of it (+plate+ 164), but a small portion of
the village is shewn; which is as well as to shew the whole of it,
inasmuch as the wigwams, as well as the customs, are the same in every
part of it. In the foreground is seen the wigwam of the chief; and in
various parts, crotches and poles, on which the women are drying meat,
and “_graining_” buffalo robes. These people, living in a country
where buffaloes are abundant, make their wigwams more easily of their
skins, than of anything else; and with them find greater facilities of
moving about, as circumstances often require: when they drag them upon
the poles attached to their horses, and erect them again with little
trouble in their new residence.
We white men, strolling about amongst their wigwams, are looked upon
with as much curiosity as if we had come from the moon; and evidently
create a sort of chill in the blood of children and dogs, when we make
our appearance. I was pleased to-day with the simplicity of a group
which came out in front of the chief’s lodge to scrutinize my faithful
friend Chadwick and I, as we were strolling about the avenues and
labyrinths of their village; upon which I took out my book and sketched
as quick as lightning, whilst “Joe” rivetted their attention by some
ingenious trick or other, over my shoulders, which I did not see,
having no time to turn my head (+plate+ 165). These were the juvenile
parts of the chief’s family, and all who at this moment were at home;
the venerable old man, and his three or four wives, making a visit,
like hundreds of others, to the encampment.
In speaking just above, of the mode of moving their wigwams, and
changing their encampments, I should have said a little more, and
should also have given to the reader, a sketch of one of these
extraordinary scenes, which I have had the good luck to witness
(+plate+ 166); where several thousands were on the march, and
furnishing one of those laughable scenes which daily happen, where so
many dogs, and so many squaws, are travelling in such a confused mass;
with so many conflicting interests, and so many local and individual
rights to be pertinaciously claimed and protected. Each horse drags his
load, and each dog, _i. e._ each dog that _will_ do it (and there are
many that will _not_), also dragging his wallet on a couple of poles;
and each squaw with her load, and all together (notwithstanding their
burthens) cherishing their pugnacious feelings, which often bring them
into general conflict, commencing usually amongst the dogs, and sure
to result in fisticuffs of the women; whilst the men, riding leisurely
on the right or the left, take infinite pleasure in overlooking these
desperate conflicts, at which they are sure to have a laugh, and in
which, as sure never to lend a hand.
[Illustration: 164]
[Illustration: 165]
[Illustration: 166]
The Camanchees, like the Northern tribes, have many games, and in
pleasant weather seem to be continually practicing more or less of
them, on the prairies, back of, and contiguous to, their village.
In their ball-plays, and some other games, they are far behind the
Sioux and others of the Northern tribes; but, in racing horses and
riding, they are not equalled by any other Indians on the Continent.
Racing horses, it would seem, is a constant and almost incessant
exercise, and their principal mode of gambling; and perhaps, a more
finished set of jockeys are not to be found. The exercise of these
people, in a country where horses are so abundant, and the country
so fine for riding, is chiefly done on horseback; and it “stands to
reason,” that such a people, who have been practicing from their
childhood, should become exceedingly expert in this wholesome and
beautiful exercise. Amongst their feats of riding, there is one that
has astonished me more than anything of the kind I have ever seen, or
expect to see, in my life:—a stratagem of war, learned and practiced
by every young man in the tribe; by which he is able to drop his body
upon the side of his horse at the instant he is passing, effectually
screened from his enemies’ weapons (+plate+ 167) as he lays in a
horizontal position behind the body of his horse, with his heel hanging
over the horses back; by which he has the power of throwing himself up
again, and changing to the other side of the horse if necessary. In
this wonderful condition, he will hang whilst his horse is at fullest
speed, carrying with him his bow and his shield, and also his long
lance of fourteen feet in length, all or either of which he will wield
upon his enemy as he passes; rising and throwing his arrows over the
horse’s back, or with equal ease and equal success under the horse’s
neck.[8] This astonishing feat which the young men have been repeatedly
playing off to our surprise as well as amusement, whilst they have
been galloping about in front of our tents, completely puzzled the
whole of us; and appeared to be the result of magic, rather than
of skill acquired by practice. I had several times great curiosity
to approach them, to ascertain by what means their bodies could be
suspended in this manner, where nothing could be seen but the heel
hanging over the horse’s back. In these endeavours I was continually
frustrated, until one day I coaxed a young fellow up within a little
distance of me, by offering him a few plugs of tobacco, and he in a
moment solved the difficulty, so far as to render it apparently more
feasible than before; yet leaving it one of the most extraordinary
results of practice and persevering endeavours. I found on examination,
that a short hair halter was passed around under the neck of the horse,
and both ends tightly braided into the mane, on the withers, leaving
a loop to hang under the neck, and against the breast, which, being
caught up in the hand, makes a sling into which the elbow falls, taking
the weight of the body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop
the rider drops suddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over
the back of the horse, to steady him, and also to restore him when he
wishes to regain his upright position on the horse’s back.
Besides this wonderful art, these people have several other feats
of horsemanship, which they are continually showing off; which are
pleasing and extraordinary, and of which they seem very proud. A people
who spend so very great a part of their lives, actually on their
horses’ backs, must needs become exceedingly expert in every thing that
pertains to riding—to war, or to the chase; and I am ready, without
hesitation, to pronounce the Camanchees the most extraordinary horsemen
that I have seen yet in all my travels, and I doubt very much whether
any people in the world can surpass them.
The Camanchees are in stature, rather low, and in person, often
approaching to corpulency. In their movements, they are heavy and
ungraceful; and on their feet, one of the most unattractive and
slovenly-looking races of Indians that I have ever seen; but the
moment they mount their horses, they seem at once metamorphosed, and
surprise the spectator with the ease and elegance of their movements. A
Camanchee on his feet is out of his element, and comparatively almost
as awkward as a monkey on the ground, without a limb or a branch to
cling to; but the moment he lays his hand upon his horse, his _face_,
even, becomes handsome, and he gracefully flies away like a different
being.
Our encampment is surrounded by continual swarms of old and young—of
middle aged—of male and female—of dogs, and every moving thing that
constitutes their community; and our tents are lined with the chiefs
and other worthies of the tribe. So it will be seen there is no
difficulty of getting subjects enough for my brush, as well as for my
pen, whilst residing in this place.
The head chief of this village, who is represented to us here, as the
head of the nation, is a mild and pleasant looking gentleman, without
anything striking or peculiar in his looks (+plate+ 168); dressed in a
very humble manner, with very few ornaments upon him, and his hair
carelessly falling about his face, and over his shoulders. The name of
this chief is Ee-shah-ko-nee (the bow and quiver). The only ornaments
to be seen about him were a couple of beautiful shells worn in his
ears, and a boar’s tusk attached to his neck, and worn on his breast.
[Illustration: 167]
[Illustration: 168 169]
[Illustration: 170 171]
For several days after we arrived at this place, there was a huge mass
of flesh (+plate+ 169), Ta-wah-que-nah (the mountain of rocks), who was
put forward as head chief of the tribe; and all honours were being paid
to him by the regiment of dragoons, until the above-mentioned chief
arrived from the country, where it seems he was leading a war-party;
and had been sent for, no doubt, on the occasion. When he arrived, this
huge monster, who is the largest and fattest Indian I ever saw, stepped
quite into the background, giving way to this admitted chief, who
seemed to have the confidence and respect of the whole tribe.
This enormous man, whose flesh would undoubtedly weigh three hundred
pounds or more, took the most wonderful strides in the exercise of
his temporary authority; which, in all probability, he was lawfully
exercising in the absence of his superior, as second chief of the tribe.
A perfect personation of Jack Falstaff, in size and in figure, with an
African face, and a beard on his chin of two or three inches in length.
His name, he tells me, he got from having conducted a large party of
Camanchees through a secret and subterraneous passage, entirely through
the mountain of granite rocks, which lies back of their village;
thereby saving their lives from their more powerful enemy, who had
“cornered them up” in such a way, that there was no other possible mode
for their escape. The mountain under which he conducted them, is called
_Ta-wah-que-nah_ (the mountain of rocks), and from this he has received
his name, which would certainly have been far more appropriate if it
had been a _mountain of flesh_.
Corpulency is a thing exceedingly rare to be found in any of the
tribes, amongst the men, owing, probably, to the exposed and active
sort of lives they lead; and that in the absence of all the spices of
life, many of which have their effect in producing this disgusting, as
well as unhandy and awkward extravagance in civilized society.
Ish-a-ro-yeh (he who carries a wolf, +plate+ 170); and Is-sa-wah-tam-ah
(the wolf tied with hair, +plate+ 171); are also chiefs of some
standing in the tribe, and evidently men of great influence, as they
were put forward by the head chiefs, for their likenesses to be painted
in turn, after their own. The first of the two seemed to be the leader
of the war-party which we met, and of which I have spoken; and in
escorting us to their village, this man took the lead and piloted us
the whole way, in consequence of which Colonel Dodge presented him a
very fine gun.
His-oo-san-ches (the Spaniard, +plate+ 172), a gallant little fellow,
is represented to us as one of the leading warriors of the tribe; and
no doubt is one of the most extraordinary men at present living in
these regions. He is half Spanish, and being a half-breed, for whom
they generally have the most contemptuous feelings, he has been all
his life thrown into the front of battle and danger; at which posts
he has signalized himself, and commanded the highest admiration and
respect of the tribe, for his daring and adventurous career. This is
the man of whom I have before spoken, who dashed out so boldly from
the war-party, and came to us with the white flag raised on the point
of his lance, and of whom I have made a sketch in +plate+ 157. I have
here represented him as he stood for me, with his shield on his arm,
with his quiver slung, and his lance of fourteen feet in length in his
right hand. This extraordinary little man, whose figure was light,
seemed to be all bone and muscle, and exhibited immense power, by the
curve of the bones in his legs and his arms. We had many exhibitions of
his extraordinary strength, as well as agility; and of his gentlemanly
politeness and friendship, we had as frequent evidences. As an instance
of this, I will recite an occurrence which took place but a few days
since, when we were moving our encampment to a more desirable ground
on another side of their village. We had a deep and powerful stream to
ford, when we had several men who were sick, and obliged to be carried
on litters. My friend “Joe” and I came up in the rear of the regiment,
where the litters with the sick were passing, and we found this little
fellow up to his chin in the muddy water, wading and carrying one
end of each litter on his head, as they were in turn, passed over.
After they had all passed, this gallant little fellow beckoned to
me to dismount, and take a seat on his shoulders, which I declined;
preferring to stick to my horse’s back, which I did, as he took it by
the bridle and conducted it through the shallowest ford. When I was
across, I took from my belt a handsome knife and presented it to him,
which seemed to please him very much.
Besides the above-named chiefs and warriors, I painted the portrait of
_Kots-o-ko-ro-ko_ (the hair of the bull’s neck); and _Hah-nee_ (the
beaver); the first, a chief, and the second, a warrior of terrible
aspect, and also of considerable distinction. These and many other
paintings, as well as manufactures from this tribe, may be always seen
in my +Museum+, if I have the good luck to get them safe home from this
wild and remote region.
From what I have already seen of the Camanchees, I am fully convinced
that they are a numerous and very powerful tribe, and quite equal in
numbers and prowess, to the accounts generally given of them.
It is entirely impossible at present to make a correct estimate of
their numbers; but taking their own account of villages they point
to in such numbers, South of the banks of the Red River, as well as
those that lie farther West, and undoubtedly North of its banks, they
must be a very numerous tribe; and I think I am able to say, from
estimates that these chiefs have made me, that they number some 30 or
40,000—being able to shew some 6 or 7000 warriors, well-mounted and
well-armed. This estimate I offer not as conclusive, for so little is
as yet known of these people, that no estimate can be implicitly
relied upon other than that, which, in general terms, pronounces them
to be a very numerous and warlike tribe.
[Illustration: 172]
We shall learn much more of them before we get out of their country;
and I trust that it will yet be in my power to give something like a
fair census of them before we have done with them.
They speak much of their allies and friends, the Pawnee Picts, living
to the West some three or four days’ march, whom we are going to visit
in a few days, and afterwards return to this village, and then “bend
our course” homeward, or, in other words, back to Fort Gibson. Besides
the Pawnee Picts, there are the Kiowas and Wicos; small tribes that
live in the same vicinity, and also in the same alliance, whom we shall
probably see on our march. Every preparation is now making to be off in
a few days—and I shall omit further remarks on the Camanchees, until
we return, when I shall probably have much more to relate of them and
their customs. So many of the men and officers are getting sick, that
the little command will be very much crippled, from the necessity we
shall be under, of leaving about thirty sick, and about an equal number
of well to take care of and protect them; for which purpose, we are
constructing a fort, with a sort of breastwork of timbers and bushes,
which will be ready in a day or two; and the sound part of the command
prepared to start with several Camanchee leaders, who have agreed to
pilot the way.
[8] Since writing the above, I have conversed with some of the
young men of the Pawnees, who practice the same feat, and who told
me they could throw the arrow from under the horse’s belly, and
elevate it upon an enemy with deadly effect!
This feat I did not see performed, but from what I did see, I feel
inclined to believe that these young men were boasting of no more
than they were able to perform.
LETTER—No. 43.