COMANCHES. 53 



COMANCHES. 



A POWERFUL and warlike tribe, divided into twenty different bands. 

 They are migratory in their habits, subsisting upon buffalo and other 

 game, with which their country abounds. 



S6. 



POO-CHON-E-QUAH-EEP, ok BUFFALO-HUMP. 



(Painted 1844.) 



Second Chief of the Hoesh Band of Comanches, and head war- 

 chief of all the Comanches. This chief was painted at a council of 

 the wild Indians on the head-waters of Ked River. The principal 

 chief was in mourning for the loss of a son, and was unable to 

 attend the council, and sent this chief with the following " talk :" — 



Poo-ehon-e-quah-eep stated in council, that he had been sent in 

 by Pa-ha-eu-ka, who had spoken to him thus: — "It has pleased 

 the Great Spirit to visit me with sorrow and trouble — I mourn the 

 loss of my only boy, who met his death in the war-path. I must cry 

 and mourn till green grass grows ; I have burnt my lodges, killed my 

 mules and horses, and scattered ashes on my head. I can do no- 

 thing during the season of my grief ; but you, my chief, (addressing 

 Poo-chon-e-quah-eep,) I send you afar off to meet in council the cap- 

 tain from the white nations of the east. You must make peace with 

 all nations and tribes, for I am sick of hearing the cry of my people 

 mourning the loss of some relative killed in battle. Should you meet 

 any captain from Texas, tell him that we have heard that the people 

 of Texas believe that we still hold many prisoners taken from their 

 country ; but such is not the case, there is but one, and he, a young 

 man, has been raised among us from his infancy, and is now sbsent 

 on a war-party against the Spaniards. If they believe not this State- 

 ment, they have permission to come among us and examine for them- 

 selves ; and they shall come and go freely, safely, and unmolested. 

 We have waned, waned, and waned beyond the memory of our grand- 

 sires. We now desire to be at peace with all mankind. We want 

 permission to travel among the white settlements in the east to kara 



