f)0 WACOES. 



WACOES. 



ONCE a powerful tribe, living on the Brazos River, Texas. 



79. 



KA-KA-KATISH, OR THE SHOOTING STAR. 



(Painted 1843.) 



PRINCIPAL Chief of the Wacoes. This man is justly celebrated 

 for his powers of oratory, being probably one of the greatest natural 

 orators now living among the Indians. At the council held upon the 

 River Brazos, he was the principal speaker ; and by his dignity and 

 grace of manner succeeded in gaining the attention and respect of 

 these wild and untutored sons of the forest, whose implicit confidence 

 he enjoys. 



The following is a copy of the speech made by him on that occa 

 sion : 



&quot; BROTHERS : I am very glad to hear that we have all met here 

 in friendship to-day. Amidst this assemblage I do not wish to utter 

 falsehoods, and I believe that my Texan friend has spoken nothing 

 but the truth. The soil I now stand upon was once mine; it is now 

 the land of the Texans, and my home is far off in the west. I am 

 now here on this soil, where in my young days I hunted the buffalo 

 and red deer in peace, and was friendly with all, until the Texan 

 came and drove me from my native land. I speak the truth I wish 

 for peace that shall last so long as the sun rises and sets, and the 

 rivers flow. The wild-fire of war has swept over the land, and en 

 veloped my home and people in smoke; but when I return and tell 

 them what I have heard, the smoke will be dissipated, and they can 

 find their way to the council-ground of our white brothers of Texas, 

 and combine to quench this fire that heats our blood and impels us 

 on to war. It made my heart glad to hear my Texan brother say, 

 that lands and countries would be given the red men for homes, and 

 that liberty should be granted for the red men to hunt the wild game 

 in the forest. The chiefs of all tribes who dwell with me, and far 

 beyond, shall hear of the true words you have spoken, and they can 

 not fail to be pleased. I will bear your words to the north, this 



