356 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



secured on its back and shoulders by four golden 

 buckles. It had neither saddle nor stirrups, but on 

 either side, at the end of a strap, hung a small leathern 

 bucket, in which the muzzle of the rifle and butt of 

 the lance reposed. 



Similar to those above described were the dress 

 and arms of other four of the warrior?, also belong- 

 ing to the powerful Indian tribe of the Comanches. 

 They wore their hair combed back on either side of 

 the forehead; their complexion was a mixture of 

 olive and copper-colour. Their bearing was proud, 

 and they seemed almost to look down upon the Paw- 

 nees who accompanied them. Round the necks of 

 their steeds hung the lasso, that terrible weapon with 

 which the Mexican riders capture, with wonderful skill 

 and dexterity, the horse, the buffalo, or a human foe. 



The remainder of the troop were Pawnees of the 

 Toyask tribe. Their heads were clean shaven, ex- 

 cepting of one carefully plaited tuft upon the crown. 

 Upon their shoulders were buffalo -skins, the leather 

 dyed red, the hair worn inwards ; and similar hides 

 served them for saddles. They wore broad girdles, 

 to which their calico under-garment was fastened. 

 About half of them were armed with muskets and 

 rifles, but all had lances, a long knife, or rather 

 hanger, and a tomahawk. They were well-made and 

 powerful men, compared with whom the thin-armed, 

 narrow - shouldered Oconees had the appearance of 

 children. 



