162 CALENDAR HISTORY OF THE KIOWA [eth.ann.i? 



and about the middle of last century were established chiefly about the 

 upper Arkansas and its princii)al tributaries. Long before this time, 

 however, the Pi'niittka division liad separated from the main body and 

 gone down into Texas. Pi'ulouca, the name used by Bourgmont, is oue 

 form of the name by wliich the Comanche are known to the Osage, 

 Dakota, and related tribes, and is probably derived from Fnuitrlca. 



As the Kiowa pressed southward before the advancing Dakota and 

 Cheyenne, they encountered the Comanche, resulting in a warfare con- 

 tinuing many years, in the course of which the Comanche were grad- 

 ually driven south of the Arkansas. The war was finally terminated 

 and a lasting peace and alliance eifected between the two tribes 

 through the good offices of the Spaniards of Xew Mexico. 



PEACE WITH THE COMANCHE 



Now the Kiowa tradition becomes clear and detailed. According to 

 the story which the old men had from their fathers, who were contem- 

 porary with the events, the Kiowa advanced along the base of the 

 mountains and pushed the Comanche from the northern head streams 

 of the Arkansas. When both sides were about woru out with fighting, 

 it happened that a small party of Kiowa on a friendly visit to a Span- 

 ish settlement southwestward from that river — perhaps Las Vegas or 

 possibly Santa Fe — stopped to rest at a house, which they particularly 

 state was not a fort or trading post. The house was a large one with 

 several rooms, and by a curious coincidence a party of Comanche had 

 arrived shortly before and were then talking in the next room, all una- 

 ware of the near presence of their enemies. Hearing the voices and rec- 

 ognizing the language, the Kiowa at once prepared for battle, and 

 another bloody encounter was about to be added to the long list, when 

 their Mexican host, friendly to both sides, interposed and represented 

 to the Kiowa that now was their opportunity to establish a lasting 

 peace with their foes, ofi'ering his own services as mediator. After 

 some debate the Kiowa accepted his proposition, and the kindly Mexi- 

 can, going into the next room, informed the astonished Comanche that 

 a party of their hated enemies was outside waiting to talk of peace. 

 Being assured that no treachery was intended, they came out and the 

 leaders of the two parties saluted each other. The Kiowa leader, 

 whose name was GuikVite, "Wolf-lying-down," and who was next in 

 authority to the principal chief of the tribe, assuming to speak for his 

 people, then expressed their desire for peace. To this the Comanche 

 leader, Piireiyii, "Afraidof- water'' {Toiipeto in the Kiowa language), 

 replied that as this was a matter of grave importance, it would have to 

 be considered by the whole tribe, and invited the Kiowa to go back 

 with them to the Comanche country in order that the business might 

 there be fully discussed. The Kiowa hesitated, not yet being quite 

 willing to trust themselves in the lion's den, when Guik ;'ite, anxious to 

 spare further bloodshed, said, "I am a chief. I am not afraid to die. 



