MoosF.r] AFFAIRS OF 18U-1853 173 



Biazos, Wichita, and lied ri\ eis, and incorrectly supposes tliat tlieir 

 hunting grounds ha<l never before been visited by white men. He says 

 that tliey seemed to he a i)owerful |)eople, hitherto but little known, 

 owing to the fact that their range was south of tlie line of the Missouri 

 traders and north of that portion of the Comanche country with which 

 theTexans were acquainted. He speaks of their extraordinary horse- 

 manship, and credits them with tli(5 feat, ascribed also to other plains 

 tribes, of throwing themselves to one side of their horses while rirling 

 paiallel with their enemies in such a way as to conceal anrl protect their 

 bodies while discharging their arrows directly under their horses' necks. 

 They had tht^n but few guns, and these were inettectivein theii' hands, 

 but were surprisingly exjiert in the use of sliields, bows, and lances 

 (Kendall, 1). The disastrous encounter of the Texans with the tiibe is 

 narrated in the proper place. 



CHOLEEA EPIDEMIC OF 1849 



The next notable event in Kiowa history is the cholera epidemic of 

 1849. It was brought from the east by California emigrants, and 

 ravaged all the tribes of the jilains. The Kiowa remember it as the 

 most terrible experience in their history, far exceeding in fatality 

 the smallpox of nine years before, liundreds died and many com- 

 mitted suicide in their despair (see the calendar). 



FOUT ATKINSON TEEATY IN 18.53 



For years the Kiowa and their confederates had been carrying on a 

 chronic warfai'e against Mexico and Texas, although generally friendly 

 toward Americans on the north. For the protection of the advancing 

 settlements and the traffic over the Hanta F6 trail, now amounting to 

 over 82,000,<i00 annually {Report, ,?), it was deemed necessary to end 

 this anomalous condition of affairs. Accordingly, on .July 27, 18.5.3, a 

 treaty was negotiated by agent Thomas Fitzpatrick, at Fort Atkinson, 

 on the Arkansas, in Kansas, with the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache, 

 by which these tribes agreed to remain at peace with both the United 

 States and Mexico, and conceded the right of the government to estab- 

 lish roads and military jtosts within their territory. In return for these 

 concessions, they were to receive an annuity of 818,000 for a term of 

 ten years, subject to a iurther extension of five years (Treaties). It 

 is somewhat remarkable that this treaty is not noted on the calen- 

 dar, neither does it .seem to form a subject of conversation among the 

 older men. 



DEPREDATIONS IN MEXICO — 5EEXICAN CAPTIVES 



Although for obvious reasons the Indians were opposed to the estab- 

 lishment of roads and military posts in their country, the chief diffi- 

 culty in the way of a treaty was their unwillingness to cease war on 

 Mexico. The proi>osition to restore their Mexican captives met a 



