MOONEY] ACCOUNT OF KICKING-BIRU 217 



Like so many others of the Kiowa, he was of mixed origin, his paternal 

 grandfatlier having been a Grow captive talien wlien a boy and adopted 

 into tlie tribe. Although a young man, he had a commanding influence 

 among his people, and on the failure of the war party under Lone- 

 wolf became recognized as the principal chief of the Kiowa. An un- 

 taught savage, he was yet a man of fine native ability and thoroughly 

 versed in the traditions and ceremonials of his people. Eecognizing 

 early the inevitable changes consequent upon the advent of the white 

 man, he deliberately abandoned the warpath and addressed himself to 

 the task of preparing liis people to meet the new conditions. From that 

 time forward his voice and example were always on the side of peace 

 and civilization. By this course he drew upon himself the hatred of 

 the conservatives and the war party, who denounced him as a coward 

 and a traitor, charges which he met and refuted in characteristic 

 fashion. When the question of peace or war came to a final issue iu 

 1874, his powerful influence held more than two-thirds of the Kiowa 

 from the warpath, and by his exertions afterward he secured the best 

 possible terms for the defeated hostiles. It was by his invitation and 

 assistance that Battey organized the first school in the tribe in 1873. 

 His last counsel to his people was to remain at peace witli everybody 

 and to follow tlie advice of their teachers, and he declared that he was 

 dying "holding on to the white man's hand." At the request of his 

 family. Agent Haworth took charge of his body and gave it Christian 

 burial, this being the first instance of the kind in the history of the 

 tribe [Report, 59; Battey, 11). 



His long-continued attachment to tlie whites at one time so far brought him into 

 tlisreputc with his tribe that they chained his friendship to cowardice, called him a 

 ■woman, and letiised to listen to his counsels Findinfj; his influence in the tribe 

 nearly gone, he raised a force, conducted a raid into Texas, and had a severe engage- 

 ment with the white soldiers, where he led his mi'n with such ability and coolness as 

 to come off victorious and win a testimony of respect from the commander of his 

 enemy's forces. On his return home he again advocated peace with the whites, and 

 has steadily continued to do so from that time to the present. The tribe, thoroughly 

 convinced of his bravery, no longer .attribute bis desire for peace to cowardice, and 

 listen to his eloquent arguments, in most cases yielding to his counsels; so that he 

 really stands at the head of all those Kiowa who are disposed to live pe.iceably, as 

 Lone-wolf does at the head of those occupying a less friendly position (Batley, 12). 



Another characteristic incident is recorded by Battey. Shortly be- 

 fore the outbreak some trouble occurred between Kicking-bird and 

 the chiefs disposed to hostility, who accused him of having lied about 

 them. A meeting was arranged at the agency to talk it over, and as 

 the Indians were greatly excited some trouble was anticipated. When 

 the Kiowa began to arrive, each as he entered the office and seated 

 himself strung his bow and placed it where it could be instantly seized 

 tor action, put his quiver of arrows in convenient position, also placing 

 three or four arrows across his lap, loosened his revolver, and turned 

 the handle ready for grasping, while many of them trembled with 

 excitement. When the room was nearly filled, Kicking-bird, accom- 

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