MODNEv] MONEY CAPTURED, 1832-33 257 



teur predilection for taking scaljis at tlie risk of losing their own, appeared willing 

 enough to let the spoliated adventurers depart without farther molestation. 



The destitute travelers having run themselves short of provisions, and being no 

 longer able to kill game for want of materials to load their rifles with, they were 

 very soon reduced to the necessity of sustaining life upon the roots and the tender 

 bark of trees. After traveling for several days in this desperate condition, with 

 lacerated feet and utter prostration of mind and liody, they began to disagree among 

 themselves about the route to be pursued, and eventually separated into two distinct 

 parties. Five of these unhappy men steered a westward (sic) course, and after a 

 succession of sufferings and privations which almost surpassed belief, they reached 

 the settlements of the Creek Indians, near the Arkansas river, where they were 

 treated with great kindness and hospitality. The other five wandered about in the 

 greatest state of distress and bewilderment, and only two finally succeeded in get- 

 ting out of the mazes of the wilderness. Among those who were abandoned to their 

 fate and left to perish thus miserably, was a Mr Scheuck, the same individual who 

 had been shot in the thigh, a gentleman of talent and excellent family connections, 

 who was a brother, as I am informed, of the Honorable Mr Sehenck, at present a 

 member of congress from Ohio {Gri-g(j, 3). 



The Kiowa bad undoubtedly attacked the traders, believing them to 

 be their enemies the Texans, instead of Americans, as the place was 

 outside of what were then the limits of the United States, and over a 

 hundred miles from the trail usually traveled by the American traders 

 to Santa Fe. This is apparent from (iregg's experience in 1839 iu 

 nearly the same place. While proceeding up the Canadian with an 

 escort of dragoons they fell in with a large party of Comanche, and 

 after a doubtful preliminary talk, in which the Comanche very point- 

 edly refused to smoke the i^roflered pipe, the ofBcer began to speak of 

 the advantages of peace and friendship, aud invited some of their 

 headmen to visit the great chief at Washington and make a treaty. 



But they would not then converse on the subject. In fact, the interpreter incjuired, 

 "Are we not at war? How, then, can we go to see the Capitan Grande'?" We knew 

 they believed themselves at war with Mexico and Texas, and probably had mistaken 

 us for Texans. . . . Upon this we explained to them that the United States was a 

 distinct government and at peace with the Comanche. On this explanation the 

 chiefs .said they were glad to see Americans in their country aud hoped more of 

 them would come (Gregg, S). 



SITMMEK 1833 



Tml/<>(lalta-(h'' Pai, "Summer that they cut off their heads." This 

 picture commemorates one of the most vivid memories of the older 

 men of the tribe — a wholesale massacre by the Osage, who cut off the 

 heads of their victims and deposited tliera in buckets upon the scene 

 of the slaughter. Set-t'an, the author of the calendar, was born iu 

 this summer. The picture of a severed head with bloody neck and a 

 bloody knife underneath is sufficiently suggestive. The absence of 

 the usual figure of the sun-dance lodge shows that no dance was held 

 this summer, owing to the fact that the Osage captured the taune 

 medicine at the same time. The massacre occurred just west of a 

 mountain called bj' the Kiowa K odaltd K'o}), "Beheading mountain," 



