2G4 



CALENDAR HISTORY OF THE KIOWA 



[ETH. ANN. 17 



their parents and open communication with their tribes. The troops, 

 numbering about four hundred, left Fort Gibson toward the end of June, 

 1834, taking' with tlieni the three cliildren and accompanied by about 

 thirty of the O.sage, Cherokee, Delaware, aud Seneca tribets, together 

 with the artist Catlin, and, according to the Indian account, Chouteau 

 and i)erhaps another trader. Their interpreter was a Cherokee witli a 

 "very imperfect" knowledge of Spanisli, through which language he 

 hoped to open comnuinication with Spanish-speaking Indians among the 

 tribes visited; his ignorance probably accounts for the atrocious names 

 and etymologies given by Catlin. The march in the heat of summer 

 proved so severe that by the time the command reached the Junction of 

 Washita and Eed rivers about one third of the number, including the com- 

 maudiug general, were prostrated; the remainder, constantly dwindling, 





Pig. 67— Mei'ting of the dragoons ami the CoTnanclie (after C.iatlhi) 



pushed on in charge of Colonel Henry Dodge, keeping a general north- 

 west course along the divide between the two streams. Tliey were con- 

 sidered to be within the Comanche country after crossing the Washita. 

 Having traveled about two weeks, they one day discovered a larger 

 party of Comanche several miles ahead, sitting quietly on their horses 

 watcliing the movements of the advancing troops, aud hohling their long 

 lances in their hands, tlie blades glistening in the sun. As the cavalry 

 advanced toward them the Indians retreated to another ridge. This 

 was repeated several times, until at last, says Catlin — 



(Colonel Podge ordered the coinmaDd to bait, while he rode forward with a lew of 

 hi."* start' and an ensign carrying a. white tlag. I joined this advance, and the Indians 

 stood their gronml nntil we had come within half a mile ol' them and conld dis- 

 tinrtly observe all their nnmbers and movements. We then came to a halt, an<l the 



