THE ‘CAPITAN GRANDE.’ + | 
Tabba-quena’s party consisted of about sixty 
persons, including several squaws and _ pa- 
pooses, with a few Kiawa chiefs and warriors, 
who, although of a tribe so entirely distinct, 
are frequently found domiciled among the 
omanches. As we were about to break up 
the camp they all started for Fort Gibson, for 
the purpose, as they informed us, of paying a 
Visit to the ‘Capitan Grande’—a Spanish 
phrase used by many prairie tribes, and appli- 
ed, in their confused notions of rank and 
power, not only to the Paceiddt of the United 
States himself, but to the seat of the federal 
government. "These they are again apt to 
confound with Fort Gibson and the com- 
manding officer of that station. 
On the 18th of May, we set out from Chou- 
teau’s fort. From this forward our wagons 
were marched in two lines, and regularly 
‘formed’ at every camp, so as to constitute a 
fortification and a corral for the stock. Thisis 
different from the ‘forming’ of the large cara- 
vans. The two front wagons are driven up 
side by side, with their ‘tails’ a little inclined 
outward. About half of the rest are’ drawn 
up in the same manner, but each stopped 
with the fore-wheel a little back of the hind- 
wheel of the next ahead. The remainder are 
similarly brought up, but inclined inward be- 
hind, so as nearly to close again at the rear of 
the pen; leaving a gap through which to intro- 
anced the stock. Thus the corral remains of an 
ovate form. After the drivers become expert 
the whole is performed in a very short time. 
