310 COMANCHE DRESs. 
horse at her lodge door. If she turn him 
loose, she has resolved finally to reject him; 
but if she lead him to the caballada, it is an 
unequivocal agreement to take the charge of 
his horses and other property; and the mar- 
riage is soon concluded. The ‘uncle’ now 
communicates the engagement to the chief, 
who causes the ‘bans’ to be published, that 
no other wooer may interfere. As the horse 
is with them the type of every important in- 
terest, the bridegroom next proceeds to kill 
the least valuable one that he is possessed of; 
and, taking out the heart, hangs it at the door 
of his betrothed, who takes and roasts it, and 
then dividing it into two parts, each eats a 
half, which perfects the bond of wedlock. 
The heart of the buffalo or other animal may 
perhaps be substituted, if the bridegroom has 
not a superabundance of horses. Should the 
circumstances of the parties admit of it, the 
marriage is usually celebrated with feasting 
and dances; though, in general, the Coman- 
ches are less fond of dancing than most other 
Indians. 
The Comanche dress consists of the usual 
leggins, moccasins, flap and blanket or robe. 
Many wear in addition a kind of leathern 
jerkin, or tight jacket closed before. Their 
moccasins differ from those of other tribes, by 
having a lengthy tassel of leathern fringes 
attached to the heels, which trail the ground 
as they walk. Instead of this fringe, the tas- 
sel sometimes consists of the tail of a polecat 
or some other anual. When he can pro- 
a), 
