312 AN EQUESTRIAN RACE. 
association. It is therefore kept docked so as 
scarcely to reach the shoulders. 
A style of dress similar to that of the Co- 
manche females, is worn by those of most of 
the erratic tribes. The squaws of the north 
usually embroider their leathern frocks in a 
fanciful manner with colored porcupine quills 
and beads, and bedeck the borders with rat- 
tling shells, tags, hawk-bells, and the like. 
Such as have the fortune to marry Canadian 
or American trappers, are those who usually 
dress most gaily. 
The prairie Indians generally are an eques- 
trian race; yet in horsemanship the Coman- 
ches stand decidedly pre-eminent; and can 
only be equalled by the Northern "Mexicans, 
and perhaps the Arabs. Like the latter, they 
dote upon their steeds: one had as well under- 
take to purchase a Comanche’s child as his 
favorite riding-horse. They have a peculiar 
mark for their animals: every one which has 
pertained to them may always be recognized 
by a slit in the tip of each ear; a practice ap- 
parently universal among all their tribe. 
In their warlike expeditions they avail them- 
selves of their equestrian skill with wonder- 
ful success. As they always fight on horse- 
back, they depend chiefly upon the charge, at 
which they use their arrows and javelins* 
with wonderful efficacy. On such occasions 
a Comanche will often throw himself upon 
ay 1 ¥ = —- povior usually short-handed javelins or 
lances, declaring, like the Spartan mother, that cowards only need 
st i lalla 
