PREDATORY FORAYS. 313 
the opposite side of his charger, so as to be 
protected from the darts of the enemy; and, 
while clinging there, he will discharge his ar- 
rows with extraordinary dexterity from un- 
derneath his horse’s neck. Different from the 
‘prowling’ tribes, they seldom attack at night, 
or in timbered or rough regions; for they 
would then be unable to mancuvre their 
coursers to advantage. 
Although not meriting the title of brave In- 
dians, they are held by the Mexicans as the 
most valiant of their border: but when they 
come in contact with Americans or any of 
our frontier tribes, they generally appear timid 
and cowardly. Their predatory forays are 
therefore directed mostly:westward. They 
make continual inroads upon the whole east- 
ern frontier of Mexico, from Chihuahua to the 
coast; driving off immense numbers of horses 
and mules, and killing the citizens they may 
encounter, or making them prisoners—parti- 
cularly the females and boys. Of the latter 
they make slaves, to perform such menial ser- 
vice as usually pertains to the squaws, parti- 
cularly the herding of the stock. It is per- 
haps this alleviation of their labor by slaves, 
that has contributed to elevate the Comanche 
women above those of many of the northern 
tribes. Of their female captives they often 
make wives; a fate which has befallen some 
of cae taken from oe 
as it may appear, their captives 
Eiaucntty become attached to their masters 
and to the savage _ and with difficulty are 
VOL. II. 
