THE GEORGE GATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 47 



CA-M7^]S -CHEES. 



[Comanche: Laws of the United States. Comanche and Komantsu : Indian Bureau, 



June, 1885.] 



One of the most powerful and hostile tribes in North America, inhabiting the west- 

 ern parts of Texas and the Mexican i)rovinces and the southwestern part of the 

 territory of the United States, near the Rocky Mountains ; entirely wild and pred- 

 atory in their habits ; the most expert and effective lancers and horsemen on the 

 continent; numbering some 25,000 or 30,000; living in skin lodges or wigwams; 

 well mounted on wild horses ; continually at war with the Mexicans, Texans, and 

 Indian tribes of the Northwest. 



Mr. Catliu visited them in 1834, with Colonel Dodge's First Regiment 

 United States Dragoons. They were then wanderers, hnnters, and 

 warriors, with large herds of horses. 



46. E6-shah-k6-nee, the Bow and Quiver ; first chief of the tribe. Boar's tusk on 



his breast and rich shells in his ears. 



(Painted in 1834. Plate No. 168, page 66, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 

 A mild and pleasant-looking gentleman, without anything striking or peculiar in 

 his looks ; dressed in a very humble manner, with very few ornaments upon him, 

 and his hair carelessly falling about his face and over his shoulders. * * » The 

 only ornaments to be seen about him were a couple of beautiful shells worn in his 

 ears end a boar's tusk attached to his neck and worn on his breast. 



47. Ta ■wdh-qiie-nah, the Mountain of Rocks; second chief of the tribe and largest 



man in the nation. 

 This man received the United States regiment of dragoons with great kindness at 

 his village, which w^as beautifully situated at the base of a huge spur of the Rocky 

 Mountains; he has decidedly African features, and a beard of 2 inches in length on 

 his chin. 



(Painted in 1834. Plate No. 169, page 67, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



48. Ish-a-rd-yeh, He who carries a Wolf; a distinguished brave; so called from the 



circumstance of his carrying a, medicine-hag made of the skin of a wolf ; he 

 holds a whip in his hand. 

 This man piloted the dragoons to the Camanchee village, and received a handsome 

 rifle from Colonel Dodge for so doing. 



(Painted in 1834. Plate No. 170, page 67, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



49. Kots-o-ko-ro-ko, the Hair of the Bull's Neck ; thirds-grade chief; shield on his 



arm and gun in his hand. 



50. Is-sa--wah-taiii-ah, the Wolf tied with. Hair ; a chief, third rate ; pipe in his 



hand. 



(Painted in 1834. Plate No. 171, page 67, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



51. His-oo-san-chee.s, the Little Spaniard ; a brave of the highest order in his tribe ; 



armed as a warrior, with shield, bow, and quiver, lance fourteen feet long, 



and war-knife. 



This was the first of the Camanchees who daringly left his own war-party and 



came to the regiment of dragoons, and spoke with our interpreter, inviting us to go 



to their village. A man of low stature, but of the most remarkable strength and 



daring courage. (See him approaching the dragoons on horseback, No. 489.) 



(Painted 1834. Plate No. 172, page 68, vol. 2, Catlin's Eight Years.) 



