. CAMANCHE GRAVE. 137 
_ of this kind, but a jaded horse and a hot day, are poor 
assistants in a chase, so it ended as it began, in smoke. 
A rabbit chase—more successful—shortly afterwards, gave 
a little more spirit to our party, but our apprehensions about 
water, soon absorbed every other thought. Oxen cannot get 
along without it, and it took no small supply for our stock. 
We toiled on until noon, under that boiling sun, with the 
thermometer one hundred and ten degrees in the shade—the 
dliekas of heat during our trip—and arriving at the foot of a 
steep bluff, found some rainwater in a hole filled with snakes 
and green scum, but concluded best to encamp and await the 
return of Jacobs, who was dispatched ahead to seek for water. 
Ascending the bluffs, to get a better view of water 
courses, &c., we found two Camanche graves, They always 
bury on the highest peak in their vicinity at the time of 
the death. The grave is simply a hole scratched in the » 
ground, large enough for the body, and stones piled on 
top, whether to mark it or as a protection against wolves 
I know not. I was curious to open one of these’ graves, 
and had commenced operations upon it, when Conner came 
up and with mingled awe and fear in his countenance, 
remarked “Maybe so, dis people dey not like dat,” so I 
desisted. I afterwards ascertained, that they bury a corpse 
in a sitting posture, with clothing, &c., just as it was at the 
time of death. 
From the top of the pluff Conner said he could see the 
course of the Brazos about forty miles off, and gave us some 
