TONKAWA?, WACOS, WICHITAS, ETC. 17 
frequently avail themselves of the absence of the Camanches, during the summer, to make 
descents from the mountains upon the small parties of Kiowas who remain in the valley of the 
Arkansas. 
The surplus horses and mules which are brought from Mexico are traded among the Arapa- 
hoes and Cheyennes, and with these Indians they maintain a kind of equivocal peace, which is 
solely dependent upon the success of their plundering expeditions in the south. 
A small fragment of what are known as the Apaches of the Plains also live among the Ca- 
manches, but are so few in number, and of so little influence, as to require but a bare mention 
in this paper. 
The Tonkawas, Wacos, Wichitas, Caddoes, &c.—'The valley of the Brazos, and the country 
from thence to the Red river, along the route, are occupied by the several small tribes of 
Indians above mentioned, probably not numbering in all one thousand persons. They are 
peaceable and friendly, and for several years past have committed no depredations. 
In most cases they cultivate small farms, and are dependent fo. subsistence upon agricultural 
products rather than the spoils of war or the chase. They are easily held in control by the 
military post (Fort Belknap) established upon the Brazos, i; 
The country between the Red river and the western frontier of Arkansas (one hundred and 
fifty miles) is occupied by the semi-civilized tribes of Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Cherokees, 
who, several years since, were emigrated to their present homes from Georgia, Alabama, and 
Mississippi. They occupy houses, cultivate fields, and approach nearly, in the matter of cos- 
tume and manners, to the whites who live among them. They are fond of drinking and 
gambling, and although occasional fatal quarrels occur with each other, they are in other 
respects harmless. 
It will be observed that in this brief account of the Indian tribes which are found along this 
route, I have confined myself to a mere statement of their estimated numbers and the districts 
of country which they occupy. 
My instructions required me to report upon the military features of the route, and in this 
respect such information concerning the Indians was necessary to explain fully the military dis- 
positions which, in my judgment, will be advisable to insure security to the emigrant and the 
settler. 
I have therefore supposed, that however interesting to those curious in such matters might 
be a detailed account of their manners and customs, their appearance and costume, a vocabu- 
lary of their languages and wild and irreconcilable traditions concerning their origin and his- 
tory, such things could have little practical bearing upon the duties with which I was charged, 
and would, therefore, be little appropriate to this report. 
EN? 
