WITCHITAS. 17 



CHAPTER III. 



WlTCHITAS — DISCOURAGING ACCOUNTS OF THE COUNTRY IN ADVANCE — PASS 100° 

 OF LONGITUDE LEAVE OTTER CREEK — BERRIES — ELK CREEK — PASS WIT- 

 CHITA .. MOUNTAINS — GYPSUM BLUFFS — BUFFALOF.S SEEN SUYDAM CREEK — CO- 



MANCKE SIGNS. 



May 27. — As the water still continues at too high a stage for cross- 

 ing, we moved our camp up the creek about a mile this morning, where 

 we found better grass for our animals. Shortly after we had . pitched 

 our tents, a large party of Indians made their appearance on the oppo- 

 site bank, and requested us to cut a tree for them to cross upon, as : they 

 wished to have "a talk" with "the captain." I accordingly had .a tali 

 tree cut, which fell across the stream, when they came over upon it and 

 encamped near us. 



They proved to be a hunting party of Witchitas, about one hundred 

 and fifty in number, and were commanded by an old chief, "Canaje- 

 Hexie." They had with them a large number of horses and mules, 

 heavily laden with jerked buffalo meat, and ten wild horses which they 

 had lassoed upon the prairie. They said they had been in search of us 

 for several days; having learned we were coming up Red river, they 

 were desirous of knowing what our business, was in this part of their 

 country. I replied to them that I was going to the head of Red river, 

 for the purpose of visiting the Indians, cultivating their friendship, and 

 delivering to them "a talk" from the Great Captain of all the whites, 

 who, in token of his kindly feelings, had sent some presents to be dis- 

 tributed among such of his red children as were friends to Americans; 

 and as many of them continue to regard Texas as a separate and inde- 

 pendent republic, I endeavored to impress upon them the fact that the 

 inhabitants of that State were of the same nation as the whites in other 

 parts of the United States. I also told them that all the prairie tribes 

 would be held responsible for depredations committed against the people 

 of Texas, as well as elsewhere in our territories. I made inquiries con- 

 cerning the country through which we still have to pass in our journey. 



They said we would find one more stream of good water about two 



days' travel from here; that we should then leave the mountains, and 



after that find no more fresh water to the sources of the river. The 



chief represented the river from where it leaves the mountains as flow- 



2 



