WITCHITA INDIANS. 69 



there were three distinct ranges running from northeast to southwest ; 

 at this place they appear to he united in one chain, and there seems to 

 be no pass practicable for wagons in this vicinity. 



July 17. — Moving out from camp at half-past three this morning, 

 we journeyed along the southeastern base of the mountains, passing 

 several spring-brooks of cold, delicious water, flowing from the deep 

 gorges of the mountain, over the masses of loose rock at the base, into 

 the valley below. These brooks are perennial, and this being the dry 

 season, they are probably now at their lowest stage, yet there is a suffi- 

 ciency of water for all purposes of farmers and for milling. 



The soil continues of an excellent quality, and sustains a heavy 

 vegetation. In addition to the advantages of rich soil, good timber, 

 and water, which everywhere abound near the mountains tbus far upon 

 our route, may be added that of the great salubrity of the climate. 



The atmosphere in these elevated regions is cool, elastic, and bracing, 

 and the breezes which sweep across the prairie temper the heat of the 

 sun, and render it, even in midsummer, cool and comfortable. 



The different branches of Cache creek drain a large extent of country, 

 which might be made available for agricultural purposes, and would be 

 sufficient to sustain a large population. 



The particular district embracing the Witchita mountains has for 

 many years been occupied and (with much justice, it seems to me) 

 claimed by the Witchita Indians, who have a tradition that their ori- 

 ginal progenitor issued from the rocks of these mountains, and that the 

 Great Spirit gave him and his posterity the country in the vicinity for a 

 heritage, and here they continued to live and plant corn for a long time. 



Notwithstanding this claim of the Witchitas, which the right of 

 occupancy and possession has guarantied to them, yet the whole of this 

 beautiful country, as far as the 100th degree of west longitude, is 

 included in the grant made by the United States to the Choctaws, 

 who thereby possess the greater part of the lands upon Upper Red river 

 that are really valuable. 



The Witchitas are an insignificant tribe in point of numbers, not 

 having more than about five hundred souls in the nation, and are not, 

 of course, prepared to substantiate or enforce their title to this country ; 

 and, indeed, I very much doubt if they have any claims upon the con- 

 sideration or generosity of our government, being the most notorious 

 and inveterate horse-thieves upon the borders, as the early frontier 

 settlers of Texas can vouch for ; and they are only held in restraint 

 now by fear of the troops near them. They have always been extremely 

 jealous of the motives of the white people who have wished to penetrate 



