HOSTILITY TO NEGROES. 101 



although it was far from agreeable to my own feelings. Seizing me in 

 his brawny arms while we were yet in the saddle, and laying his greasy 

 head upon my shoulder, he inflicted upon me a most bruin-like squeeze, 

 which I endured with a degree of patient fortitude worthy of the 

 occasion ; and I was consoling myself upon the completion of the 

 salutation, when the savage again seized me in his arms, and I was 

 doomed to another similar torture, with his head on my other shoulder, 

 while at the same time he rubbed his greasy face against mine in the 

 most affectionate manner; all of which proceeding he gave me to 

 understand was to be regarded as a most distinguished and signal mark 

 of affection for the American people in general, whom, as he expressed 

 it, he loved so much that it almost broke his heart ; and in particular for 

 myself, who, as their representative, can bear testimony to the strength 

 of his attachment. On leaving his camp, the chief shook me heartily 

 by the hand, telling me at the same time that he was not a Comanche, 

 but an American ; and as I did not feel disposed to be outdone in polite- 

 ness by an Indian, I replied, in the same spirit, that there was not a drop 

 of Anglo-Saxon blood in my veins, but that I was wholly and absolutely 

 a Comanche, at which he seemed delighted, duly understanding and 

 appreciating the compliment. These people are hospitable and kind to 

 all with whom they are not at war ; and on the arrival of a stranger at 

 their camps, a lodge is prepared for him, and he is entertained as long 

 as he chooses to remain among them. They are also kind and affec- 

 tionate to each other, and as long as anything comestible remains in the 

 camp, all are permitted to share alike ; but with these exceptions, they 

 are possessed of but few virtues. Polygamy -is sanctioned and is very 

 common among them, every man being allowed as many wives as he 

 can support. 



Within the past few years the Comanches have (for what reason I 

 could not learn) taken an inveterate dislike to the negroes, and have 

 massacred several small parties of those who attempted to escape from 

 the Seminoles and cross the plains for the purpose of joining Wild Cat 

 upon the Rio Grande. Upon inquiring of them the cause of their 

 hostility to the blacks, they replied that it was because they were slaves 

 to the whites ; that they were sorry for them. I suspect, however, that 

 they were actuated by other motives than they cared about acknowledg- 

 ing, and that instead of wishing to better their condition by sending 

 them to another world, where they would be released from the fetters of 

 bondage, they were apprehensive, if they permitted them to pass quietly, 

 that in time Wild Cat's followers upon the Rio Grande would augment 

 to such a degree that he would interfere with their marauding opera- 



