110 



lumps of rock salt. From the Panis villages to 

 the head of Red river the land is broken and 

 mountainous, and wholly destitute of wood, ex- 

 cepting willows and small cotton wood, trees on 

 the borders of the streams. The Indians report 

 that there are many silver mines among these 

 mountains, of which the white people have no 

 knowledge. 



The Panis or Towiache Indians, who reside on 

 these waters, were once powerful, but are re- 

 duced to about four hundred warriors. They 

 live in villages, and have large numbers of horses . 

 and mules, and raise corn, tobacco, beans, 

 squashes, and pumpkins. They cut the pump- 

 kins into long, narrow strips, as is sometimes , 

 done by white people, to dry them. When they 

 are sufficiently wilted to be tough, they weave . 

 them into mats. These mats, with the other pro- n 

 ductions they raise, they sell to the roving bands 

 of the Hietan Indians, who rove in the plains ; 

 and mountains between Red river and Saint a i 

 Fe, but never live in villages. The Hietans i 

 wear these mats over their shoulders ; and, as : 

 they travel, cut off pieces and eat, until they have i 

 devoured their mats. These commodities the i 

 Panis exchange for buffaloe robes, horses, and: 

 mules. Although their country abounds with i" 

 game, they are not esteemed good hunters. 

 Having few guns, they depend on their bows and 

 arrows. The buffaloe, deer, bear, antelope, and 

 wild hogs, are in great plenty ; but they live 



