148 



guns. They speak the language of the Panis, 

 and claim the same ancestors. 



The Hietans or Comanches have neither towns 

 nor villages, nor any fixed place of residence. 

 They are divided into so many bands or tribes, 

 that they have scarcely any knowledge of one 

 another. No estimate of their numbers can be 

 made. They never reside in the same place 

 more than a few days, but constantly follow the 

 £tuffaloe, which afford them their principal food. 

 They carry their tents with them, which are made 

 jof neatly dressed skins, in the form of a cone j 

 they are large enough for a family of ten or 

 twelve persons ; those of the ehiefs are larger, 

 &nd are some of them sufficient for fifty or sixty 

 people. When they encamp, their tents are 

 pitched in very exact order, so as to form regular 

 Streets and squares, which in a few minutes has 

 the appearance of a handsome town, raised, as 

 it were, by enchantment ; and they are equally 

 dexterous in striking their tents and preparing to 

 inarch, when the signal is given. They allot two 

 horses or mules to every tent, one to carry the 

 tent, and the other the poles used in setting it up, 

 which are neatly made of red cedar. They all 

 travel on horse back. They never turn their 

 horses loose to graze, but keep them tied with a 

 long halter ; and every two or three days they 

 are obliged to move, to find grass for the support 

 of their horses ; for they have always a large 

 number. They have fine horses, and are excel- 



