Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana, in the year 1852 / by Randolph B. Marcy ; assisted by George B. McClellan. Page: 33 of 368
xv, 286 p., [65] p. of plates (1 fold.) : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this book.
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WITCHITAS.
17
CHAPTER III.
WITCHITAS-DISCOURAGING ACCOUNTS OF THE COUNTRY IN ADVANCE-PASS 1000
OF LONGITUDE-LEAVE OTTER CREEK-BERRIS-ELK CREEK-PASS WITCHITA
MOUNTAINS-GYPSUM BLUFFS-BUFFALOF.S SEENI-SUYDAM CREEK--OMANCHE
SIGNS.
May 27.-As the water still continues at too high a stage for crossing,
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 opposite
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 tall
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, "CanajeHexie."
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 distributed
among such of his red children as were friends to Americans;
and as many of them continue to regard Texas as a separate and independent
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 concerning
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 flow2
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Marcy, Randolph Barnes. Exploration of the Red River of Louisiana, in the year 1852 / by Randolph B. Marcy ; assisted by George B. McClellan., book, 1854; Washington, DC. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6105/m1/33/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.