EDITED BY F. W. HODGE A SERIES OF PUBLICA- TIONS RELATING TO THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES A REPORT FROM NATCHITOCHES IN 1807 BY DR. JOHN SIBLEY NEW YORK MUSEUM OP THE AMERICAN INDIAN HEYE FOUNDATION 1922 THIS scries of INDIAN NOTES AND MONO- GRAPHS is devoted primarily to the publica- tion of the result of studies by members of the staff of the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation, and is uniform with HISPANIC NOTES AND MONOGRAPHS, published by the Hispanic Society of America, with which organization this Museum is in cordial cooperation. Only the first ten volumes of INDIAN NOTES AND MONOGRAPHS are numbered. The unnumbered parts may readily be deter- mined by consulting the List of Publications issued as one of the series. INDIAN NOTES AND MONOGRAPHS EDITED BY F. W. HODGE A SERIES OF PUBLICA- TIONS RELATING TO THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES A REPORT FROM NATCHITOCHES IN 1807 BY DR. JOHN SIBLEY EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION, BY ANNIE HELOISE ABEL NEW YORK MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN HEYE FOUNDATION 1922 THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN MG0 LA JOLLA. CALIFORNIA 3 CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 5 A REPORT FROM NATCHITOCHES IN 1807. by Dr John Sibley 11 Votes 88 Texas Indians f 93 ILLUSTRATION PL. I, A-C. Facsimile of notes by Sibley, chiefly on the Hietan, or Comanche, appended to his Journal 102 INDIAN NOTES 5 INTRODUCTION MT' N RECENT years and largely be- cause of the researches of Dr 9JH35 Isaac Joslin Cox, historical interest in old Louisiana has centered chiefly in early American designs upon the same and in the astonishing in- trigues of that most contemptible of mer- cenary beings, James Wilkinson, general- issimo of the United States Army. As usual, the interest has only very rarely and never more than indirectly extended itself sufficiently to include the affairs of the abo- rigines when dissociated from relations conditioned by their contact with the superior race. It was not before the appearance of Professor Bolton's Athanase de Mezieres that ever so slight a suggestion of the importance of a knowledge of the once numerous Southern tribes in and for them- selves was communicated to students of American history. The journal here edited INDIAN NOTES NATCHITOCHES is a meager contribution to the source material now in demand. The author of the journal was Dr John Sibley, who, for a considerable period sub- sequent to 1803, was in a position to know more probably than did any other man of the time concerning the Indians who dwelt around about Natchitoches, 1 a frontier post on Red river established by Saint Denis in the second decade of the eight eenth century, and most strategically im- portant in the beginning of the succeeding century because it commanded the approach to Texas. Needless to say, Dr Sibley was not a native of the region where circumstances later placed him officially. He was a New Englander, having been born at Sutton, Massachusetts, in 1757. 2 He studied medi cine and, like his father, Timothy Sibley, identified himself with the "patriots" of the American Revolution, 3 he being a surgeon's mate. 4 Independence once se- cured and peace restored, John Sibley re- sumed his profession and opened a practice at Great Barrington, whither he seems to INDIAN NOTES INTRODUCTION have removed previous to CornwalhV sur render at Yorktown. At Great Harrington he met and married Elizabeth Hopkins daughter of the Reverend Samuel Hopkins ; but his life with her was not of the happiest, and about 1784 he left New England alto- gether and went south to Fayetteville, North Carolina. 6 There in the Cape Fear country the surroundings were eminently congenial to one of Sibley's temperament, and there what was to be his absorbing interest in the frontier had excellent chance to develop Yet Sibley did not make Fayetteville his permanent home. Report has it that the story of his domestic infelicities followed him thither and when he would have obliterated the past by re-marriage 7 a bigamous offence under the circumstances he found that not even backwoodsmen of the Joseph Martin type, 8 of the stuff of which Regulators 9 are on occasion made, would tolerate violation of the customary law. Made uncomfortable by his neigh- bors or urged by some equally cogent reason, Sibley found it convenient to migrate again. He wandered into Loui- AND MONOGRAPHS NATCHITOCHES siana, arriving there the year of, but some little time antecedent to, its transfer to the United States. 10 The move was opportune. Sibley be- came known to Governor Claiborne and through him to President Jefferson with whose opinion as to the larger limits of the Louisiana cession his own coincided. 11 By letter of March 20, 1804, he put himself at Jefferson's disposal, with the result that he was appointed "surgeon's mate for the troops stationed at Natchitoches, and later as Indian agent for Orleans Territory and the region south of the Arkansas." 12 The instructions 13 sent to him by Secretary Dearborn in connection with the latter appointment indicate the eagerness with which the American government was seeking intimate acquaintance with its new possession, and likewise with Indians outside its recognized bounds. In secur ing such information, Sibley had al- ready proved himself highly efficient; for, besides furnishing Claiborne and others with geographical and ethnological data, 14 he had prepared and forwarded to the Depart- INDTAN NOTES men t* of War two reports of considerable value, one known as Historical Sketches, 15 the other an account of Red River, 16 based on explorations that he had made himself and on information gleaned from his assist- ant, Francis Grappe. 17 The present journal is in the nature of a supplement 18 to the Historical Sketches. Of similar ethnological interest, it has an added claim on the student's attention; for it reflects southern life in a first contact with aborigines, and records the daily trivial happenings of a frontier post. More- over, it has incidental references to con- temporary explorers, particularly to that most elusive of them, Zebulon Pike, that are not without value. It has until now remained in obscurity, because, at the time of its arrival in Washington, it passed into the possession of the Treasury Department and was there buried. In 1905 it was re- discovered and transmitted 19 to the Indian Office, where it now reposes. ANNIE HELOISE ABEL. AND MONOGRAPHS I) A REPORT FROM NATCHI- TOCHES IN 1807 An abstract from the Records of John Sibley esq. r Indian Agent in the Territory of Orleans for the Year 1807 Relative to Indian Jany 5" TWO Caddo Indians arriv'd here on Business at the factory & J^H^ report that a party of their Na- tion have been on a friendly visit and to trade with the Panis and were on their return home Rob'd of Seventy two Horses by a party of Ozages, and left on foot about 200 Miles from home with Considerable quanty of Baggage, Consist- ing Principally of Buffalo Robes, they sent a runner to inform the Chief of their Situation, who immediately sat off with all the Horses he could Muster to their relief, and that soon after he left home his (the Chiefs) House Caught fire and Burnt up INDIAN NOTES 12 NATCHITOCHES with a quantity of corn and Other Valuable property. Same day I gave an Aiche woman a Shawl for attending and giving me a Vocabulary 20 of the Aiche Language. Cap* John Burnett Presented himselfe and made Oath that a Creek or Conchetta Indian Commonly called Tom was killed at the Salt works in the vicinity of Natchitoches on Saturday the 10" Ins by a Man by the Name of Samuel Watson, a dispute took place between Watson & the Indian. Tom the Indian went & got a knife and say'd he would Kill Watson and was advancing to- wards him with the knife in his hand, Watson endeavour'd to Avoid him, but Could not, a Boat was taking in Salt. Watson went on Board of the Boat, Caught a Loaded Gun, the Indian Still Advancing. Watson discharged the Gun at him & killed him Instantly, they being but a few feet apart, in presence of Several Persons. Watson went Again on Board of the Boat Loaded the Gun Again & went Away; the Sherrif was immediately dis- patch'd to Apprehend him, but Could not INDIAN NOTES 13 find him, I Sent two Indians after the Rela- tions of Tom to bring them in that I might explain to them the Circumstances, before from any false impressions they might Attempt Retaliation, and wrote to Gov r Claiborne requesting [page 2] his Excellency would be pleas'd to Issue a Proclamation for the apprehention of Watson. Watson is about five feet 10 Inches high, about 24 years of Age, late from Warren County in Kentucky, has light blue eyes, light Com- plexion, Short hair and is Somewhat Stoop Shouldered. Arriv'd a Party of Caddos to trade, who say all is quiet with them and with their friends the Panis; but Complain that Game is Scarse from their being no Acorns, the loss of so many Horses pre- vented their going into the Praries after Buffalo, they have heard Nothing of Mes r8 Lewis, 21 Alexander & Party who Sat off for the Panis Nation in Dec r last, Since they passed their Village. I gave Cut finger, who is a particular friend & Companion of the great Caddo Chief a Hat and had made for him a Blue half Regi- 1807 Feby21* AND MONOGRAPHS 14 NATCHITOCHES 26" March 18' mental frock Coat which I presented him with, he was particularly friendly & atten- tive to Major Freemans 22 exploring Party. Two Caddos Came to trade, report Nothing Extraordinary; I Gave them Provisions & bought of the factor 23 two Brass Kittles to keep to lend to Indians who Come in On business from a distance and bring no Cooking Utensils with them. The Uncle & brother of Tom the Indian who was killed at the Saline Arriv'd. I informed them of the Circumstances so far as I knew them, that Watson had fled and that all due pains had been Taken to Appre- hend him, and if he could be Caught he would be brought to trial & if found Guilty would be punish'd Agreable to Our Laws, and that Our Gov* would always afford them protection & we were as ready to render them Justice as to demand it of them, we would punish an Injury done to them as soon as to a White Man; but by our Laws the Innocent was never to suffer for the Guilty, they, I hop'd had Sufficient Confidence in the Justice of Our Gov* as to Preclude in them all Idea of retaliation. INDIAN NOTES MURDER AND ROBBERY 15 20* The Ozages scalps were afterwards brot down & shown to me, they gave the Caddos some of the Horses again and that they believ'd Our Gov* was Just and would Punish a White man for Killing an Indian as soon as for killing a WhiteMan, and that from what they Understood it might appear on trial that Tom was to Blame & that Watson was Oblig'd to kill him or be killed by him; they should rest it entirely with us to do what was right Agreable to our Laws, &c. I treated them well in my House Gave them Provisions when they went away & they Appear'd to be Satisfied and talk'd Received information that a Party of Ali- bamis & Appelaches were in the Prarie above the Caddo Village hunting Buffelo & fell in with the Same party of Ozages who Rob'd the Caddos of their Horses, Attack'd them in the Night in their Camp killed five of them & defeated the whol Party & Retook Most of the Horses, there were more than twenty Ozages & only eight of the other Partie who Sustained no loss, the Scalps of the five they Killed had arriv'd at the Conchetta Village where all the AND MONOGRAPHS 16 NATCHITOCHES 1807 April 3<. Neighbouring Tribes were Collecting to hold the War Dance; my informant was one of the Alibamis who belonged to the Party. A Small Party of Cherokees Arriv'd here in two Perogues from up Red River with Deer Skins to trade in the factory, & being the first Cherokees that ever were here and well behaved Indians, I treated them well with provisions. There had been a Mis- understanding between them & the Caddos for some years, they had been to see the Caddos & made friends with them, & some Caddos Accompanied them here As Pilots KT- Kir C\rr\nr- nf til/* fVii^f ... Seven or eight years Ago there was by Accident a Cherokee Killed in the Caddo Country, 24 the brother to the Man who was killed was one of the party that was here, he told me they had talk'd it over with the Caddo Chief, who entirely Satisfied him, he did not blame the Caddos in the Least, & spoke highly of the Caddo Chief. [Page 4] A Chacta Indian Called Cap* Sam presented himselfe & Produced a Certificate Sighn'd by some respectable Inhabitants of the County of Rapides on Red River where INDIAN NOTES PASCAGOULAS 17 he had lived for some time past that he was peacable, & Honest, &c he re- quested permission to plant Corn & build some temporary huts at a Prarie Near the Adaize where he Could live quietly & have his little Stock about him & not have them in the way of white people. I gave him permission, he had with him seven Men & seven Women exclusive of Children, to en- courage him I gave him Seven Hatchets to Cut Cane with, Seven Hoes & One Ax, the Hoes I bought of the factor the Ax & Hatchets were remaining of my own Indian Goods. I gave him likewise Some Seed Corn, Peach Stones, Garden & Mellon 4' Francis Bossie esq r . & M r John Veroh of this County Presented themselves with the Pascagola Chief & a party of Indians of that Nation, and 'the Chief by the Inter- preter Veron represented that Some years Ago his Nation Sold some Land to the Late Mons r . LeCour the former husband of the Present Madam Gillard, and that Now M r . Gillard claims more Land under that Sale than they ever Sold & Particularly AND MONOGRAPHS 18 NATCHITOCHES 1807 1 did in- form M r Gillard,and the Indians remain as yet peac- ably on the land the Lands which they expressly reserv'd for their Village where they now live, and requests them to move off & Give it up to him. M r Veron Declar'd he was present at the Sale of the Land to M r LeCour and was the Interpreter between them, and knows the Statement of the Chief to be true; I inform'd the Indians that M r Gillard Never having had possession of the Land in question, they had Never been out of possession of it, that on the Change of Gov we found them there, they Could not be turn'd off by M r Gillard untill his Claim was established, that If it came before the Board of Commissioners [ Page 5 ] of Land Claims, I should think it my duty to State to the Commissioners their Objections to it, with the evidence they Could produce rela- tive to the Sale &c, and ,that Justice would Undoubtedly be done them; but what ever had been Legally done by the Spanish Gov 1 would not be undone by our Gov* they might in the Mean time plant their Corn in peace, & I would inform M r Gillard that his Claim Could not be affected by the Indians Continuing as usual on the Land. INDIAN NOTES "CONCHETTAS" 19 that it was desirable to avoid all disputes Detween the Red & White people; but Should his Claim be established, the Indians must then move to Some Other place. April 7 i Id IMlllgU Ot, JXCU. OllUCo LWU Conchetta Chiefs with 33 Men of the Sabine Village Arriv'd. I gave them Provisions. Red Shoes say'd that Tom who was Killed at the Sabine by Watson was his Brother and that he came to demand, and expected, Satisfaction for it. I informed him what had been done to apprehend Watson, that he had been Once taken & broke away Again, and that If he Could be Caught he would be brought to trial, and the" Same Justice would be done them by Our Laws that would If a White Man had been Killed, that their great Father the President Con- sidered all the Red people as his Children, and he would not Suffer any wrong to be done them without given them Just & Legal Satisfaction, If the person who had done the wrong Could be Caught; but if he made his escape we could do only what the Case would Admit of; the Innocent Could not Suffer for the guilty. Bad men ought AND MONOGRAPHS 20 NATCHITOCHES 1807 14:' not to break our friendship; he seemed satis- fied & went away, Return'd Again & de- manded Some presents. I ask'd him for what he said to keep them quiet & from doing us any Mischief on Account of Tom, that he Could not think of loosing his Brother for Nothing 25 [ Page 6 ] I did not disguise from him that I was not well pleas'd at the manner in which he had express'd himselfe, that we were not to be menac'd into a Compliance with his unreasonable demand, after the explanation I had given him, he Said no more about it; I however before he went away gave him a Hat & a half Regimental Blue Coat faced with Red which I had made with Several others of some stroud 26 that remain'd of the Goods I receiv'd, which The Grand Caddo Chief and a party of 15 men of that Nation in Perogues loaded with Skins arriv'd. I gave them Provisions & a I gave the Caddo Chief a Scarlet Regimental Coat trim'd with Black Velvet and white Plated Buttons. The Cloth I bought of INDIAN NOTES CADDO GIFTS 21 the factor the Making & Trimings Cost Eight Dollars. At the same time gave the Son of Carody the Old Caddo Chief a Blue Half Regimental Coat trim'd with Scarlet 1807 April 25' And Sent by the Caddo Chief a Regimental Coat to a friend of his Called the Grand Ozages. (Called so from his having in a Battle with a party of Ozages been wounded with a Ball in his forehead) and who parti- cularly attach'd himself e to Maj r Freeman in his exploring expedition & accompanied him from the Caddo Village as far up the River as he went, and back again to Natchi- toches, and was Particularly Servisable in hunting, as a Guide & keeping the Other Indians together, and is in Major Freemans Opinion one of the Best Indians he ever saw. Murry each of them had permission to purchase a Horse of the Indians at a fair price, the marks of the Horses were Regis- [ Page 7] The Interpreter Gaspard Phille- bare Arriv'd from the Conchetta Village with the Boats and what he found of the AND MONOGRAPHS 22 NATCHITOCHES May 12'. Reid came to Natchi- toches & presented nimselfe and gave himself up. May 5". Articles which were left there by Major Freeman, he hired fourteen Indians to assist in bringing down the Boats, who M r Linnard Paid at my request out of the factory. Reid the Corporal of the Guard who was left with the Charge of the Property after making way with a number of the Things, and Selling about one hundred Dollars worth of Deer Skins be- longing to the Three Soldiers who were left with him Deserted to the Spaniards at Nacogdoches. they were Oblig'd to Leave a Large Perogue behind them at one of the Rafts in the River above Campti not being Three Caddos Arriv'd Special Messengers from the Caddo Chief to inform me that a party of Chactas consisting of Eight per- sons from the great Nation Under a Leader Called Stamelachee had lately been at a Camp of Nandacos at a Saline on the River Sabine above where the Nandacos live, the Men being out hunting & left their Women to Make Salt & had Murdered two of the Women & wounded Some Others, without any provocation and brought the Scalps INDIAN NOTES CHOCTAW-OSAGE FEUD 23 of the women through the Conchetta Village on their way to the great Chacta Nation. The Chief Instructed them to tell me that he Sent me this information agreeable to the Stipulations of the treaty and that he demanded Satisfaction for the 8'. 15* 1807 I dispatch 'd William Rollings to find all the Chacta Chiefs who Assisted at the Treaty of peace with the Caddos, to give them the Above information, and request they would come immediately to Natchitoches for the purpose of concerting Measures to give to the Caddo Chief the Satisfaction he demanded. Piamingo the Conchetta Chief Arriv'd with a party from the upper Village on Red River, he brought two of the Ozages Scalps, that the Party of Indians of that Village had Taken a Short time before [ Page 8 ] Piamingo Said that Red River was rising remarkably high that Some of the Village & Cornfields were Overflow'd, he went there to endeavour to perswade the Indians of that Village to abandon it AND MONOGRAPHS 24 NATCHITOCHES May 20'. & go & live with them on the Sabine he said he Could not perswade them to Move. Note. I afterwards had reason to think he was Sent by Governor Cordero of S* Antonio, and that the real Object was to perswade all the different Tribes of Creeks on the West side of the Mississippi (viz) Conchettas, Alibamis & Appelaches to move into the dominions of Spain to Consolidate & make them as formidable as possible. Biachubby a Chacta Chief & 48 persons with him arriv'd from Acatahola where they live, they were going on a hunting Party towards the Caddo Country, and on hearing of the Murder of the tw Women turn'd back the Same day Arriv'd Tombolin another Chacta Chief & Party with Tusca- toga, the Chief & his Party, Neuchema a Chief, and Chechemastubba, all Accom- panied by their Warriors. Since the death of the Chief Chapanchaba no one has been Elected to fill his place, Tombolin is a Sensible Active Young Man, of the family of the deceas'd Chief, and Nephew to the two Brothers Tuscatoga & Chechemastubba, who had Such influence INDIAN NOTES CHOCTAW ARRIVE 25 that they Could Appoint without Opposi- tion who they pleas'd, they Agree'd to pro- pose their Nephew Tombolin, & inform'd me of it; I know the temper of him and his disposition to Drink, and was Sorry to hear him propos'd. Tuscatoga was my choice, who is not Apt to get Intoxicated & is a peacable Honest Man; but I being Un- willing to Oppose them consented to their proposal, on conditions that Tuscatoga would Act as Second to him, which was Agree'd to. Same day Arriv'd a party of Alibamis from the Conchetta Village on Red River, with a quantity of skins to trade in the fac- tory, gave them Provisions. [Page 9] Several Other Chacta Chiefs 1807 with their Warriors arriv'd (viz) The Huani May 26' Chief, Cap* Sam, & Mucklehei & White Meat whose wife is the Daughter to the great Chief Deceas'd, Chapanchaba. I .~ ^ 4-Vi ~11 T> ~ " " gave inem an JT revisions. Tuscatoga came and inform'd me that all 28* the Chiefs & head Men had arriv'd that were expected, and they were all assembled at the Indian House and were waiting for AND MONOGRAPHS 26 NATCHITOCHES me there. I accordingly repaired thither with the Interpreter and a Number of Gentlemen as Spectators. When Tuscatoga Presented to me his Nephew Tombolin as their Newly Elected Chief, who being Seated Tuscatoga Seated himselfe at his left hand, they were both of them formally Installed as Chiefs, and all who were present of the Nation (upwards of two hundred) came one after another & took them by the hand I Presented Tombolin with a Sword, with such a Speech as I thought Appropriate to the Occasion, with a Hat & Plume, a White Shirt, & a Blue Regimental Coat. And to after which I explained to them, the Cause of my Sending for them, represented the Murder of the two Women as unprovok'd, Cruel, & Cowardly, and disgracefull to War- riors, & that by the Treaty they were bound to make a Just retribution. I describ'd to them the Horrors of their Wars, that they bore hard upon their Women & Children; defeated their hunting & Planting Pursuits, & brought upon them Misery in a great INDIAN NOTES ADVICE TO CHOCTAW 27 variety of forms, & besides it was the Wish of their great Father the President of the United States that they Should all live in peace, & Recommended to them that a respectable delegation of three or four per- sons Should be immediately Sent to the Caddo Nation, with a good Talk to the Chief expressing their Wish to live in peace & disaprobating the Murders that had been Committed, disclaiming all [Page 10] knowledge of it or Connection with the Murderers, & their regret at it, and promis- ing to do all they could to have the Mur- derers punished; which was unanimously Agree'd to, & Tuscatoga Offered to go & two of his friends Offered to Accompany him, & M r Philebare the Caddo Interpreter who Speaks both Languages Agree'd to go with them; preparations were made Ac- cordingly for theu* departure. I Gave Tuscatoga a Medal & Sent Another by him to the Great Caddo Chief, which I had made by John Conrad & a White Smith, and two White Shirts, 2 Small Gorgets, 2 Braggy's 28 and 2 pair of Leggings, 2 Black Handkfs, 4 Ells binding 1807 May AND MONOGRAPHS 28 NATCHITOCHES 2 lb Powder, 4 lb lead, 1 Comb, & 4' vermilion and a New Bridle. And Paid a Chickesaw $24-75 ct ' in goods Out of the he now has the Horse factory for a Horse for M r Gaspard Philebare in good order, as the Interpreter to ride to the Caddo Nation public Pro- perty. .^ 4.1,^ /-] t- r>~.~. wim tne i^nacta v^ommissioners. In the Mean time many of the Indians re- main'd here, Saying Untill they knew the result of the embassy they were afraid to go Out hunting, that they would go as Soon as I could tell them whether If they went into the Woods it was to be Killed or to kill a deer. I Gave them two Barrels of Damag'd Flour that Came down from the Conchetta Village in Major Freeman's Boats. While they remain'd here Tombolin the newly made Chief got into a habit of Drunkenness and behav'd so 111 at my House & to me for refusing him Liquor Threatening my life, Alarming my Servants by his Menacings, that M r Linnard ran & brought me a Loaded Pistol, to Shoot him If he did not desist, Another person Brought me a Gun. I however had a Scuffle with him & I believe at some risque took his INDIAN NOTES BALL-PLAY 29 Sword from 'him which he [Page 11 ] Drawn to Kill or frighten me, his two Uncles Tuscatoga & Chechemastubba heard of the fray and hastened to the House and when they understood how he had behaved would have killed him on the Spot If I had per- mitted them, they told him in my Presence if he ever Insulted me Again they would kill him, we however, Concluded to depose him & took his Hat & Plume & Coat from him I gave him his Coat again by the request of Tuscatoga but kept his Sword, which I afterwards gave to Tuscatoga who is now regarded as the first Chief on this Side of the Missisippi, the Hat & Plume was Given to one who went with Tuscatoga to the C* -i A A r\ Villnrrr- 1807 While the Chactas remain'd here a large Party of Pascagolas came to play a Match at Ball with them, there were twenty four players of a Side they made high Betts, & even the Women bet with One Another every rag of Cloathing they had, and the Winer Stript the Looser immediately On the ground, the Men Bet their Horses, Guns, Jewelry &c the first day the Chactas Beat AND MONOGRAPHS 30 NATCHITOCHES 1807 June 8'. the Pascagolas, they play'd again two days After Changing the Match a little by leaving out Some & taking in Others & the Pascago- las Beat; the Points of Game are Twelve, their Agility & exertion is astonishing to Spectators, & very Interesting, they Often hurt one Another by Blows & falls, Brake & Desiccate Bones & Joints, & Sometimes Kill One Another, but Never get Angry or resent Anything that is done in the game of Ball. If one ever discovers any Anger or resent- ment, he is turn'd Out as disquallified, & not Suffered to play in a Match Again, which is deem'd very disgraceful!, a description of the Principles of the Game, the Instru- ment Used, the preparations & Rules &c would be Somewhat lengthy, and probably would not be deem'd worth Noticing here, [Page 12] I Receiv'd information from White Meat a Chacta Indian who lives at the Yan Cooko Prarie who came here this day that he believ'd or had reason to believe, that a Short time Ago a White Man had been Murdered by a young Conchetta Indian on a Branch of the Bayau Cossachie about INDIAN NOTES WHITE MAN KILLED 31 Thirty or 40 Miles from Natchitoches. After procuring the best information the Indian Could give about the place where the Murder was sepose'd to have been Com- mitted, I employ'd John David, & William Rollings to go Out & Search for the dead Body and procure all the Information they Could about it, I gave them provisions for They Set off the 9" of June, the same day Joseph Gillard Esquire came to Natchitoches and Said he had been inform'd that in Con- sequence of that Murder which 'twas Said had been Committed on the Bayau Cossa- chie by a Conchetta Indian, that they were Cutting up their corn at their Village On the Sabine and were going to abandon it & remove all off into the Dominions of Spain, and that they had Sent to the Appelaches, & Pascagolas a Belt & War Talk, to Induce them to Join them in going to war Against the Americans. Same day I wrote to M r Lesard at Rapide requesting him to procure what information he Could relative to the Above report & inform me of it, If he should deem it Necessary to send an express AND MONOGRAPHS 32 NATCHITOCHES June 12*. 1807 June 14". I would pay the expence of it. The Same day I wrote to Gov r Claiborne Stating the above information, & that we had heard Cap* Pike 29 was in Some of the Interior Spanish Provinces. John David & William Rollings return'd & reported that they found the dead body of a Man in the Main Fork of Bayau Cossachie, it was Mostly under Water where they be- liev'd at had Lain for twenty days or more, the water ran Clear & was Cool where it Lay. I paid each of them Six Dollars [ Page 13 ] I Summoned a Jury of Inquest and being a Magistrate myselfe Acted as Coroner we Set off this day and Arriv'd at the House of M r Edward Teal Near the Bayau Cossachie, the distance from Natchi- toches by the Rout we were oblig'd to pur- sue on Ace* of Some Creeks, the Nearest way being not fordable was estimated at about 25 miles, which at Low water is tra- vel 'd in 15. Next Morning early we Set off again from M r Teals. M r Teal & his Son James went with us, the place where the dead body was being distant from M r Teals about 15 Miles, & his being the Nearest INDIAN NOTES INQUEST House to the place, we found the dead Body as David & Rollings had left it, the Jury were duly empannell'd & Sworn Agreable to the Laws of this Territory, Six being the Number required by Law, & were, Edmund Teal, James Teal, William Rollings, Allen W. Berry, Pierre Suricks, & Joseph Eastep, who proceeded to examine the Subject before them, the Head was seperated f rom the body, and was not found, being a Bold runing Stream and a smoth Rock Bottom the Cur- rent had Carried it down. Most of the Other parts of the Body were found together in a decay'd State, the small Fish had work'd in & destroy 'd Much of the Flesh, the Skin of the breast, Belly and Arms was found Nearly in a Sound State, through that part of the Skin that Cover'd the left side of the Belly were five holes, which the Jury were of the Opinion were the Stabs of a knife, all other Parts of the body were so decay'd that Marks of Violence were not distinguishable, there were Severa" Stabs through the left Side of the Pantaloons of the Man re- sembling those through the Skin of the Belly. The Jury took the examination of Tombolin 33 AND MONOGRAPHS 34 NATCHITOCHES 1807. and White Meat Two Chacta Indians. Tombolin through William Rollings a sworn Interpreter of the Chacta Language In- form'd the Jury "that he had Just return'd from the Conchetta Village on the Sabine, and that he there Saw a Young Man of that Nation who confess'd to him that he did Kill the Same White man at the place where his Body was found, he says the Indian told him the White Man had like to have been too hard for him that they had a very hard fight, & showed him his Thumb which he said the White man Bit, it was then so bad they thought he was in danger of loosing his hand [Page 14] And that One Side of his face was so much bruis'd he had Nearly lost his eye and that the Indian said it was his own fault for he attack'd the White Man before he had got his knife ready, his gun was wet he could not get it off. The Conchetta farther told Tombolin as he related, that when he was at Natchitocheswith the Chiefs Piamingo & Red Shoes he wanted to Kill a White Man in the Street, but they would not let him, and that he waited round the INDIAN NOTES INQUEST Fort two days to get an opportunity ol Killing a Soldier but was disappointed. White Meat the Chacta of the family of the great Chief Chapanchaba deceas'd, who is well known by a Number of the Jury who esteem him a Man of truth, he lives at the Yan Cooko Prarie, about twenty Miles from the place where the dead body was found, towards the Conchetta Village on the Sabine, Related to the Jury the following circumstances, (viz) "that More than a Moon ago a White Man Came to bis House who he understood had come from Oppolousas & was going to Nacogdoches, tie was Leading a Roan Horse that Seem'd so Pack'd or Loaded with goods that he Could not conveniently Ride, was Carrying a Rifle in his hand, with a Deer Skin Case Over it, a small Young Man, had on a Round Black hat, a long drab coloured Great Coat, Leather Pantaloons & New Shoes, and had a good Countenance, he had Miss'd his way which brought him past the Prarie where he lives, he put him into the right path which would take him into the right Road Again Soon after he would Cross 35 AND MONOGRAPHS 36 NATCHITOCHES 1807 the Creek at the place where the dead Body was found, the Creek was then swiming but there was a log a Cross it Near the ford that Travellers Cross'd On & Swam their Horses, his description of the Shoes & Pantaloons the Man had on Answered to those the Jury found. White- meat farther Says that Charles his son in law (a Chacta half breed) [ Page 15 ] came to his House the same Night late in the even- ing after the White Man had pass'd and told him he was Coming from Natchitoches where he had been to trade & on his return fell in company with the Same Young Con- chetta Indian mentioned by Tombolin who Confess'd the Murder, and were travelling on together, and that Soon after Crossing the Creek at the place where the dead body was found, they met the Same White Man who he had Just mentioned having pass'd his House, after they had pass'd the White Man a Short distance the Conchetta stop'd and told Charles he would turn back and Kill the white Man, Charles told him he should not, for that path was Clean & was their trading path & it Should not be bloodied, 10 INDIAN NOTES WHITEMEAT TESTIFIES 37 they pass'd on a small distance farther & he again propos'd to turn Back & kill the white man, & he again diswaded him from it, & they proceeded on, at length the Conchetta told Charles he had Occasion to Stop a Minute or two & If he would go on Slowly he would soon overtake him, the Conchetta was carrying a Bundle of Goods belonging to Charles, they were both riding, Charles went on but Saw no more of the Conchetta that day, and he arriv'd late at Night at the House of his Father in Law alone, & told him (Whitemeat) that he was afraid he had gone back to kill the white Man they had Met. Whitemeat farther said that the Second day after, the Same Conchetta pass'd along by his house without Calling, threw Charle's Bundle Over the fence into his Enclosure, he had a Naked Rifle Barrel in One hand, and the Other was bound up. One side of his face was very much Bruis'd, he look'd very bad, pass'd on without Stop- ing, & Charles Observ'd at the Same time that from his Conduct & Appearance he fear'd Mischief had been done. Whitemeat farther Said that he had been inform'd Since AND MONOGRAPHS 38 NATCHITOCHES 1807 by Several Conchetta Indians that the Young Man Confess'd the Murder and related all the Circumstances of it, and that after Killing him & Throwing him into the Creek he took all his things & hid them by [ Page 16 ] By the Side of a tree, and went away to Camp being much hurt & Bruis'd in the Battle, and when he return'd Again the Next day the fire had got to them and Burnt them all up, he found nothing re- maining but the Rifle Barrel & the Mount- ings; White Meat farther said that he had been Since inform'd the Man's Horse had Peter MDaniel of Oppelousas Inform'd the Jury that the Murdered man left Oppo- lousas for Nacogdoches with a quantity of Merchandize, that his Name was Oneal, he was a stranger in that Country, but had been there two or three times, he understood, he came from Some part of Missisippi Territory. The Jury made up a verdict as their Unanimous Opinion that the Mans Name was Oneal, & that he was Murdered by a INDIAN NOTES INDIAN VISITORS 39 Conchetta Indian of the Village on the River Sabine. June 18'. Arriv'd here this day and ask'd for Pro- visions, 111 Chactas The Chactas Came 40 Pascagolas 33 Appelaches 5 Caddos 18 Appelaches from upper Village. 15 Pascagolas from Lower D to Meet Tuscatoga who was to be back from the Caddo's this day, the Other Indians Some of them came to hear if 223. Persons the Caddos & Chac- tas were going to War, Others were on their way out a hunting & wanted an Outfit &c. M r Philebare the Interpreter Return'd 19'. from the Caddo Nation where he had been to Accompany Tuscatoga the Chacta Chief, & said that Tuscatoga was taken with a fever, & he was Oblig'd to Leave him about 30 Miles behind, that Some of his People were with him, & he would come on as soon as he Could; that on their Arrival at the Caddo Village, they found the great Chief [Page 17] Absent; but that Carody 1807 the Old Chief receiv'd them with great Kind- ness & Civility and treated them as well as AND MONOGRAPHS 40 NATCHITOCHES 25" June. was in his power, and express'd a great desire to be at peace with the Chactas, and that the Great Chief would Come to Natchitoches as soon as he came home. And that Mes Lewis, Watkins & Downs were on the way hither with a party of Panis Indians with a drove of Horses, and Likewise the Nandaco Chief was coming to trade at the factory John S. Lewis and Jeremiah Downs Arriv'd from the Panis Nation Accompanied by a Chief & Eight Men of the Nation, & report that they left Alexander, Litton, Lusk & Lucas at the Panis Nation where they Intended to remain Some Weeks, that they had Engag'd a party of Indians to go out with them to Catch wild Horses, that they all had been treated by the v- hoi Panis Nation in the Most friendly manner; but more especially by the Great Tawiache Chief the first Man in the Nation, who every body Speaks well of. That a party with the Chief called the Panis Chief had Lately Arriv'd from S* Antonio where they had been Invited by Governor Cordero, they return'd Loaded with presents, INDIAN NOTES PANIS AND HIETANS 41 dress'd in Laced Cloaths, New Spanish Hats, & every Man of the Party had re- ceiv'd a present of a Spanish Saddle, & two or three Horses, or Mules, and the Governor sent by them Three Stands of Spanish Colours One for each Village; but that the Great Chief would Suffer none of them to be hoisted; but used the Colours of the United States which I gave him; he requested M r Lewis to tell me he wanted two Other Stands of American Colours that each Village Might have One. M r Lewis Visited a Hietan Camp then about 40 Miles from the Panic Towns, by the Invita- tion of a Hietan Chief who came to the Panis, he believes the Camp Contained more than Two Thousand persons, and that they had not less than five Thousand Horses & Mules, Some of them remarkable fine Animals, he was treated by the Hietans with Great [ Page 18] Civility, he bought a few Horses of them, but had only a few trifling Articles of Goods with him. The great Chief told him he Intended to come to Natchitoches in a Short time, the Great Tawiache Chief had promis'd to Accompany him, and that he 1807 AND MONOGRAPHS 42 NATCHITOCHES (the Hietan) had been to S* Antonio and receiv'd Some presents from Governor Cordero. M r Lewis Saw Some Specimens of Silver Ore which was found in great quantities on the N East side of Red River above the Panis Nation, which he believes to be Rich, he believes the distance from Natchitoches to the Panis Nation to be about 600 miles and in Nearly a Northwest direction. M r Lewis thinks the Praries through which he travelled are generally a very Rich Soil, & that the Country from Natchitoches to the Boi d'Arc Creek, Near the Panis will all admit of thick & Valuable Settlements, and that Scattering Ones may be made as far as the Nation, that Copses of Wood are always to be Seen in the Praries and the lands on all the Water Courses are well timbered. In coming from the Panis they lay'd their course so far south that they fell in upon the head Branches of the Braces, Trinity & Sabine Rivers, Some of which head within 25 or 30 Miles of the Red River. INDIAN NOTES MORE MURDER 43 I gave the Panis Provisions a Kittle, & each of them a Comb. Looking Glass & Some Vermilion on their Arrival. Big head the Nandaco Chief and a Party 26'. of 15 hunters Arriv'd with Skins to trade in *u f f /"*" , fi D_. n ;r, tne lactory. dave tnem revisions. I gave likewise An Order to the Gunsmith for the reparation of the Nandacos Guns. [ Page 19] This day I had a talk with Tom- 1807 bolin & the relations of the Indian who was June 27 Killed by Thomas at Bayau Chico hi the County of Oppolousas, they Insist that the Indian was Killed by Thomas without pro- vocation and that satisfaction Ought to be made for it, they say he was a Young Man a good hunter and had his Mother & Sister to maintain who had no other relation to depend upon, and that Thomas had hired the witnes- ses who were knowing to the Circumstances of the Murder to go away, and that Judge Collins instead of doing his duty and bringing Thomas to punishment had done all in his power to Screen him; After I had Convers'd with them some time they promised me that they would take satisfaction of no one but Thomas, that so far from hurting his wife AND MONOGRAPHS 44 NATCHITOCHES & Children they would divide their Veni- son with them. I sent to the Mother & Sister of the deceas'd Indian Eight Yards of Callico & two Shawls to be divided be- tween them I gave Tuscatoga the things that were allotted for one of the Indians who was to have gone with him to the Caddo Nation & who failed to go, and also a flap of Blue Gave the Panis who Came in with M r Lewis the following Presents (viz). 8 Tin Kittles, 8 Tin Cups, 8 Stroud Blankets, 8 Braggys, & flaps, 8 Handkfs, 8 Parcels of Paint, 6 lb Lead l lb Powder, 8 Knives, 1 Comb more, 32 Yards Red Binding, 8 Hatchets, 8 Tobacco Boxes, 7 Hoes, 1 Powder Horn 2 ounces of Verdigrease and two Carrots of Tobacco; and Sent by them for the Great Chief particularly to engage his attention to Captain Pikes Party who were then expected to arrive at the Panis Village, the following articles (viz) 12 lb Powder 25 lb Lead, 2 Yards Scarlet Cloth, 4 Blankets, 2 Hats, 2 Plumes 6 Knives, 1 Tin Kittle, 2 Guns, 6 Combs, 2 Hoes, 1 Hatchet, INDIAN NOTES HORSE STEALING 45 2 lb Vermilion 1 Black Silk Handkf, 1 Red D 1 doz Gun flints 200 Wampum Beeds & 2 Carrots of Tobacco. The Panis took their departure, one of them was Taken Sick and di'd on his way 1807 July 12". [ Page 20] Charles a Chacta half Breed with three or four Other Chactas Indians, Presen- ted themselves and complain'd that one of them had near the River Sabine been Rob'd of a Valuable Mare the property of him (Charles) by a Man by the Name of James Elliott, and demanded that Elliott Should be compel'd to restore the Mare or they would go out Kill him and Take her, the Indians Said at the Same time they knew Elliott to be a bad Man for he had try'd to perswade them to Join him in Stealing I thought proper to Issue a States Warrant which I directed to David Allen a Non Commission'd officer of the Natchi- toches Troop of Horses, derecting him to Summon Six Men of the Troop to be well equip'd & Mounted to go Out & take Elliott & his Accomplices who were Said to AND MONOGRAPHS 46 NATCHITOCHES July 21' be 7 or 8 who had encamp'd themselves between the Adaize and the Sabine, & were Stealing, & Collecting together all the Horses they Could, bidding defiance to all Authority Under pretence of being on Neutral Ground. The Party went Out Accordingly found the Camp, took Elliot & Eighteen Horses and brought them into Natchitoches Amongst them was the Indians Mare who was given up to him. Several other of the Horses were Stolen from Inhabitants which were prov'd & given up; and Elliot was Committed to Jail for trial, but broke out the Same day and made his escape; the propriety of my Sending a Warrant beyond the Rio honda was made a question, and agitated with Some warmth, & was the Subject of a representation to Governor Claiborn, who had the Goodness to write me politely upon it, highly appro- I employ'd William Rollings to go with a Special Message to the Conchetta Village Near the Aceokesaws in the Dominions of Spain relative to the Murder of Obryan by a Conchetta Indian About the latter end of INDIAN NOTES O'NEAL'S MURDER 47 the Month of May last on the Bayau Cossachie, to request the Chiefs to give up the Murderer, to come in themselves in a peacable & friendly Manner and they Shall be well receiv'd. [Page 21] Receiv'd duplicate Packets from 1807 Governor Claiborne enclosing a Talk to the Caddo Chief, and Another to the Conchettas, and his Excellencys Proclamation for appre- hending Watson who killed Indian Tom at the Salt Works. I had requested the Gover- nor to Issue this Proclamation in the Month of January last,& furnished him with depo- sitions of the fact, Description of Watsons Person &c. he inform'd me he was so much Occupied he could not find time to attend to it; after Obryan was killed & it being Suggested to the Governor that this Murder would not have hapened If Watson had been Apprehended & tried, and that Watson had been some time on Washita & might have been Caught if his proclamation had not have been delay'd, it was Issued to no purpose. The same day the Huani Chacta Chief & a pretty large Party of Chacta Indians AND MONOGRAPHS 48 NATCHITOCHES Aug* 9'. Arriv'd. They brought in a Small Bay American Rais'd Horse which they had Taken as a Stray delivered him to me & Ask'd a Compensation for bringing him in knowing as they said he belong'd to Some American they said they found him Amongst Some Wild Horses Near the River Sabine. John Nichols lately of Natchez Appear 'd & Claim 'd the Horse & Said he had a Short time before lent him to a friend of his from Natchez to Ride to the Sabine who was still there & Probably hunting the Horse. On examination a Musquet or Rifle Ball had been Shot through the Horses Neck, the Indians Confess'd they had Shott him in Order to Catch him they Intended only to Creese him; but the Rifle not being pro- perly Charg'd the Ball fell too Low & went M r Nichols Appear 'd Much exasperated about it, and I advis'd the Indians to Com- promise it with him by giving him Another Horse, and they after Considerable difficulty The great Caddo Chief Arriv'd and Gave information that about Three hundred INDIAN NOTES INDIAN VISITORS 49 Indians of different Nations were on their way and would be here tomorrow, he said there were some of the Hietans, Tawakenoes, Keychies, Inies, Xabedaches, Nacogdochet- tas, Aiche, Nandacos, with Some Caddos, Adaize, Yattassees, & Natchitoches [ Page 22 ] Eighty Hietans & four Great Chiefs arriv'd Gave them Provisions & Cooking Utensils, & Some Tobacco & to the Chiefs the following Articles, (viz) 4 Hats, 4 Plumes, 4 Callico Shirts, 4 Parcels of Paint, 4 Braggys. (Britch Clouts) 4 Looking Glasses, 4 Knives, 4 Black Silk Handkfs, 1807 Aug* 11. The Same day arriv'd the Inie Chief & a Party of 16 of that Nation. Gave them Invited the four Hietan Chiefs to my House, Entertain'd them, Gave them Tobacco, Smok'd with them &c. Offered them Spirits, which they refus'd; but were very fond of a Sweet Drink made of Honey or Molasses & Water, Sent for a Taylor & had them Measured each of them for a Scarlet Coat faced with Black Velvet & trim'd with white Buttons, they wanted AND MONOGRAPHS 50 NATCHITOCHES 13'. them made like the Caddo Chief's which I gave him, the Nandaco Chief had one made in the Same Fasion, the Cloth he bought himselfe. I Gave him the Making and Trimings. Arriv'd Parties of Tawakenoes, Keychies, Nabedaches, Nacogdoches, Nandacos, Aiche, Adaize, Yattassees, & Natchitoches, with the Chiefs of all these Nations, Gave them Provisions & Some Cooking Utensels. The Indians altogether having Nearly four hundred Horses the Commons of Natchi- toches from the Long drouth affording no Sustenance for them & for fear they would Stray off be Stolen & lost, (the country being full of persons of Suspicious Character) & the Indians particularly the Hietans who have the Most Horses being Accustom'd to Praries & no woodsmen, in searching their Horses in the woods would probably get lost themselves. I hired three men to take the Horses a few Miles distant to where food was Plenty and Guard them, they did so Notwithstanding which Twenty five of their Horses were Missing & believ'd to be Stolen, the Men Pen'd them every Night INDIAN NOTES INDIAN ARRIVALS 51 & Camp'd Near them, one Night in a Thunderstorm the Pen was broke down & the Horses were Scattered, and [ Page 23 ] Never were all Collected after- wards; they inform'd me two Men Came one Night to Steal Horses Caught two & were going off with them, they rescued the Horses, but the Men made their escape, they said they were English, one of them lost his hat. This morning the Interpreter return'd the following Number of Indians who wanted 1807 Au g * 14'. Hietans 80 Some of those Tribes Tawakenos 18 who live in the Vicin- Keychies . . . .8 it\r mor< Vi*r< Hut Nabedaches. . ..45 j;j , A^^K* t~~ aid not Apply lor Caddos . . . . 90 T. ^i_ i Provisions, they only Nandacos 34 Inies.. ..16 Came t0 See the Nacogdochettos 24 Strangers who Never Chickesaws 4 were here bef re, and Never had been This day I Invited the Two great Tawakeno Chiefs to my House & entertain'd them, they Never were here before or had seen any Officer or United States Agent. I ex- Aug* 17': AND MONOGRAPHS 52 NATCHITOCHES press'd to them the Satisfaction I felt at receiving this friendly Visit from them; & that their Great Father & friend the Presi- dent of the United States would hear of it with Satisfaction also; in whose Name & as a Token of his friendship & good will to- wards them, I had a few things to present them. I then gave Each of them an officers full trim'd Regimental Coat, blue & Buff with appulets & Lace, each of them a Hat & Plume, a Shirt, a Gorget, On which I had engrav'd the Eagle, & the United States of America in words enclosing it, a Braggy. 4 yds Binding, a Looking Glass, a Knife, & two parcels of vermilion, & to their two wives each of them, a Scarlet flap, a Pair of Scissors, 200 Wampum Beeds, 1 doz Needles, a Pair Ear Jewels, 4 oa Thread, a Snuff Box, a Handkf, a Looking Glass, 2 y ds Callico, a Comb, & 4 oz Vermilion, and Divided Amongst the Party of Tawakenoes, 20 Hatchets, 10 hoes, 25 Knives, 9 Handkfs, 8 Braggys or flaps, 3 oz Vermilion, 4 lb Beeds 2 Pair Scissors, 2 doz Needles, 2 oz Thread, 4 y ds Callico, 2 Glasses, 2 Combs, & One Piece Red binding. INDIAN NOTES GIFTS TO INDIANS 53 I Page 24 ] I gave a particular friendly In- dian & his wife a Keychie Woman, he is brother to the Great Tawiache or Panis Chief had been here before he came as a Guide to the Strangers, the following Presents (viz). 1 Stroud Blanket, 1 Handkf. a Braggy, a Looking Glass, a Comb, 4 OZ Vermilion 1 Ib . Beeds a Bell, a Tin Cup, 4 y ds Binding, a Callico Shirt a Knife & a Corn Hoe. Same day Receiv'd the Keychie Chief and his Party, Gave them friendly Words, with Tobacco, Sweet drink &c. and the following Presents (viz), for the Chief a Hat & Plume, a Scarlet Blanket, a Knife, a Parcel Ver- milion a looking Glass a Braggy, a Hatchet, a Hoe & a Handkf.-& divided amongst his party, 5 Braggys & flaps, 5 Knives, 5 Hoes. 2 Pieces binding 2 lb Vermilion, 2 lb beeds 2 Pair Scissors, 1 oz Thread 1 doz. Needles. Receiv'd at my House the whol of the Hietan Party with the 4 Great Chiefs and made them the following Presents, (viz. for the four Chiefs & their wives, 4 Scarlet Coats, faced with Black Velvet & Trim'd with Large Plated Buttons, 4 Scarlet Blan- kets, 4 Bells, 4 lb Vermilion, 4 white IIP* 1807 IK" 17. AND MONOGRAPHS 54 NATCHITOCHES 1807 Aug* 18'. Blankets, 4 Tommehawk Pipes, 4 lb Beeds 4 Tin Cups. 4 Pieces Binding 4 Pair Scissors 2 oz Thread, 4 doz. Needles, 2 doz. Knives, 8 fire Steels, 3 doz flints 4 lb Pow- der, 8 lb Lead, 2 Guns, 1 Pair Bullet Molds, one United States flag. And for the Party divided amongst them by the Interpreter, 40 stroud & white Blankets, 52 flaps & Braggys, 52 Knives, 40 Tin Cups, 8 lb Beeds, 4 Pieces Binding 20 Hatchets, 20 fire Steels, 4 doz. flints, 14 Horse Bells, 52 Handkfs, 1 lb Thread, 4 doz Needles, 14 Pair As the Hietans were about taking their departure after receiving their presents, the Principal Chief produced a Spanish Flag and Lay'd it down at my feet, and de- sired the Interpreter to tell me, "that he receiv'd that Flag from Gov r Cordero of S* Antonio, & wish'd now to exchange it for a flag of the United States, that it might be known in their Nation [ Page 25 ] I told him we were not at War with Spain and had no disposition to offend them, Otherwise I should have Anticipated his request by Presenting him with a INDIAN NOTES THE HIETANS 55 United States flag before, but it might offend the Spanish Gov* and be in the end disadvantageous to them; he said "they were very desirous of having Our Flag and it was the Same to them whether Spain was pleas'd or displeas'd and if I would give him One it Should wave through all the Hietan Nation, and they would all die in defence of it before they would part with it, I had a flag brought which Major Freeman had left with me, I first rap'd it round My- selfe, gave it to him he did the Same, & embraced it with Great earnestness in Pre- sence of all his People, and a Number of other Chiefs haranging them at the Same time in a Loud Voice, I at the Same time Presented him with an Elegant Belt which I had worn myselfe, & took it off & put it on him which had a good Effect, as it was done in Presence of a Large Number of In- I augmented the Presents to the Hietans by the advice of Cap* Pike who was then here, who inform'd me that on his Tour he was Instructed if he could fall in with Any party of Hietans to hold a treaty with them AND MONOGRAPHS 56 NATCHITOCHES 1807. August 18* and make them Some presents, that Our Gov* were desirous of being in Amity with them, & this he believ'd was the first Occasion that had ever Offered to Any Officer or Agent of the United States to affect it, their loosing so Many Horses likewise while they were here was another Consideration; and I was determined they should not go away dissatisfied if by any reasonable Means I could avoid it. I regretted that it was not in my power to have taken a Vocabulary of their Language, there were so many different Nations here at the Same time I was Incessantly Occupied Amongst them, and had no good Interpreter of their Language, & the Chief assured me I Should have Another Opportunity. [Page 26] At a meeting of the Chiefs and Head Men of the following Nations of In- dians at a Grand Council held at Natchi- toches the Eighteenth day of August 1807. (viz) Hietans, Caddos, Tawakenoes, Nanda- cos,Nabedaches, Keychies, Inies,andAiche, all being met & Seated in the Great Council Room, the Calumet & Council fire lighted. INDIAN NOTES SPEECH TO INDIANS 57 I delivered to them the following talk. Brothers, By Arangements with France and Spain two Nations beyond the great Water we the people of the United States have become your Neighbours, and all the great Country Called Louissiana as formerly Claim'd by France now belongs to us, the President of the United States the great friend & father of all the Red people Assures you he is your friend and will Continue to be so, so long as you are his friends, & friends to the People of the United States. It is now so long since our Ancestors came from beyond the great Water that we have no remembrance of it, we ourselves are Natives of the Same land that you are, in other words white Indians, we therefore Should feel & live together like brothers & Good Neighbours, we Should do no harm to One Another but all the good in our power. Brothers, the boundaries between Our Country and Spain are not yet fixed, we therefore do not know how far towards the Setting Sun Our Limits will extend; but you may rest Assured that whether the Country AND MONOGRAPHS 58 NATCHITOCHES 1807 Aug. 18' t that you inhabit falls within Our Bounda- ries or not, it will always be Our wish to be at peace & friendship with you; we are not at war with Spain, we therefore do not wish, or Ask you to be less their friends for being Ours, the World is wide enough for us all, and we Ought all of us to live in it like brothers, Brothers, I think I ought to Caution you Against Opening Your Ears to the bad talks of Any people whatever who may [Page 27] Wish to make us enemies; but be always perswaded that we have not Come to this Country to do harm to Any of our Red It is the wish of your great & good Father the President of the United States, that all his red Children should live together in peace And Amity with one Another, that all their paths may be Clean, that there may be no more wars between them, that their Children may Multiphy, & their women no more fear the Tommehawk of an enemy. Brothers, I am wellpleas'd with this friendly visit from you, as you have come a long Journey to see your New Neighbours, it is INDIAN NOTES SPEECH TO INDIANS 59 my wish that you rest yourselves a few days & Accept of Our hospitality in Such as we have to offer you, and a few Presents which I shall present you in the name of your great Father the President of the United States, as a token of his good Will towards you; and as you have now found the way here, you will be enclin'd to 'come again, and that we shall find we can trade together for our mutual advantage, you will always find here Such articles of Merchandize as you may want, for which you can exchange your Horses, Mules, Robes, and Silver Ore, and when any of our people visit you in your own Country you will receive them as friends, as we will any of your nation who visit us, I should be glad that, some of you would go some days Journey farther into our Country, that you may know more of it, and be better Acquainted with our people, your great father the President would be ^IrtxJ 4- n r, nf * ,r^,-. glcLCl tO See yOU. Brothers, these are the Words I "have to say to you, when you return to your friends, tell them we take them all by AND MONOGRAPHS 60 NATCHITOCHES 1807 Aug*. 18 the hand, repeat to them our words and forget us not. [ Page 28 ] The first Tawakeno Chief replied, " Time will determine whether this days Talk will prove true, as for us, I believe we all have the Same Opinion about it, I am well pleas'd with your Words which you have this day Spoken to us, they Shall not be lost, we will Carry them home with us to our Nation and repeat them to Our Women & Children, there shall be none Amongst us who shall not know them, it will gladden their hearts to hear them as it now does ours, as we have now Visited you it would afford us great Satisfaction if some of your Nation would Visit us, that we might become better acquainted, and afford us an Oppor- tunity to prove the truth of our professions, and we Invite them to Come & trade with us, it is not our Custome to Sell provisions to our friends who visit us like some other Nations, & when Any of your people come to see us they will find it so. But there is a Man of your Nation, he comes from Nacogdoches who is a trader Amongst us, he is too dear with his goods. INDIAN NOTES HIETAN SPEECH 61 If he is one of your Nation Cant you write him a letter a direct him not to impose so much upon us, and make him sell his goods to us Cheaper. I replied to him that I knew Nothing of that man If he belonged to Nacogdoches, that though he might have been born Amongst us they Should now regard him as a Spaniard, and If he had turn'd Spaniard we would have Nothing to do with him. but I trusted when any of our people who were fitted out from this place should come Amongst them as traders they would have 1807 Aug*. 18' An Hietan Said "their best. Speaker was absent he went out to where their Horses "From the Moment (said he) we heard of the Americans being Arriv'd at this place we were determined to come & see them our New Neighbours; and we are now all of us highly pleas'd that we have Come, on Our way we fell in with Some of Our friends who came Along to Accompany us, we are in want of Merchandize and Shall be Always [Page 29] Glad to trade with you on friendly AND MONOGRAPHS 62 NATCHITOCHES terms, and now we have found the way & see that you have every thing we want we mil 11 nrnln'hlv vi^it" vmi Tin in The Keychie Chief. The first messenger you Sent to the Panis our friends Inform'd us you were here, and that you wish'd to see some of all those Nations who liv'd at a distance. Since that time it has been Our determina- tion to come & see you we have Accordingly made you this friendly visit, to let you know our wants & to see how we can be Servisable to each Other, I am charm'd with the words which I have heard you this day Speak, & that I have heard them myselfe from your Own Mouth, & in your own House for I am now Standing before you on your own Floor, although I live in the domin- ion of Another Nation, that makes no difference, I receive your talk like a bro- ther, and wish to live with you in future in peace & friendship as good Neighbours, and I promise you that our Nation Shall be the last who will transgress the treaty of this day. I hope we Shall be better Acquainted, that we Shall trade together INDIAN NOTES CADDO SPEECH 63 for our Mutual Advantage, and when you know our wants will be able to be of service to us. The Great Caddo Chief. "These Strangers who were never before here have through me heard much of you, I was happy in having an Opportunity to Accompany them hither, and to witness that you have receiv'd & treated them as I told them you would. It gives me great Satisfaction to find that none of them Can Say I have deceiv'd them; but had I not have made you this Visit as a duty I owed my friend, to bear them Company, I should have been CompelTd to have come from Another cause. The Tribes my Allies and friends Complain of me for the peace I made with the Chactas, they say it was of my Own Accord. I wish now to convince them the Contrary . Page 30] That Changing Our father made 1807 it Necessary, & that I acted in Obedience Aug*. 18*. to your wish. I have explain'd to my : riends the Conditions of the treaty, that whoever broke it Should make restitution. The Chactas have broke it by committing AND MONOGRAPHS 64 NATCHITOCHES two Murders, and we have come here this day to see whether the treaty is to be luitiiicci or not. ~ I explain'd to them the Necessity of the Peace that it was made on fair & honourable terms for their general good, that it was the Wish of their great & good Father the Presi- dent of the U. S. that all his red Children Should be at peace with One Another, & that as soon as I was inform 'd that two Nan- daco Women had been killed by a party of Chactas, I sent & Collected together all the Chiefs and head Men of that Nation that were to be found on this Side of the Missisippi. they Assembled here. I repre- sented to them in the Strongest terms, the Unprovok'd Barbarous, & Cowardly Act that had been Committed by a party of Chactas from the great Nation, they all disavow'd the Act, were Alarm'd & dis- tress'd at it; I propos'd to them to send immediately Messengers to the Caddo Nation, with friendly Assurances, and dis- claiming all knowledge or Approbation of the Murders, and that they Should do all they Could to have restitution made INDIAN NOTES PEACE ADVISED 65 Agreeable to the Stipulations of the treaty, and that the Chactas that were here met seem'd to feel an equal degree of resent- ment Against the Violators of their Peace with the Caddos & Nandacos themselves, And that the Chief Chechemastubby was Ap- pointed to repair to the great Nation with the Accusation Against the Murderers who had fled thither, he did set off, was taken Sick, the Waters were high & travelling was difficult, & I thought they Ought to have patience Some time longer, & not make the Innocent Suffer for the Guilty, and that I had heard that that party who Committed the Murders were by the great Nation deem'd Vagabones, and it was probable they might not make a 1807 Aug* 18* [Page 31] The Chief replied, "that he thought there had been time enough Since the Murders were Committed to have had Something done about it, that he Could readily believe they were Vagabones; but they were their own Vagabones, and that Other Nations punish'd Such Vagabones in- stead of protecting them, but he had been AND MONOGRAPHS 66 NATCHITOCHES Inform'd that the Leader of that Party (Called Stamelachee) had not long Ago been Commission'd by the American Gov*. a Chief. And Unless the Chactas gave him up & had him Punished it must be regarded as the Act of the Nation; but they would how- ever Agree to wait three Moons longer, or Untill Cold Weather, & untill then he would be Answerable for it that no Mischief Should be done them; but if Satisfaction was not then Made he would be Answerable no After which a general Conversation was held upon the Subject of Some of the Chiefs visiting the U. S. the Hietan & Tawakeno Chiefs say'd they were willing to go, but they Could not then, their people were waiting for them at the Trinity River & they must return to them; but if the Caddo Chief would fix On a time and let them know it they would Come & go with him. The Caddo Chief had the Old Objection that Our affairs with Spain were Still Unsettled, & in addition to which, the difference with the Chactas would prevent his leaving home, but declar'd his desire was to go, & that If INDIAN NOTES THE CONCHETTA 67 the Other Chiefs were ready he would go "fV 4- 1 .*. witn Lflcm. The Caddo Chief with Several of his Augt 21' people have been detain'd in Getting their Guns repair'd. I gave them as they were Setting off this day pounds of flour and the Chief 10 lb powder & 20 lb . Lead. [ Page 32] This day William Rollings who I 1807 employ'd to go with a Message to the Con- Sept r 1 st chetta Village Near the Accokesaws return'd & reports that he delivered my Message to the Chiefs, Invided them to come to Natchi- toches and bring along with them the Indian who killed Oneal; and told them it was our wish as they well knew to be in peace & Amity with all People & to deal Justly with them. They sent by Rollings the following Message "That they were fully sensible of Our goodness towards them, and were ' 'greatly distressed at what had happened " and they would never let go our hands or "throw away Our talks; but they had been "sent for by Governor Cordero of S* "Antonio, & had promised to go & See him, "they did not know for what; but that they AND MONOGRAPHS 68 NATCHITOCHES Sept* 8" " would Come to Natchitoches as soon as "they return'd from S* Antonio and do their "endeavour to have every thing Settled; ' 'but they Could not then think of giving up ''the Young Man who had Committed the Murder the fact they did not pretend to deny; Rollings Said that he found the Village On the Sabine nearly Abandoned, a few John Homo a Chickesaw Chief Arriv'd with about Thirty Warriors, and Complain'd that the Conchettas of the upper Village on Red River had Stolen from him in Feb- ruary last, on Red River in the Country of the Caddos Sixty Shav'd Deer Skins, and One hundred Unshav'd Ones, & Two Horses, the whol Valued at two hundred dollars, he requested I would Inform them that If they did not Return the Horses, and deliver to me within three Months as Many Skins of equal Value that he and his Warriors were determined to take Satisfaction of them, I had receiv'd a letter from M r Treat of Arkensa Some time ago on the Same Sub- ject. John Homo and his Party were going a Trading & hunting voyage in to the [ Page 33] INDIAN NOTES VARIOUS VISITORS 69 Spanish Country, I gave them Some Pro- visions & agreable to his request a Certifi- cate of his having Notified to me formally the 1807 Sept r 26'. Oct r 14 15". Tuscatoga the Chacta Chief Arriv'd with whitemeat, and a Number of Other War- riors. The Chief Inform'd me that in Con- sequence his brother Chechemastubby , being taken Sick he had dispatched Another Messenger to the great Nation in his place, for the purpose of Obtaining for the Caddo Chief the satisfaction he demanded, and had Particularly Instructed him to Urge the giving up the Leader of the Party who I gave Tuscatoga 6 lb powder & 12 Ib Lead, and the Sword that I took away from A Panic & a Hietan Indian Arriv'd as runners to give Notice that a Party of each Nation with their great chiefs were on the The Panics & Hietans Arriv'd, the Inter- preter reported the whol Number to be Seventy four, I gave them Some Provisions, AND MONOGRAPHS 70 NATCHITOCHES 16* h 18' 1807 Oct r 18' I entertain'd the four Hietan Chiefs at my House and made them the following Pre- 4 Scarlet Blankets, 4 Shirts, 4 Hats & Plumes, 4 Braggys, 8* Vermilion, 4 And at the Same time to the two Panis Chiefs, 2 Shirts, 2 Braggys, 2 Scarlet Blankets, 2 Looking Glasses, 2 Combs, Receiv'd the whol Hietan Party at my House, & Presented the Chief with a Medal, on which was engrav'd a representation of the Eagle Encircled in the Words, " United States of America I met them with it Sus- pended with a Broad Ribbon to my own Neck, took it off myself e hung it on the Chief, [ Page 34 ] I made the Hietans the following Presents, (viz) for the four Chiefs. - - 4 Stroud Blankets, 4 White Ditto, 4 Guns, 8 lb Powder, 16 lb Balls, 16 flints, 4 fire Steels, 8 Knives, 4 Tomehawk Pipes, 1 lb Vermilion, 4 Braggys, 4 Pieces of Binding, 4 Bells, 4 Tin Cups, and for seven great Men of the Nation, 7 Blankets, 14 knives, 2 lb INDIAN NOTES PRESENTS 71 Vermilion, 7 Handkfs, 7 Tin Cups, 7 fire Steels, 7 Braggys, - 7 Pieces binding, & 7 Combs and the follow- ing Articles divided Amongst the remainder of the party (viz) 12 Knives, 10 Hat- chets, 10 Pair Scissors, l lb Thread, 100 Needles, 2 lb Vermilion, 2| lb Beeds, 12 Blankets, 17 Yards Callico, 10 flaps, 10 Handkfs, 2 Pieces & 6 Y ds Binding 10 Looking Glasses, 10 Combs, & 2 Tin Cups. I gave thePanis the following Presents, (viz) to the great Chief Called the Tawiache Chief who is the first Man in the Nation, a Medal, the Same as the one I gave the Hie- tan Chief, One Handsome Welted Philadel- phia made Saddle, & a handsome Officers Uniform Coat, and to the Panis & Witcheta Chiefs each of them a Uniform. Coat and to the three Chiefs 3 Guns, 3 Shirts, 9 lb Powder, 18 lb Lead, 24 flints, 6 knives, 3 Tommehawk Pipes, 1 lb Vermilion, 3 White Blankets, 3 Braggys, 3 Handkfs, 1 Piece binding, 3 Tin Cups, 3 Steels, 3 Bells. And for the grand Chiefs Son 1 Blanket ly d Callico, 1 knife, 1 Tobacco Box, J lb Beeds, 1 Looking Glass, & 1 Tin Cup. Oct r 25' AND MONOGRAPHS 72 NATCHITOCHES And for another Panis Chief, Brother of the Great Chief, 1 Gun, 3 lb Powder, 6 lb Balls, 8 flints, 1 Tommehawk Pipe, 1 Handkf, & 1 Bell 1807 [ Page 35 ] Gave to the Panis Party divided A r-c.f f 1 ~ -v-i /vmongsc inem 1 Gun, 3 Shirts, 33 Blankets, 34 Knives, 21 fire Steels. 19 flints 22 Tin Cups, 4 lb Vermilion, 3 Pieces Binding, 30 Small Glasses, 34 Braggys & flaps, 1 Artilery Uniform Coat (for the Chiefs brother) 11 Shawls & Handkfs, 13 Pair Scissors, 19| y ds Callico, 1 Bell, 2 Carrots Tobacco, 11 Combs, 11 Bunches Beeds, 11 Hatchets, 5 Hoes, and One Barrel Flour, & one Barrel Corn divided Amongst them. The following is the Substance of a talk I held with the Hietans & Panis, they were all Present, one of the Hietans Speaking tolerable well the Spanish tongue the Con- versation with them was in that Language, the Indian said he learn'd it in Mexico when he was young where he liv'd several years. I told them I was glad of an Opportunity of being Acquainted with them, that we had INDIAN NOTES HIETANS AND PANIS 73 heard Much of them that the President of the U. S. the great Father of all the red people was their friend, and all the Ameri- can people were so to, & we wish to be Acquainted with them that we might know how we Could be usefull to each Other. Should they think proper to come here to trade they would always be able for Such Articles as they would have to dispose of to procure what they wanted & always receive a kind & friendly reception, and that when- ever any of our people Visited them, they would receive them as friends and treat them as we would them when they came to See us. Advis'd them to Cultivate Peace with all Nations, & to Shut their ears Against the Bad Talk of Any people who might endeavour to make us at enmity with each Other, that I had a few things to present them with, in the Name of the President of the U. S. their great father, and requested that when they return'd to their friends, they would tell them that we took them all by the hand, and hop'd to be better Acquainted with each Other. AND MONOGRAPHS 74 NATCHITOCHES 1807 This is the Chief and party the same Hord that Mr. Lewis Saw Near the Panis Na- tion, which he believes consisted of near 3,000 souls. [Page 36] The great Chief desir'd the Inter- preter to tell me, that "they had come a long "way to see us, that from the Panis & some "other Nations they had heard we were a good "people and much of us, that they had Come "without bringing Anything to trade for they "did not know what we wanted that they "came Just to See & Satisfy themselves If it "was true what they had heard of us, & he "was glad to find that it was all true; but they "found it a great Journey quite too far to "come Often, he wish'd we could send some "traders Amongst them & they should be "well treated, that Horses & Mules were to "them like grass they had them in Such "plenty they had likewise dress'd Buffalo "Skins & knew where there was Silver Ore "plenty; but there was A Nation of Bad "Indians (Ozages) who gave them much "trouble & vexation; and they were more "formidable to them On Account of their "having Arms & they (the Hietans) having "None, & that One Motive for their coming here was to see if they Could get Arms he was very Sorry they Could not have Gotten a few More; that some of the Nations of INDIAN NOTES TRADE INVITED 75 Red people who liv'd Nearer to us, bought goods of us & brought them Amongst them to trade off at a very great profit, they would demand of them a Horse or a Mule for a Narrow Strip of Scarlet Cloth, or a Small Parcel of Vermilion, he believ'd they Should try to come again; but Whether it would be in the Spring or later in the Sea- son he could not then tell they wanted to try to procure More Arms to Use in their Own defence only, they did not want them for killing their Meat, they could do that with the Spear or the Bow. Some Picks or Mattocks would likewise be Particularly Usefull to them, in Digging up Silver Ore [Page 37] And making trenches round their tents to prevent the water from flowing in upon them in times of Heavy rain; that they Should retujn & Meet their friends highly gratified with their Visit, & Carry Our talk with them and that in future we Should know one Another only as friends, he had heard of a Party of their Nation having lately Visiting Us & returning greatly pleas'd but that, that Band liv'd farther 1807 AND MONOGRAPHS 76 NATCHITOCHES * to the South generally than they did, they did not know Much of them. I told them if they return'd here Next year and brought plenty of Horses, Mules, Buffalo Robes & Silver Ore, they would be able to procure as Many Guns, & Mat- tocks as they -wanted, for these things are The Chiefs all express'd a desire to have Such Coats as those I gave the Panis Chiefs, and a United States flag; but I As the Hietans differ in Character & habits from any other Nation I have ever seen, I will devote a Page or two in noticing some of their Peculiarities; 32 They are rather Barbarians than Savages, as they are dis- tinguished by Doctor Rush, they live Most entirely upon the flesh of Wild Beef (Buffalo) . they Plant Nothing, Seldome kill Deer oT any other Game, Buffalo excepted, they have no Particular place of residence; but when they hear of a flock of Buffalo, Strike their Tents* & travel after them, & to dis- cover them always have reconoitering INDIAN NOTES HIETAN CUSTOMS 77 Parties Out, they use fire Arms only in War, they kill the Buffalo either with the Spear or the Bow & Arrow, & Mostly with the latter, they are Dexterous Horsemen, they ride in Amongst a flock of Buffalo with their Bow in their hand, Single Out the One they Intend to Kill, ride Along side of [Page 38] him and drive the Arrow through him, the Animal Bellows, runs a small distance and falls, they Catch & drink the blood as it flows, tear out the Liver and eat it Raw while it is yet warm, and it is said they eat the Gall with it by way of Condiment, which 1807 They have great Numbers of Horses and Mules, some of which are Wild Ones Caught by them & domesticated; but they are Mostly rais'd by themselves; Many of them are remarkably fine form'd large Animals, Strongly Mark'd with Arabian features; It is impossible to form an esti- mate of how Numerous the whol Nation is, that Can have Any pretention to Accuracy; they are divided into Many Hordes or Bands' Containing from two to four or five thousand Souls, they may not exceed AND MONOGRAPHS 78 NATCHITOCHES Thirty or forty thousand Souls, and they may exceed half a Million, they wander over an immence Space of Country, from the Vicinity of S*. Antonio to the Missouri River from South to North, .& from east to West from the Country of the Panis on Red River to the Pacific Ocean, they have Such Numbers of Horses and Mules which they Seldome Suffer to go Out of sight of their Camps, they can remain but a few days at the Same place, are but Ob- lig'd to move to a place of fresh pasture; every family has a Tent of a Conic form made of dress'd Buffalo Skins and they are Very dexterous in Pitching as well as Striking them and preparing to move when the Word is given they carry the Poles as well as the Tents always Along >with them One Horse or a Mule is alotted to Carry the Poles & Another the Tent. They seem Subservient to the Commands of their Chiefs, who give their Orders as though they had a right to expect obedience. The trade of this Nation is Horses, Mules, dress'd Buffalo Skins & Silver Ore ' Some of the Men dress in very handsome Leather INDIAN NOTES HIETAN CUSTOMS 79 hunting Shirts, ornamented with Beeds & fringe, Pink'd & Scallop'd, some of a flesh Colour, Others of different [ Page 39] Shades of Red and Purple, and nearly as Soft and beautifully dress'd as Morocco, the Women seem in the Most Abject & degraded State of Servility, they Appear to be Constantly and Laboriously employ'd In dressing Buffalo Skins, Painting and Ornamenting them with a Variety of Colours & figures, making their own & their Husbands dresses, Collecting feuel, Attending Si guarding their Horses & Mules, in Cooking, Making Leather Halters & Ropes, Making & repairing their Tents, & making their riding & Pack Q^rlrllac Rrr- Rrr- 1807 The Married Women are Seldome Accus'd of Incontinancy but If Convicted they are Mutilated, by Slitting their Nose or ears, they all Cut off their Hair when Married almost Close to their heads, and Plat it into the Hair of their husbands, and Some of the Chiefs who wear in that manner the Hair of Twelve or fourteen Wives at the Same time, are almost Covered Over with Plats hanging almost to the ground, and so thick AND MONOGRAPHS 80 NATCHITOCHES 1807 a top smear'd over with grease & a redish Coloured Clay as a Substitute for Vermilion, that they Could Scarsely wear a Hat of Double the Ordinary Size. I gave one of them a Handsome Hat & Plume with which he was greatly pleas'd; but he was Oblig'd to Wear his hat in his hand, like an Euro- pean Beau of the last Century; the men are Generally very large, Muscular and Some of them remarkably fat, & I have Seen two The Complexion of this Nation is fairer than that of Any Other of the Numerous Tribes I have ever seen. Many of the Women have light Brown or Auburn Hair & Blue or light Grey Eyes, I saw some that were So white I Suspected they were not pure Hietan blood, and mentioned my Sus- picions to a Chief, he said he believ'd they possess'd no Mixture of Blood, one of them a Young Woman with long light hair Over- heard the Conversation; She Blush'd and hid her face, the Chief apologis'd for her, by Saying she knew [Page 40] What we were talking about and was Asham'd of her White Skin; I saw some that were married that did INDIAN NOTES HIETAN CUSTOMS 81 not appear to be more than Eleven or twelve years Old, and I understood it was Common for them to marry at that Age. I saw one who had a Child that look'd like a Child herselfe, the Men do not Marry so young in Proportion; The Women generally wear a long robe made of dress'd leather that reaches from their Chin to their feet, and all that I have seen of them have a dirty 111 appearance. Neither Men nor Women are in the Habit of Bathing like Other Indians; and they seem indifferent about those Common Articles of finery that Other Indians are fond of, Blue & Red Stroud, Vermilion, Blankets, Blue Beeds & knives, are almost the Only Articles they Seem Anxious to obtain. Jewelry, Callico, Handkfs. Binding, Ribbands &c they care Nothing about, they are like all Other Indians fond of Tobacco, but will not taste Ardent Spirits; but are fond of a Sweet drink made of Melasses or Honey & Water; but were Afraid to drjnk that till I Assured them it would not make them Drunk, and by drinking of it myselfe before them. They all wanted Salt to eat AND MONOGRAPHSl 82 NATCHITOCHES 1807 Nov. 10' with their fresh Beef, the Country they Occupy abounding with Salt Springs, they are of course accustomed to the Use of it. Many years ago I have heard of their being White Indians on Some of the Head Waters of the Missouri, their Speaking the Welsh Language, & having Amongst them the Welsh Bible, is it not probable the Allusion might have been to this Nation? Their Language is guttural, figurative, & full of Gesture, they Can hold long conversations together by Sighns Only. I am not able at present to Say what resemblance their Language Bears to the Welsh, nor have I any information of their having a Bible, And Unless their Country abounding with Wild Goats is an evidence of their Welsh extrac.- tion, I know of none they can boast of, but never heard of their Claiming that honour. [Page 41] Echean 33 the Chief of the upper Conchetta Village on Red River Arriv'd with a Party to trade in the factory. I had a long Talk with him about the Murder of Oneal and the Complaint of John Homo the Chickesaw; he believ'd them both to be true; but had INDIAN NOTES THE CONCHETTAS 83 Seen none of the Conchettas from the Village on the Sabine Since the Murder was Committed, he likewise had understood that a Party of hunters of his Village had taken Some Skins belonging to the Chicke- saws; but he thought the Number was less than the Chickesaws represented, he said that Some Indians from the Village on the Sabine had some time Ago been to his Village to Perswade them to move off into the Spanish Country; but they had refus'd to listen to Any Such talk, he Appear'd much dissatisfied with the Conduct of his People, and Talk'd very rational, he said they were fools that they all knew Our goodness to them, and our power to Chas- tise them if they behav'd amiss, and that Nothing Should Change his determination of being always Governed by our advice & that he would immediately Send a talk to the Lower Village and Exhort them to Come in here immediately & bring the Murderer with them & Give him up, and If they would not take his advice, he would disown them & have no Connection with them, And as for the Affair of the Chickesaws they AND MONOGRAPHS 84 NATCHITOCHES 1807 Oct. 30th. Should have Justice done them, their Horses Should be restored to them or as good Ones given for them, and he would promise to deliver to me the Skins they demanded, though it was his belief they demanded More than they lost, but he did not think from their hunting Arangements they they should be Able to deliver them so soon as three Moons; but they should Cer- tainly Come as soon as they Could be I have ever had reason to think well of this Chief, he is Sensible, quiet, & not addicted to drunkenness, made great efforts to oblige Major Freemas exploring party, & is thought well of by the Caddo Chief, on [ Page 42 ] In Consequence of Information receiv'd a few days Ago from Joseph Gillard esquire, (viz) that Louis Commonly called Louis Tensa the Appelaches Chief had lately return'd from the Spanish Country where he had been Invited, and that Since the Murder of Oneal by the Conchetta Indian, who are of the Same Nation, that Most of the Conchettas had withdrawn themselves INDIAN NOTES SPANISH RELATIONS 85 into the Dominions of Spain, that they bad been sending War talks amongst Several of the Small & friendly tribes the object of which was to procure a Union Amongst them with Views Hostile to the paid him Ten Dollars Nov' 7* I Employ'd William Rollings to go to the Appelaches Village, to procure all the information he Could relative to the above reports, & bring up with him Flootka the Principal Man of the Village & two or three Other Leading Characters In Order that measures might be taken to prevent any William Rollings Return'd & brought with him Flootka Baptiste his Son in Law & the Gunstocker, with whom I had a friendly Conversation, I told them what I had heard and of the Conversation I had had with Echean, the Chief of the upper Village on the Same Subject, with his determina- tion, and my reasons for wishing to See them. I pointed Out to them the 111 consequence of listening to any bad talks. Flootka said "there was Some truth in the reports I had heard, Blam'd Louis INDIAN NOTES 86 NATCHITOCHES 1807. Tensa, & Accus'd him of Acting dishonestly, that An Attempt had been made to draw them off into the Dominions of Spain, & that the Village had been divided in Opinion about it, but that Since Rolling's arrival at the Village with my Message the Opinion was nearly Unanimous Against it, that they were now more than ever Convinced of Our friendliness towards them and that for the future I might rely on it they should shut their ears Against all Such Talks from Any quarter whatever [ Page 43 ] And place their whol reliance On Us, that this Visit & talk had given them the greatest Satisfaction, and ended with Assur- ances of their entire confidence in us, And that Should Any bad talks be brought Amongst them they would immediately let me know it. And that they would as much as the Could discourage Spiritous Liquors being brought Amongst them into their Village. I Gave them provisions while they were here and Sufficient to Carry them home & the following presents One Bottle Brandy, Some Tobacco, 3 III P* Blankets, 3 Tomme- INDIAN NOTES GIFTS TO INDIANS 87 hawk Pipes, 6 lb Powder and 12 lb Lead, & they sat off immediately home highly 26." Deer 30* Paid three Dollars to a Negro for Tobacco I bought of him Bought of Two Soldiers of Cap* Wol- stincrofts Company By his Permission for Indians two New Artilery Coats for which I gave two II 1 Point Blankets for each of them and Gave a Musician who had a permission to Sell a Coat four Dollars cash Received notice that the Conchettas were On their way to Natchitoches on a friendly Visit for the purpose of Settling all Exist- ing difficulties, but had convey'd the Murderer of Oneal Away into the Creek With Very Great respect & esteem Your Ob* Hble Serv* JOHN SIBLEY GEN ! HENRY DEARBORNE Secretary of War. AND MONOGRAPHS NATCHITOCHES NOTES 1. On the establishment of the original fort at Natchitoches, see: Martin, Francois X. History of Louisiana, p. 117; Butel-Dumont G. M., Memoirs (French's Historical Collec- tions of Louisiana, part v. pp. 1-125), p. 33 Stoddard, Amos, Sketches Historical and Des- criptive of Louisiana, p. 187; Cox, I. J., Loui- siana-Texas Frontier (Texas State Historical Association Quarterly, July, 1906), p. 9; Bolton, H. E., Athanase de Mezieres, vol. i, p. 37; Robertson, J. A., Louisiana Under Spain, France, and the United States, 1785-1807, vol. n, p. 153; Hodder, F. H.. ed., Pittman's Present State of the European Settlements on the Mississippi, p. 32. 2. Sutton Vital Records to 1850, p. 154. 3. Benedict, William A., and Tracy, Hiram A., History of Sutton, 1704-1876, pp. 722-723. 4. Massachusetts' Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, vol. xiy, p. 194; Heitman, Francis B., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army, 1775-1783. 5. Taylor, Charles J., History of Great Barrington, p. 329. 6. This was the year of the change of name from Campbelltpwn to Fayetteville (Wheeler, John H., Historical Sketches of North Carolina, p. 124). In Fayetteville, Flora MacDonald made a brief residence, returning to her old home in Scotland in 1790. 7. Cox, I. J., Early Exploration of Louisiana, p. 37. Of Sibley's attitude towards his first wife, subsequent to his departure from Great Barrington, very little that is more than infer- INDIAN NOTES NOTES ence has been obtainable. In the Jefferson Memorial building at St Louis are preserved by the Missouri Historical Society some of the papers of George C. Sibley, one of the offspring of Sibley 's New England marriage. In volume one of this collection is a letter from John Sibley to another son, Samuel Hopkins Sibley. It is dated from Natchez, February 28, 1803, and is redolent of fatherly advice. It enjoins on the boy filial affection and regard for his mother. Says the absent father, "... do the best you can . . . for yourselfe and afford to your Mother & the children all the assistance & comfort in your power ..." In another volume, volume four, is a second letter from John to Samuel, breathing the same sentiments. It was written from Natchitoches, September 26, 1806. This is its conclusion: " God bless you be as usefull as you Can to your Mother & the Children & I will repay you with Interest ..." Accord- ing to Benedict and Tracy, Doctor Sibley was thrice married (History of Sutton, p. 723), and left several children. Writing to his son, George C., from Natchitoches, October 29, 1821, he indicates that he has at the time, he being then sixty-four years of age, a daughter of six years, one of four years, and a baby boy of nine months (Sibley MSS., vol. i). 8. For an exhaustive account of General Joseph Martin, frontiersman, see Weeks, Stephen B., General Joseph Martin and the War of the Revolution in theWest (American Histori- cal Association Report, 1893, pp. 403-477). 9. The only scholarly treatment of the North Carolina Regulators is that of Professor John Spencer Bassett. It is based on a critical 89 AND MONOGRAPHS 90 NATCHITOCHES examination of The Colonial Records of North Carolina, and is to be found in American Histori- al Ass ociation Report, 1894, pp. 141-212. 10. Cox, Early Exploration of Louisiana, p. 14. 11. Sibley to Claiborne, October 10, 1803 (Jefferson Papers, vol. 135). 12. Cox, Early Exploration of Louisiana, p. 37. 13. War Department Oct r 17, 1805 Sir, You will herewith receive your Commission, for Indian Agent, for that part of the Territory of Orleans, West of the River Mississippi, under which your Pay, at the rate of $.1000 per Annum, and your Subsistence, at four rations per day, will commence on the first of July last. You will consequently make up your account for actual services in conformity to the tenor of my letter to you, of the 13th of Decem- ber 1804, until the 1st day of July ult, when your regular pay & subsistence will begin, for which your Bills on this Deptm*, drawn quar- terly, will be paid. The Goods, for commencing a trade with the Indians in that quarter, will, I hope, arrive by the time this reaches you; and should no Agent or Assistant arrive, as soon as the goods, I will thank you to have them carefully stored, in safe keeping, until one of them reaches Natchi- toches. The manuscript volume was duly received, at the Office of the Secretary of State, and is con- sidered valuable. I hope you will have suc- ceeded in quieting the minds of the Indians, towards the sea coast; and that you will have INDIAN NOTES NOTES made proper impressions on them in the vicinity of St. Barnard. It is the wish of the President of the United States that you should encourage a few of the Principal Chiefs of some of the considerable Tribes or Nations to make a visit to the seat of Government; and, if practicable, to induce the Great Chief of the Caddos to be of the party A passport is herewith enclosed for them. You will fill up the Blank with the names of the Chiefs who may be selected to form the deputa- tion. The expense should not be extended be- yond what may be found absolutely necessary. The route you propose will probably be the best. Perhaps a passage in the stage from Augusta in Georgia to this place may be found practicable and convenient. In such case their horses may be left in Georgia until their return. It will be advisable for you to accompany the deputa- tion. We shall take measures for rendering their passage through the Indian Country, East of the Mississippi, safe and free from any bicker- ings with the Indians through whose territory they may pass. I wish you to continue to fonvard every kind of information relative to the Indians & our other neighbors in that quarter. I presume your Son is, by this time, near his post, as Assistant Agent to the Facty at St. Louis. I am Sir &c, (Office of Indian Affairs, Letter Book B, pp. 122-123.) The manuscript volume to which reference is made in the foregoing was undoubtedly the same as that which, in a letter to Jefferson of date 91 AND MONOGRAPHS 92 NATCHITOCHES August 9, 1805 (Jefferson Papers, vol. 151), Sibley spoke of as the copy of an old French manuscript which he intended to send to Madi- son. In a letter to J. S. Johnston (idem. vol. 228) , Jefferson later credited Sibley with having obtained for him De la Harpe's Journal. The references in the various letters are probably all to the same thing. See Gayarr6, Charles, History of Louisiana, American Domination, p. 111. The "Son" of Doctor Sibley 's to whom Dearborn refers was doubtless George C. Sibley, one of the children born at Great Barrington (Taylor, History of Great Barring- ton, p. 329), the same who was for so long in official charge at Fort Osage. 14. Note particularly the letter to Claiborne of date October 10, 1803, in which Sibley pro- fessed a minute knowledge of the rivers between the Mississippi and the Grand, or Neosho. 15. American State Papers, Indian Affairs, vol. i, pp. 721-725. 16. Idem, pp. 725-731. 17. Cox seems to be of the opinion that any testimony furnished by Grappe, the interpreter, might well be vitiated since he was in the pay of Spain (Early Exploration of Louisiana, p. 52). 18. Another supplement might be taken to be the subjoined article which in the form of a newspaper clipping was found pasted on the front inside cover of Indian Trade Letter Book, no. E (1818-1820). INDIAN NOTES NOTES 93 TEXAS INDIANS. The Cincinnati Gazette, received by this morning's mail, contains the following interest- ing statistical article on the Aborigines of Texas, written by an Indian agent lately resident at Natchitoches : if the information be correct, and we presume it is predicated on a data entitled to credit, it must at this time be acceptable to our readers, especially as this province, bordering our frontiers, has formed a prominent topic in the late Florida negotiation. It will be seen the total Indian population is here estimated at 25,260, from amongst which, supposing a junction to take place, upwards of 4,000 warriors might take the field. Memorandum of Indian Tribes inhabiting the Province of Texas. Comancheesorl-etans total population 12 to 14,000; number of warriors 23 to 2500. This nation is divided into three parties or tribes, to wit : Comanchees, Yamparacks and Tenaways ; are altogether erratic, range from the head waters of the Red river of Natchitoches to the Colorado of Texas; subsist for the most part on Buff aloe; are at war with the Spaniards, the Osage and the Tonkawas Indians; abound in mules and horses. Lapans population 12 to 1300; number of warriors 200 to 250; these are also erratic but more confined in their migrations; are generally to be found between the Yano or Prairie Bayou and the St. Savas, two tributary streams of the Colorado; are at war with the Spaniards; warmly AND MONOGRAPHS 94 NATCHITOCHES attached to the Americans, and extremely anxious to come under their protection; are a shrewd and comparatively an enlightened people and remarkably honest. Whacoes population 350 to 400, number of warriors 70 to 80; live on the river Brasos; build their huts of coarse grass in form of a cone ; occupying a beautiful and fertile prairie; raise corn, beans, and melons; are a treacherous and cowardly people; sometimes join the Coman- chees in their predatory excursions against the Spaniards; are connected with several other tribes, viz. Touwackanies, Towe-ash, and Witchetaws; excessively prone to stealing. Touwackanies population 230 to 250; war- riors 50 to 60; live at a beautiful spring of water which discharges into the river Trinity From the west side; are essentially the same as the Whacoes. Towe-ash and Whitchetaws These, it is prob- able will come within the United States by the ate Spanish treaty; live on Red river about 1200 miles above Natchitoches; occupy each sank, vis a vis, are the same people; population of each village from 5 to 600; number of warriors 100 to 120; they cultivate the earth, but fre- quently abandon their hamlets in the winter and pursue the Buffaloe. Tonkawas population 15 to 1600; warriors 350; these are erratic; live between the Brasos and the Colorado, in and about the latitude of St. Antonio; are friendly with the Spaniards, and at war with their Indian enemies, are more warlike than their neighbours generally; use rifles; are remarkable for their horsemanship. INDIAN NOTES NOTES Carrankawas these are emphatically canni- bals; population from 650 to 700; warriors 150; they occupy the mouths of the Brasos and of the beautiful bayou Los Euros, and the intervening country; they are almost as numerous, and de- rive from the numerous little water courses which intersect the low lands they inhabit, an almost impenetrable fastness; they are friendly with the Spaniards from whom they obtain some scanty but necessary supplies, and hostile to all other human beings; are cowardly, treach- erous and cruel, and invariably EAT their prisoners; are large men and of light complex- ions; a poor and miserable race; subsist mostly on alligators; build their huts of deer skins. Kitchies population 130 to 150; warriors 35 to 40; live on a small branch of the river Trinity; raise corn, &c.; are roguish set but prodigious cowards. Caddos population 5 to 600; warriors 120; live on Red river near the state line of Lousiana; the treaty line will divide their lands; they are a warlike people, descended from a nation origi- nally called Texas, but this name by means of numerous ramifications has lost its ancient pre- eminence. The five following tribes are of the same origin: Anadauquas, Nacadochetes, St. Pedros, Nabadachoes, and Texas, these, to- gether with several other small tribes of the pro- vince, are under the uncontrolled influence of the Caddo chief, who is a remarkably shrewd and sensible fellow; he has been much caressed by the agency at Natchitoches, but still retains strong Spanish predilections; he could probably com- mand 500 warriors; but his tributaries are less warlike than his own people. 95 AND MONOGRAPHS 96 NATCHITOCHE S Anadauquas population 120 to 130; war- riors 30; live on the Angaline about 50 miles N. W. from Nacogdoches. Nacadochetes population 150; warriors 40; live on the Angaline about 60 miles from Nacog- doches. St. Pedros population 130; warriors 30; live on Netches, 40 miles W. from Nacogdoches. Naradachoes population 100; warriors 20; live near St. Pedros. Texas population 150; warriors 30; live on Netches, 45 miles from Nocogdoches. The five preceding tribes are essentially the same people; live some in log and some in grass built cabins; are generally roguish and cowardly. Eyish this is a remnant of a tribe, consist- ing of not more than 50 souls, who are scattered amongst and intermarried with the neighbour- ing tribes. Bidies population 175 to 180; warriors 40 to 50; live on the river Trinity, about 40 miles below St. Antonio road; these are a peculiar people; speak a language different from all their neighbors; their origin is not known; they inter- marry with the Conshattes and are under their control. Eynies these are dispersed and intermingled with other tribes of the vicinity. Baluxes population 100; warriors 25; live on a branch of the Netches, 40 miles S. of Nacogeoches; are a peaceable and harmless people. Conshattes population 350; warriors 80; live on Trinity, 120 miles S. of Nacogdoches; trade to St. Antonio and to Galveston; are a brave and enterprising people; descended from INDIAN NOTES NOTES the Creeks; migrated to their present abode about the period of the American revolution; are hospitable and friendly to Americans. Aalabamas population, 320; warriors, 75; live on waters of Netches, 40 miles above its mouth, descended from the Creeks, are similar in all respects to their brethren the Cpnshattes; being more contiguous to, they sometimes trade to Nachitoches both these tribes are much attached to the Americans. Kaways This is a people with whom I am acquainted only by information derived from the Comanches and some few traders who have seen large parties of them; their summer resi- dence is probably in high northern latitudes in- asmuch as they trade with the British North Western Company; they descend into the country occupied by the Yamparacks and Tena- ways in the winter, allured perhaps by the Buffaloe and the greater mildness of the climate; there are probably 2000 souls of this tribe. Seraticks^- this tribe, like the preceding one, migrates from the north in the fall season they are connected with and speak the same language as the Lapans have probably 1800 to 200[0] souls. 19. See the personal letter from the Auditor to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Septem- ber 16, 1905, which is attached to the document itself. 20. Indian vocabularies were the major part of the materials furnished Jefferson by Sibley (Jefferson to J. S. Johnston, op. cit.) and regu- lar vocabulary blanks were forwarded to him from Washington (Jefferson to Claiborne, May 26, 1805, Jefferson Papers, vol. 150; 97 AND MONOGRAPHS NATCHITOCHES Sibley to Jefferson, August 9, 1805, idem, vol. 151). By the end of the summer of 1805, only the Caddo vocabulary had been collected; but hopes were entertained by the indefatigable Sibley that others would soon be forthcoming. " Caddo," said he, "is esteemed the most antient language and now used by all the smaller tribes." (Sibley to Jefferson, August 27, 1805, idem, vol. 152). Perhaps it was, as Professor Cox asserts, his "exuberant imagination" that led him to make many untrustworthy state- ments. His conclusions were often very hastily reached and many are the instances of his form- ing erroneous opinions. Thus he informed Jefferson that from the best account he could obtain he had decided that the "Cances language is spoken by the Indians on the waters that fall into the Western Ocean. " Towards the middle of December, 1805, Sibley sent to Washington the vocabulary of the Natchitoches language (Sibley to Jefferson, December 14, 1805, idem, vol. 154). 21. Presumably, the John S. Lewis of later mention in the journal. 22. Thomas Freeman. For an account of his expedition up the Red river in 1806 and of the manuscript journal describing it, see Thwaites, R. G., Early Western Travels, vol. xvn, pp. 61, 66, et seq. It was the third of the notable series planned by Jefferson, a series of which the Lewis and Clark: Up the Missouri and Beyond, and the Dunbar: Up the Wachita, were respectively the first and second. Of his wonderful exploring plans, Jefferson had this to say: "We shall delineate with correctness the great arteries of this great country; those who INDIAN NOTES NOTES come after us will extend the ramifications as they become acquainted with them, and fill up the canvas we begin. " (Jefferson to Dunbar, May 25, 1805, Jefferson Papers, vol. 150) The original idea was that the party that went up the Red river should come down the Arkansas (Jefferson to Claiborne, May 26, 1805, Jefferson Papers, vol.150) ; but the presence of the seceding Osages on the latter stream and the difficulty of transferring baggage from one stream to another forced a return by the Red (Jefferson to Dunbar, May 25, 1805, idem). Of the Freeman expedi-- tion of 1806, Cox declares that it was "the last formal expedition until 13 years had passed." (The Exploration of the Lousiana Frontier, 1803-1806, American -Historical Association Report, 1904, p. 174). 23. Thomas Linnard. Apparently William Reibelt had been selected for the post; but his long delay in starting for Natchitoches had made it Dearborn's "indispensible duty to rely no longer" on him "and to make another appointment. "(Jefferson to William Reibelt, February 3, 1807, Jefferson Papers, vol. 164). Linnard had, as a matter of fact, had charge of the factory at Natchitoches "since its estab- lishment." (See Letter of Dearborn's, Feb- ruary 2, 1807). Jefferson expressed the hope that Claiborne would be able to get Reibelt something better than an Indian factory. 24. For the general location of the Caddo country, see map compiled by Herbert E. Bolton, entitled, "Map of Texas and Adjacent Regions in the Eighteenth Century" (Univer- sity of California Map Series, no. 2). 99 AND MONOGRAPHS 100 NATCHITOCHES 25. The Indian's conception of the ade- quacy of a pecuniary indemnity for a blood loss is so nearly identical with the wergcld of the early Germans that it seems not out of place to remark here on the many resemblances between the customs of the North American aborigines and those of which Tacitus so elaborately discoursed in his famous Germania. Compare, for example, the early German love of gambling with the Indian devotion to ball- playing as detailed on p. 11. 26. More correctly "strouding", a kind of coarse blanketing that was much used in the Indian trade. 27. A roll of tobacco, "formed by placing the moist prepared leaves together in large handfuls, and winding about them grasses or strips of fibrous wood ..." (Century Dictionary). 28. Probably intended for "bragas." 29. Zebulon Pike, who, according to his own account, was then at San Antonio (Coues, Elliott. The Expeditions of Zebulon Mont- gomery Pike, vol. n, p. 698). 30. This bears out what Hulbert affirms that the trading-path was always kept distinct from the war-path. 31. Three days subsequent to the making of this entry, Dr Sibley wrote as follows to his son, Samuel Hopkins Sibley: "... My prospect of coming to Carolina is now less than it was, the Indian Chiefs will not consent to come with me, till our affairs with Spain are settled, that they may have the extent of the rightful jurisdiction of each govern- ment, but they will come as soon as that is done. I have lately had considerable difficulty with INDIAN NOTES NOTES some of my Indians, two white men killed two Indians of different tribes and made their Escape, an Indian has killed a white man & fled to the Spaniards, a party of Indians killed two women of a tribe at peace with them, it has given me much trouble to prevent them from going to war, they were at war, I made them make peace or rather made peace for them. "I am informed (though not officially) that Governor Claiborne the Governor of this Territory is removed & Daniel Clark (whom I enclosed you a letter to) is appointed in his place, they are I believe both of them per- sonally my friends, though I have openly dis- approved of some parts of Gov. Claibornes administration, he has become extremely un- popular in this Territory except amongst a party of small number, his removal is certainly a wise executive measure. General Wilkinsons name is made a free use of through this country & on all the waters of the Mississippi. I should think the same reasons would urge the Executive to dismiss him that operated to the dismissal of General Claiborne, who I still think an Honest man, a different opinion is expressed by many, with respect to the General, I was always more enclined to laugh at the fuss that both of them made about Col. Bur than to feel serious alarms. "... Capt Pike, Doctor Robinson & Party arrived here this day from the interior of New Spain . . . "I have lately had much trouble amongst my Indians. Some white men have killed Indians, & they have retaliated. Some tribes of Indians have been committing depredations 101 AND MONOGRAPHS .102 NATCHITOCHES on others in my agency. My business is to keep them all at peace and with the white inhabitants there are bad men amongst all people red as well as white that no laws can restrain." (John Sibley to Samuel H. Sibley, dated Natchitoches, June 30, 1807, Sibley MSS.) There is a slight discrepancy in date between Sibley 's record and Pike's.* According to the the latter, the arrival of Pike and Robinson at Natchitoches occurred on July first (Coues, The Expeditions of Zebulon Montgomery Pike, vol. IT, pp. 712-715). 32. This account of the Hietans, or Co- manches, is much fuller than that in the His- torical Sketches (American State Papers, Indian Affairs, vol. i, pp. 723-724). Stoddard, in Sketches of Louisiana, p. 486, mentions the visit made by the Hietans to Natchitoches in 1807. He says, however, that they were " clean- ly in their persons and dress, particularly in their cookery . . ." which seems scarcely consonant with the infrequency of bathing to which Sibley refers. 32. See the facsmile of Sibley's notes, pi. I, A-C. INDIAN NOTES SIBLEY NATCHITOCHES o ' FACSIMILE OF NOT^S BY SIBLEY ON THE HIETAN OR COMANCHE. APPENDED TO HIS JOURNAL SIBLEY NATCHITOCHES Ut VuvJ*~\ NOTES BY SIBLEY CONTINUED SIBLEY NATCHITOCHES US 'i NOTES BY SIBLEY CONCLUDED