CHAPTER XXIV.

▲ VISIT TO A COMANCHE VILLAGE THE CHIEF'S LODGE- CHRISTMAS DAYINDIANS DRAWING RATIONS.

FTER tarrying for a short time on the way, watching some juvenile sports, we continued our journey. Our advent was duly announced by a drove of snarling, snapping curs, of all sizes, colors and conditions.

Two great clubs with which we had provided ourselves beforehand alone prevented a complete route before this canine demonstration. Our movements, however, were most cautiously performed by backing in the direction we wished to proceed and thus preventing a dash on our heels. The noise of our approach as developed by the dogs, started a few old squaws who came out of their lodges, and by giving vent to a few gutterals completely silenced the growling storm, and we continued to the lodge of the chief without farther interruption or molestation.

There were about seventy lodges in this village, about the same number of warriors, and twice that number of women.

We proceeded at once to the lodge of Essahavit, the warchief of the band. This exalted hero of the savage community heard of our coming and was ready to greet us. He politely waved us an invitation to enter. We complied by crowding through an aperture made by the meeting of the two extremities of the outer covering of the lodge, about three feet in height, and covered with a piece of buffalo hide dried, and as stiff as a board.

Upon entering the lodge we were invited to a seat on a fine

buffalo robe spread upon the ground, for the accommodation of

visitors.

Having seated ourselves, the interpreter opened a conversation. The war-chief was a man of about forty-five years of age, heavy muscular frame, and a broad face. The latter was specially illuminated with a coating of vermilion. He wore a brown shirt, and about his waist a broad belt supporting a breech-clout, his lower limbs were bare, with the exception of a pair of beautifully worked moccasins on his feet. Both ears

were fearfully disfigured by large incisions which had been made in them for the accommodation of a profusion and variety of ear-rings.

Like most men of deeds, Essahavit soon began to narrate his warlike performances against the Utes and Navajoes, the ancient and mortal enemies of the Peneteghtkas. His fierce black eyes while thus talking, soon flashed up, indicating the chiefs fire of temper and no ordinary intelligence, He was reclining, his coarse raven hair streaming over his shoulders. His couch consisted of a number of rushes ingeniously piled together, pinned and held down with small thongs. It was elevated at the head. and over the top was spread a royal buffalo robe, the shaggy mane forming a pillow. Near the couch, and within arms length, stood a forked stick, upon which were suspended the chiefs trappings for war and the chase, his head gear and ornaments, and shell and silver breast decorations; his silver mounted bridle and highly adorned saddle; which had evidently in former years been the property of some luckless alcalde in far off Mexico. Opposite the chief on our right, lay several very fine robes and parfleshes finely painted. On our left, lay the rude cooking utensils of the lodge. In the centre, a hole sunk about six inches, contained a small fire burning brightly, and emitting a pleasant heat.

At the head of the couch, lay a squaw incorrigibly ugly and emaciated. We were early informed by herself that she was sick "a heap." Near by were a medicine drum and other necessary instruments in the savage art of expelling maladies

by physical force, and unearthly noises. At the foot of the couch sat the favorite squaw, young, pretty, and unusually cleanly in appearance.

During our entire presence this one of the female members of the family was busily occupied in finishing a beautiful buffalo robe which she had just tanned. Occasionally from her work in response to some words from the chief, she would lift a pair of fine black eyes, and with a pleasantness of expression respond in striking contrast, with the old hag cuddled up in the

corner.

The extent of Essahavits conjugal bliss, was three squaws and four or five papooses. The chief was a thrifty savage, and kept a watchful eye upon his extensive herds of ponies. His lodge was the finest that Indian art could produce, his equipments and decorations were of the most expensive character, and his squaws wore new and bright red blankets. The youngest as a mark of special favor, wore a belt covered with large silver plates, and by her side an awl and paint pouch very elaborately worked with beads. Her moccasins were in keeping with the rest of her attire.

The chief was certainly pleased with our visit, and did everything to show his hospitality. The interpreter and himself kept up a lively conversation. I usually took part when the laugh came in, by way of imitation to let it be seen that I fully appreciated all that was said. The chief with great pride took down his otter quiver and bow case. It was without question the finest I had ever seen. While showing the quiver and admiring it, pointing to his pretty squaw, for so I must distinguish her, he remarked "squaw me bueno, heap bueno," meaning that his favorite had made it for him and it was very good. This "outfit" to use a common expression, was for occasions of state and ceremony.

After pulling out the arrows and commenting upon each one having a particular history and value, the chief handed every thing over to his squaw, remarking "squaw work, put away me no. The squaw took the hint.

After we had been in the lodge about half an hour, one of the interesting household handed around water in a calabash. After partaking of this, she also distributed a few Indian cakes about the size of walnuts and as hard as bullets. By way of courtesy I contrived to dispose of my first. The second I slipped into my pocket to preserve as a curiosity, a fact I, subsequently, found was much more satisfactory to the digestion than the use to which I had put the other.

Essahavit observed with unfeigned regret that the "white men had all the fire water and drank it all himself." He said also, "he was very poor" a peace of information an Indian is never at a loss nor diffident about conveying.

The rest of the time passed at the village, we occupied in strolling around amongst the lodges. A retinue of dogs escorted us about, occasionally making an offensive flourish which was usually counter-balanced by a rap over the head of the most audacious brute.

The woman about the village were occupied in most of the daily out-door employments of their sex. Some were driving in the herds of ponies, others fleshing buffalo hides, others carrying water and fire wood. In this last occupation I was amazed at the wonderful strength of the women. I saw one old squaw, not less than sixty years of age, with an enormous bundle of wood on her back held together by strips of raw hide. What she carried at the time could not have weighed less than three hundred pounds, and I was even told that for a short distance it was not uncommon for squaws to carry six hundred pounds in the same manner.

Out of curiosity we entered another lodge of less pretentions than that of the war-chief. The interior had not in any comparison that air of comfort, was less spacious and filled with all sorts of rubbish, jerked buffalo-meat, bones, robes and skins. Three squaws were seated around the little fire in the centre, and a warrior was lounging on a pile of untanned buffalo-skins. As we went in, the usual form of Indian ceremony being to enter without any preliminary manœuvres, the warrior exclaimed