ing of relationship inspired by the ties of blood. These bands. are influenced by no common interest; and, while they generally have maintained peace, as parts of the same parent stock, each band generally follows its own impulses.

There now exist five different bands of Comanches, roaming over the same country. Although they claim a division of eight, three of this number have lost their distinct character; and, while they have their chiefs and head men, the people have divided up, and have incorporated themselves into the other bands.

The largest subdivision of the Comanches, is the Qua-ha-dede-chatz-kennes, or Antelope Users. This band inhabits the Llano Estacado, or Staked Plains, and keeps up a continual series of raids into Texas and northern Mexico. This branch has maintained an exclusion from all intercourse with the government, and the barren, unexplored, and inaccessible nature of their haunts, has given them, thus far, complete assurance of security for their families.

The Llano Estacado, or Staked Plains, a desolate waste, was so named, many yearsago, by a party of Mexicans, who for the convenience of intercourse with the tribes to the north, and for the purpose of communicating with the American settlements, marked out a route across that sterile section by planting stakes.

The remaining bands of the Comanches, are the Cost-cheteghtkas, or Buffalo Eaters; Yamparikos, or Root Diggers; Peneteghtkas, or Honey Eaters; and No-ko-nees, or Wander

ers.

The three bands broken up, are the Moochas, or Crooked Mountain band; Ten-na-was, or Liver Eaters; and Tea-chatzkennas, or Servers. These bands roam over the country bordering on the head waters of the Red river, and as far as the Canadian.

About twenty-five years ago, these people were cut up into three grand divisions-northern, middle, and southern Comanches-designated by the names, Ten-na-was, Yamparikos, and Comanches proper. Each of these divisions was subdivided

into bands. The southern Comanches at that time roamed in Texas, extending their movements from the Red river to the Colorado, and wintered on the Colorado and Brazos. The northern Comanches followed the migrations of the buffalo from the Red river to the Arkansas. The middle Comanches occupied the region intervening. The No-co-nees and Ten-na-was then wintered in north-western Texas, and in the summer season moved north, establishing themselves sometimes as far as the Red, sometimes to the Canadian, and even visited as far north as the Arkansas.

Their superior character and intelligence, as well as their bravery in war and expert horsemanship, gives the Comanche the precedence in influence among the tribes of the southern plains.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TRIBAL TRADITIONS CONTINUED--THE KIOWA-THE CHEYENNE AND ARRAPAHOE THE DOG SOLDIERS—THE APACHE (LIPANS)—INTERCOURSE

OF THE FIVE TIBES WITH EACH OTHER.

was.

EXT in point of character and importance are the KioThese people to-day hold a kind of medium of intercourse between the Comanches and other wild tribes and the Government. They are shrewd in

diplomacy, and have frequently, to use their own expression, successfully "played wolf with Washington." The latter being the name by which the commissioners of the Government are known. Kiowa and Comanche warriors are often found together on the same war-path, pursue their hostilities against the Navajoes in the mountains of New Mexico, or divide the rich spoils taken from the heavily laden wagon-trains en route to the far western settlements.

The Kiowas claim that their primitive country was in the far north. That other tribes coming upon them, a long and sanguinary war ensued, in which both parties were nearly used up. Seeing their condition, and still too proud to offer or to accept terms of peace, both withdrew. After remaining for a while in their old country, continually harrassed by their enemies, their hunters brought back stories of extensive regions to the south, and inhabited by a people much weakened by wars. The entire tribe resolved to drive out these prior occupants, and take possession of these new lands. The families were collected and the removal commenced. Their affects were carried on dogs, or sledges drawn by that animal. From the north they reached

a river, now the south forth of the Platte Their residence upon the borders of this stream is within the recollection of the old men of the tribe.

Not satisfied with the Platte country, they moved on across the Republican and Smoky Hill until they reached the Arkansas. Thence they moved upon the head waters of the Cimmaron. Here they permanently located their council fire, and after much fighting secured control of all the country south of the Arkansas, and north of the Witchita mountains and head waters of the Red river.

There are many evidences in the names of tributary streams on the Upper Missouri indicating that the Kiowas at one time were in that vicinity. Kiowa pride would not descend to an admission that the tribe was compelled to leave. But that such was the case is hardly to be doubted, as the later occupants for years past have proved an equally brave people, and have exceeded the Kiowas in many of the fiercer qualities of warriors. It is also quite satisfactory that an Indian has rarely been known to desert the hunting-ground of his fathers unless compelled to do so by some extraordinary circumstance. It is equally certain in their removal the Kiowas were not influenced by considerations of climate or country, as in neither respect is the Arkansas preferable to the regions beyond the Platte. The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes claim some years ago, to have had severe wars with the Kiowas, and that they whipped them to such an extent that they left the country. There still seems to exist a latent hostility between the conquerors and the conquered.

The Kiowas preserve a tribal union, rather remarkable in a a region where such a variety of considerations combine to defeat the concentration of large numbers into a single body. They possess in form no central council for purposes of a general government, still, in fact, the superior authority of some chief gives the tribe nominally a central influence, respected alike by all the subordinate bands. This controlling rank has frequently resulted in very threatening misunderstandings be

tween rival aspirants for the honor of being head chief, and it is only due to the family ties, which in an Indian are singularly strong, that more serious divisions have not long ago occurred. The requisites needed to hold this high rank are principally wisdom in council and bravery in war. For several years Satanta has filled the office of head chief. A peculiar dash of manner, a grin equal to all occasions, a remarkable shrewdness exhibited in managing affairs between the different tribes with which his people come in contact, or their intercourse with the National Government, have won for him a prestige which he has very well maintained.

Satanta, when I met him, was a man of about fifty years of age. He rose first through prowess on the war-path, and afterwards through skill in council and diplomacy. He had an intelligent face, and was large in frame, and of muscular development, exhibiting also a tendency to obesity. Lately Satanta had found a threatening rival in Lone Wolf, the war-chief of the tribe. While he still holds his own with the old men, Lone Wolf, a middle aged Indian, was the choice of the young. In the latter the young warriors found plenty of encouragement and opportunity to win renown. Their restless spirits, craving the excitement of the war-path, and the acquisition of scalps, naturally sided with one who gave way to their instinctive thirst for blood.

The Kiowas, for convenience of subsistence, are divided up into smaller parties, led by a chief of prominence. These divisions are generally composed of, and influenced by, the relatives of the chief, and follow him more as a leader of the family than for purposes of independent action. The principal bands thus constituted, and in the order of their importance, are those of Satanta, Lone Wolf, Timbered Mountain, Kicking Bird, and Stumbling Bear. Big Bow, with his band, during the recent troubles, went over to the Cheyennes, influenced by jealousy of his rivals and hostility to the Government. In their general arrangements the voice of the tribe directs any measure in which the whole people are interested. Upon certain occasions, also,