CHAPTER XXVII. RIVALRY BETWEEN THE MOUNTAIN AND PLAINS TRIBES-HOSTILITY AGAINST ROM the earliest times of which we have any record, the plains have been a common battle-ground. From time immemorial, there has existed a particularly fierce and unyielding hostility between the mountain and the plains Indians. The mountain-tribes, a more hardy and bolder type of the lace, have generally proved too much for the warriors of the open country. The leaders in these incursions were the Utes and the Navajoes, who still make occasional descents from their mountain fastnesses, spreading terror far and wide among the plains bands. Their warlike expeditions form an important chapter in the traditions of the Kiowas and Comanches especially. Time and again the warriors of both these tribes have been routed, and the mountain warrior has returned to his retreats laden with scalps to attest his prowess in battle, and large herds of ponies and many squaws as the the fruits of victory. The plains Indians are not known ever to have retaliated by pursuing their enemies on their own grounds. It is true, that, at certain seasons, they still send their bravest men into the mountains to cut lodge-poles; but, upon nearing the dangerous country of their terrible adversaries, they move cautiously, and well examine their path before venturing too far. Having secured their lodge-poles, they usually retreat with the utmost dispatch until out of reach of pursuit. Many of the tribes seated on reservations near the settlements are also in the habit of visiting the plains annually to kill buffalo. These expeditions, fraught with dangers at the hands of the vigilant wild tribes, are organized with the same ceremonies that attend the gathering of a war-party. Though for the special object of the chase, they adopt the precaution of making every preparation to repel attacks, aud, while engaged in killing buffalo, detachments of warriors are constantly employed, scouring the plain, on the look-out for the approach of hostile Indians. The tribes possessing, or rather occupying, the country, jealous of these intrusions, are constantly on the watch; and it rarely happens that a hunting-party returns without a fight, or, at least, being pursued. In addition to the many distinctions, in regard to manners and customs, between the mountain and the plains Indians, we find a still more marked difference of habits, caused, in a great measure, by the use of the horse, or, more particularly, the smaller and hardier variety of the species, known as the Indian pony. Natural history informs us that the horse is not a native of the American continent. We are informed that the horse first makes his appearance in America, in connection with the Spanish adventurers, and first landed on the south-western portion of the continent with Cortez and his followers. The terror at first inspired by the presence of this noble animal, went far towards overcoming the primitive Aztecs, in the romantic and daring conquest of Cortez. The constant shock of battle soon familiarized the inhabitants of Mexico with the submissive and subordinate nature of the horse. Forgetting his supposed preternatural origin, they preserved those taken from their enemies; and the species was still more rapidly disseminated by the subsequent establishment of Spanish dominion in the country. We find the animal soon taking part with the natives in domestic industry, public ceremony, and war. The intercourse between the progenitors of the modern Comanches and the Mexicans, soon put the former in possession of so valuable an assistance in prosecuting their predatory incursions beyond the Rio Grande. The nature of the country, and the indolence of the savage, conduced to a high appreciation of the usefulness of the horse. The plains of Texas, with their fine streams of water and luxuriant pasturage, were well adapte to the habits of the animal. In the lapse of years, each band ad its herds, and the maximum of Indian wealth was the possession of numerous ponies. Changes of climate and other circumstances, led to an almost new creation, which we meet to-day in the Indian pony. This new type of the species, not only differs in stature and is more tractable and full of endurance, but is more generally adapted to the purpose and condition of the Indian of the plains than the highly developed parent species would be. The Indian pony enables the savage warrior to scour the expanse from the Missouri to the mountains westward, and from the southern verge of civilization to the distant limits of Dakota. It enables him to transport his villages, his squaws, and his papooses, wherever his nomadic instincts prompt; and the same food which subsists the countless buffaloes suffices to keep the strength of the Indian pony. It is, therefore, not surprising nor unnatural that the warrior's first ambition should be the possession of this valuable animal. With his shield to defend him from the feathered shafts of his enemies, with his bow and arrow as a means to vindicate his prowess, and scalps to reward his triumph, with his pony to carry him through the dangers of battle and to assist him in the acquisition of spoils, the young warrior mounts his way to eminence and influence, emulating the great and brave, and frequently rivaling them in deeds to be handed down in tradition. In the use of the horse, taking the term in its generic sense, the plains Indians more particularly differ from those of the mountains. The latter conduct their war operations on foot, march long distances, and engage their enemies from behind trees and rocks, or depend upon the irregularities of surface as a defence. They excel in muscular development and cunuing. Their capacity of endurance is greater, and mode of living more rude. Their sphere of warlike operations is necessarily Kimited; but their fights are attended with greater determination, courage, and personal exertion. Some of the mountain tribes, bordering the plains, possess a few horses, captured by their war-parties to the open country. These they use, when they have them, more for speedy transportation and convenience, than as an actual necessity. On the other hand, the plains Indian is entirely governed by the use of the pony. To such an extent has it become part of his every-day life, that, without it, he would be compelled to make a radical change in his habits and ideas. The warrior of the plains takes pride in his horsemanship-sometimes dignified, again reckless, and often novel. Depending upon his mount, he displays less of true courage, striving to terrify by well-concerted demonstrations and bold dashes. He fears a dismounted adversary, and takes to flight rather than engage, except with overwhelming numbers in his favor. The Comanches boast of having been the first Indians to use the horse, and, with a wonderful degree of self importance, claim to have introduced that valuable animal to the whites, as well as to others of their own race. In fact the horse, according to themselves, was, originally, specially created by the Great Spirit for their use. The old men say that they recollect when the Kiowas were poor, and used squaws, dogs, and sledges to move their villages, and their warriors went on foot, but now they were rich, and had more ponies than the Comanches. The plains warrior exhibits less muscular development than those of his race occupying the mountain districts, although his wild and independent life would seem to induce the most perfect specimens of manly form. The fact is almost the reverse. He is tall, but his limbs are small and badly shaped, showing more sinew than muscle. His chest, however, is deep and square. His bearing is erect, with legs considerably bowed, the effect of constant use of the saddle. His hair is long and black, and worn at full length, streaming over his shoulders. The scalp-lock, or hair growing on a diameter of two inches on the vertex of the skull, is artistically plaited. His beard, moustache, and eyebrows he plucks out. The object of this mutilation of nature is nothing more than the gratification of a singular phase of vanity. The practice has a tendency to produce a feminine appearance. In physiognomy we find in the plains Indian a greater diversity than would be supposed. Some have features perfectly Caucasian, while others closely resemble the narrowfaced Malay, or the oval-countenanced Mongolian, and with the different shades of color, from a dark reddish brown to a perfect olive. For the purpose of arguing the origin of the race, as far as the plains Indians are concerned, judging from their resemblance to any particular people of the old world, a sufficient variety of facial angles could be found to support any theory. The expansive flat face, high and receding forehead, sharp and small black eyes, thin lips, well arched mouth, high cheek-bones, nose more or less beaked, or Roman, and rather flat across the bridge, but thinning out towards the point, ears large, well formed, and setting well upon the head, represents the type most commonly met with. Specimens are often seen bearing close resemblance to the subjects of several European nations. We have seen one band, except in color, perfect Italians, a few resembling the Germans, and quite a number the Jews of to-day. These varieties, in connection with the general type, appear in all the five wild tribes. The Cheyennes and Arrapahoes are more purely Indian, and the finest models. The Kiowas and Lipans stand next. The Comanche in numerous instances is adulterated with the blood of the Mexican, either by capture or intermarriage. The women of the plains tribes, though smaller in stature, show a much more perfect development. The relations between the sexes is the same in nearly all cases-that is, they are the servants or slaves. All the labor performed in an Indian village, taking down or setting up the lodges, packing for trans |