The next day we met with a
band of Wakoes Indians, another subdivision of the Comanches or of the
Apaches, and not yet seen or even mentioned by any traveller. They were
all mounted upon fine tall horses, evidently a short time before
purchased at the Mexican settlements, for some of them had their shoes
still on their feet. They immediately offered us food and water, and
gave us fresh steeds, for our own were quite broken down, and could
scarcely drag themselves along. We encamped with them that day on a
beautiful spot, where our poor animals recovered a little. We bled them
freely, an operation which probably saved them to share with us many
more toils and dangers.
The next day we arrived at the Wakoe village, pleasantly-situated upon
the banks of a cold and clear stream, which glided through a romantic
valley, studded here and there with trees just sufficient to vary the
landscape, without concealing its beauties. All around the village were
vast fields of Indian corn and melons; further off numerous herds of
cattle, sheep, and horses were grazing; while the women were busy drying
buffalo meat. In this hospitable village we remained ten days, by which
time we and our beasts had entirely recovered from our fatigues.
This tribe is certainly far superior in civilization and comforts to all
other tribes of Indians, the Shoshones not excepted.
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