Descriptive Catalogue of Photographs of North American Indians Part 18

At the present time there are 600 Bannacks a.s.sociated with 900 Shoshonees at the Fort Hall reservation on Snake River, where the attempt is being made to civilize them. There are 200 more at the Lemhi reservation, where there are also 340 Sheep-eaters, a band of the Bannacks living a retired life in the mountains dividing Idaho from Montana, and 500 Shoshonees.

_List of ill.u.s.trations._

46. GROUP of eight of the leading chiefs and braves; photographed at the Snake River agency in 1872, among whom are PAQUITS, or _Bannock Jim_, a prominent chief; TOTSE-CABE-NATSY, _The White-faced Boy_, and _Major Jim_.

47. GROUP of a miscellaneous crowd at the agency.

48. FAMILY GROUP.

In 1871, while returning from the exploration of the Yellowstone region, and while encamped near the head of the Medicine Lodge Creek, the camp of a family of the Sheep-eater band of Bannacks was accidentally discovered near by, almost completely hidden in a grove of willows. Their tent or tepee is made of a few boughs of willow, about which are thrown an old canvas picked up in some of the settlements. The present of a handful of sugar and some coffee reconciled them to having their photographs taken. In the group are the father and mother and five children. The Sheep-eaters are a band of the Bannacks, running in the mountains north of the Kamas prairies, and are so shy and timid that they are but rarely seen.

51-61. GROUPS AND SCENES about the agency.

Eleven views, showing the various operations of the agency, some of the idlers, and a few groups of squaws and pappooses.

2. COMANCHES.

A roving, warlike, and predatory tribe of Shoshone descent, roaming over much of the great prairie country from the Platte to Mexico. Their traditions and early history are vague, but they claim to have come from the west. They call themselves _Nauni_ (live people), but the Spanish called them Comanches or Camanches (_Les Serpents_), the name adopted by the Americans. Procuring horses from the Spaniards at an early day they became expert riders, which, united with their daring and aggressiveness, made them noted and feared throughout the Southwest.

Engaged in long and b.l.o.o.d.y wars with the Spaniards, but were subdued by them in 1783. Were estimated about that time at 5,000 warriors. In 1816 lost heavily by small-pox. Up to 1847 were variously estimated at from 9,000 to 12,000 in all. Were at one time on a reservation in Texas, but were driven out of the State, and since then have been unrelenting enemies of the people of that State. The General Government has set apart a new reservation for them in the western part of the Indian Territory and are gradually drawing them all on to it, though not without much trouble. They now number 1,570 in all, and are divided into eight bands. Have made a commencement in farming, and have been induced to send a few of their children to an industrial school.

W. Blackmore, esq., in an article on the North American Indians, thus describes the Comanche:

"These fierce, untamed savages roam over an immense region, eating the raw flesh of the buffalo, drinking its warm blood, and plundering Mexicans, Indians, and whites with judicial impartiality. Arabs and Tartars of the desert, they remove their villages (pitching their lodges in regular streets and squares) hundreds of miles at the shortest notice. The men are short and stout, with bright copper faces and long hair, which they ornament with gla.s.s beads and silver gewgaws."

Catlin says of them:

"In their movements they are heavy and ungraceful, and on their feet one of the most unattractive and slovenly races I have ever seen; but the moment they mount their horses they seem at once metamorphosed, and surprise the spectator with the ease and grace of their movements. A Comanche on his feet is out of his element, and comparatively almost as awkward as a monkey on the ground without a limb or branch to cling to; but the moment he lays his hand upon his horse his _face_ even becomes handsome, and he gracefully flies away, a different being."

_List of ill.u.s.trations._

128. ASA HAVIE. _The Milky Way._ (Front.) PENETATHKA.

129. ASA HAVIE. _The Milky Way._ (Profile.)

Is one of the head men of his band, dividing the office of chief with Toshoway. (No. 134.) Has been one of the most noted raiders into Texas, leading many bands of the restless young men of his tribe, until about ten years since, when he was badly wounded in an encounter and left for dead upon the field. Is now endeavoring to live in the white man's ways, having had a comfortable log house built for himself, and a few acres of ground enclosed, which he is successfully cultivating. This portrait of _Asa havie_ was made in 1872, while on a visit to Was.h.i.+ngton with a delegation of his tribe.

Age, about 45; height, 5.9-1/2; head, 23-1/2; chest, 44-1/2; weight, about 200 pounds.

130. WIFE OF ASA HAVIE. (Front.)

131. WIFE OF ASA HAVIE. (Profile.)

Age, about 40; height, 5.4; head, 23; chest, 38; weight, 170 pounds.

132. TIMBER BLUFF. (Front.)

133. TIMBER BLUFF. (Profile.)

134. TOSHOWAY. _Silver Knife._ (Front.) PENETATHKA.

135. TOSHOWAY. _Silver Knife._ (Profile.) PENETATHKA.

One of the chiefs of his band, sharing the position with _Asa havie_. Is noted for good sense and fair dealing, and has long been friendly to the whites. In youth, however, was not behind the other adventurous spirits of his tribe in predatory exploits and raids into Texas. Age, about 55; height, 5.6; head, 22-1/4; chest, 41; weight, 168.

136. WIFE OF TOSHOWAY. (Front.)

137. WIFE OF TOSHOWAY. (Profile.)

Age, 55; height, 4.10; head, 21; chest, 34; weight, 120.

138-9, 140. ASA-TO-YET. _Gray Leggings._ (Front.) PENETATHKA.

One of the leading men of his tribe, taking an active interest in their advancement. Lives in a house, cultivates the ground, and has a good lot of stock. Speaks English fluently. Age, 45; height, 5.10; head, 34; chest, 42.

141-2. CHEEVERS. _He Goat._ TAMPARETHKA.

A prominent and influential man in his tribe, and chief of his band.

143-4. WIFE OF CHEEVERS. TAMPARETHKA.

One of the three wives of Cheevers. She accompanied him to Was.h.i.+ngton with the delegation in 1872. None of his wives have any children.

145-6. MOTHER OF CHEEVERS. TAMPARETHKA.

147-8. QUIRTS-QUIP. _Chewing Elk._ TAMPARETHKA.

One of the chiefs of the tribe; a shrewd and able person, with considerable executive and financial ability. Age, 45; height, 5.6-3/4; head, 23; chest, 39.

149, 150. HO-WE-OH. _Gap in the Salt._ TAMPARETHKA.

A chief who is doing his best to lead his tribe in civilized ways, as well as to walk in that way himself. Age, --; height, 5.11-1/2; head, 23; chest, 43.

151-2. DAUGHTER OF GAP IN THE SALT. TAMPARETHKA.

153-4. PARRY-WAH-SA-MEN. _Ten Bears._ TAMPARETHKA.

Formerly head chief of the Tamparethkas band of Comanches. He died in November, 1872, just after his return from Was.h.i.+ngton with a visiting delegation from his tribe. Was friendly to the whites, and a man of influence among his people, maintaining this influence and his chieftains.h.i.+p to the unusual age of 80 years.

155-6. BUFFALO HUMP. TAMPARETHKA.

157-8. JIM. TAMPARETHKA.

178-9. NATIVE DRAWINGS.

3. KIOWAS.

The Kiowas, or prairie men, are one of the tribes that compose the Shoshone family. They are a wild and roving people, occupying the country about the headwaters of the Arkansas, but also formerly ranging over all of the country between the Platte and the Rio Grande. They had the reputation of being the most rapacious, cruel, and treacherous of all the Indians on the plains, and had a great deal of influence over the Comanches and other neighboring Indians. Our first knowledge of them was through Lewis and Clarke, who found them on the Paducah. They were at war with many of the northern tribes, but carried on a large trade in horses with some other tribes. Little intercourse was had with them until 1853, when they made a treaty and agreed to go on a reservation, but soon broke it and went raiding into Texas. The citizens of that State drove them out, but in revenge for the stoppage of their annuities, they retaliated upon the Texans, and until recently the warfare was kept up between them. In 1869, were placed on a reservation of over three and a half millions of acres with some Comanches and Apaches, but were restive and unsettled. In 1871, under their great chief Satanta, raided Texas again, but it resulted in the capture of himself and Big Tree, and their imprisonment soon after. Were afterwards pardoned by the governor of Texas, in whose custody they were, through interposition from Was.h.i.+ngton, and restored to their tribe; but this did not seem to lessen their hostility, and new disturbances arose, chiefly in consequence of raiding parties of whites from Texas, that led finally to the re-arrest of Satanta and his imprisonment in Texas.