the assistant of the great medicine man, I found myself treated with
far more consideration than I would have supposed possible, and, in
fact, it appeared after a time, as if the Indians considered me one of
themselves. This state of affairs was not without its advantages. It
ensured my freedom from molestation and at the same time gave me
complete facilities for becoming familiar with the Indian character,
their manners and customs, and mode of life. Of these I shall treat at
length in another chapter.

At the time I was occupied in making the observations and investigations
which I shall lay before the reader, I had no expectation of ever
placing a record of my experiences before the public. Hence in many
things my knowledge of the subject is but superficial. Of those things
which interested me, or from their strange nature made a deep impression
upon my mind, my recollection is clear and vivid. But many details which
might be of interest to those who have never seen, or been among the
prairie Indians, have by the lapse of time and the many exciting scenes
through which I have passed become in a measure effaced from my mind.
But I shall endeavor to relate as fully as possible my checkered
experiences; and this narrative, whatever its demerits, will have at
least one attribute of excellence, it will adhere strictly to facts.

CHAPTER X.

INDIAN LIFE.

The Camanches are supposed to be a branch or subdivision of the Shoshone
or Snake nation, who, under various names or tribal appellations,
dominate the entire area from the borders of British America to the Rio
Grande. Although these tribes are known by many different names, such as
"Shoshones," "Bonacks," "Utahs," "Lipans," "Apaches," "Navajoes,"
"Pawnee Picts," "Camanches," or "Cayguas," they vary but little in their
general habits of life. Such differences as do exist are mainly the
result of variations of climate.

Until within a few years, the Camanches were undoubtedly the most
warlike and powerful race of Indians on the continent. With the Apaches,
Navajoes, and Lipans, they formed a sort of Indian confederacy; rarely
at war among themselves, but always with the whites; and when united,
able to put a force in the field which would ride over the Texan
frontier like a whirlwind; and without hesitation penetrate hundreds of
miles into Mexico, desolating whole provinces, returning sated with
slaughter, and burdened with plunder. The Camanches are, or rathe