oad; our number was too small not to find plenty to eat, and as to the
hostile Indians, it was a chance we were willing enough to encounter. A
few days after we had quitted Santa Fe, and when In the neighbourhood
of the Spanish Peaks and about thirty degrees north latitude, we fell in
with a numerous party of the Comanches.

It was the first time we had seen them in a body, and it was a grand
sight. Gallant horsemen they were and well mounted. They were out upon
an expedition against the Pawnee[15] Loups, and they behaved to us with
the greatest kindness and hospitality. The chief knew Gabriel, and
invited us to go in company with them to their place of encampment. The
chief was a tall, fine fellow, and with beautiful symmetry of figure. He
spoke Spanish well, and the conversation was carried on in that tongue
until the evening, when I addressed him in Shoshone, which beautiful
dialect is common to the Comanches, Apaches, and Arrapahoes, and related
to him the circumstances of our captivity on the shores of the Colorado
of the West. As I told my story the chief was mute with astonishment,
until at last, throwing aside the usual Indian decorum, he grasped me
firmly by the hand. He knew I was neither a Yankee nor a Mexican, and
swore that for my sake every Canadian or Frenchman falling in their
power should be treated as a friend. After our meal we sat comfortably
round the fires, and listened to several speeches and traditions of
the warriors.

[Footnote 15: The word Pawnee signifies "_exiled_;" therefore it does
not follow that the three tribes bearing the same name belong to the
same nation.

The Grand Pawnees, the tribe among whom Mr. Murray resided, are of
Dahcotah origin, and live along the shores of the river Platte; the
Pawnee Loups are of the Algonquin race, speaking quite another language,
and occupying the country situated between the northern forks of the
same river. Both tribes are known among the trappers to be the "Crows of
the East;" that is to say, thieves and treacherous. They cut their hair
short except on the scalp, as is usual among the nations which they have
sprung from.

The third tribe of that name is called Pawnee Pict; these are of
Comanche origin and Shoshone race, wearing their hair long, and speaking
the same language as all the western great prairie tribes. They live
upon the Red River, which forms the boundary betwixt North Texas and the
Western American boundary, and have been visited