ssissippi and
Tennessee, where they obtained such a dreaded reputation that the
government sent out many expeditions against them, which, however, were
useless, as all the principal magistrates of these states had contrived
even themselves to be elected members of the fraternity. The increase of
population broke up this system, and the "Buggles" were compelled to
resort to other measures. Well acquainted with Indian manners, they
would dress and paint themselves as savages, and attack the caravans to
Mexico. The traders, in their reports, would attribute the deed to some
tribe of Indians, probably, at the moment of the attack some five or six
hundred miles distant from the spot.

This land pirating is now carried to a greater extent than ever. Bands
of fifty or sixty pioneers steal horses, cattle, and slaves from the
west of Arkansas and Louisiana, and sell them in Texas, where they have
their agents; and then, under the disguise of Indian warriors, they
attack plantations in Texas, carrying away with them large herds of
horses and cattle, they drive to Missouri, through the lonely mountain
passes of the Arkansas, or to the Attalapas and Opelousas districts of
Western Louisiana, forcing their way through the lakes and swamps on
both shores of the river Sabine. The party mentioned by the Wakoes was
one of this last description.

We left our friends, and, after a journey of three days, we crossed the
Brazos, close to a rich copper mine, which has for ages been worked by
the Indians, who used, as they do now, this metal for the points of
their arrows and lances. Another three days' journey brought us to one
of the forks of the Trinity, and there we met with two companies of
Texan rangers and spies, under the command of a certain Captain Hunt,
who had been sent from the lower part of the river to protect the
northern plantations. With him I found five gentlemen, who, tired of
residing in Texas had taken the opportunity of this military escort to
return to the Arkansas. As soon as they heard that I was going there
myself, they offered to join me, which I agreed to, as it was now
arranged that Gabriel and Roche should not accompany me further than to
the Red River[22].

[Footnote 22: It may appear singular to the reader that the Comanches,
being always at war with the Texans, should not have immediately
attacked the party under the orders of Hunt. But we were merely a
hunting-party; that is to say, our band was composed ch