English: Title: Bulletin

Identifier: bulletin3011907smit Year: 1901 (1900s) Authors: Smithsonian Institution. Bureau of American Ethnology Subjects: Ethnology Publisher: Washington : G. P. O. Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

View Book Page: Book Viewer About This Book: Catalog Entry View All Images: All Images From Book

Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image: 180 CADDO [b. a. e. During the 18th century wars in Europe led to contention between the Spaniards and the French for the territory occupied by the Caddo. The brunt of these con- tentions fell upon the Indians; the trails between their villages became routes for armed forces, while the villages were transformed into garrisoned posts. The Caddo were friendly to the French and rendered valuable service, but they suf- fered greatly from contact with the white race. Tribal wars were fomented, villages were abandoned, new diseases spread havoc among the people, and by the close of the century the welcoming attitude of the Indians during its early years had changed to one of defense and distrust. Several tribes were practically extinct, others seriously reduced in numbers, and

Text Appearing After Image: ANTELOPE, A CADDO a once thrifty and numerous people had become demoralized and were more or less wanderers in their native land. Franciscan missions had Vjeen established ainong some of the tribes early in the century, those designed for the Caddo, or Asinais, as they were called by the Spaniards, being Furisima Concepcion de los Asinais and (for the Hainai) San Francisco de los Tejas (q. v.). The segre- gation policy of the missionaries tended to weaken tri))al relations and unfitted the people to cope with the new difficul- ties which confronted them. These missions were transferred to the Rio San Antonio in 1731. With the acquisition of Louisiana by the United States immigra- tion increased and the Caddo were pushed from their old haunts. Under their first treaty, in 1835, they ceded all their land «nd agreed to move at their own expense beyond the boundaries of the United States, never to return and settle as a tribe. The tribes living in Louisiana, being thus forced to leave their old home, moved s. w. toward their kindred living in Texas. At that time the people of Texas were contending for independence, and no tribe could live at peace with both op- posing forces. Public opinion was di- vided as to the treatment of the Indians; one party demanded a policy of extermina- tion, the other advocated conciliatory methods. In 1843 the governor of tlie Republic of Texas sent a commission to the tribes of its n. part to fix a line be- tween them and the white settlers and to establish three trading posts; but, as the land laws of the republic did not recognize the Indian's right of occupancy, there was no power which could prevent a settler from taking land that had been cul- tivated b_v an Indian. This condition led to continual difficulties, and these did not diminish after the annexation of Texas to the United States, as Texas retained control and jurisdiction over all its public domain. Much suffering ensued; the fields of peaceable Indians were taken and the natives were hunted down. The more warlike tribes made reprisals, and bitter feelings were engendered. Immigration increased, and the inroads on the buffalo herds by the newcomers made scarce the food of the Indians. Appeals were sent to the Federal Government, and in 1855 a tract near Brazos r. was secured and a number of Caddo and other Indians were induced to colonize under the supervision of Agent Robert S. Neigh- bours. The Indians Ijuilt houses, tilled fields, raised cattle, sent their chil- dren to school—lived quiet and orderly lives. The Comanche to the w. con- tinued to raid upon the settlers, some of whom turned indiscriminately upon all Indians. The Caddo were the chief suf- ferers, although they helped the state troops to bring the raiders to justice. In 1859 a company of white settlers fixed a date for the massacre of all the reserva- tion Indians. The Federal Government was again appealed to, and through the strenuous efforts of Neighbours the Caddo made a forced march for 15 days in the heat of July; men, women, and children, with the loss of more than half of their stock and possessions, reached safely the banks of Washita r. in Oklahoma, where a reservation was set apart for them. Neighbours, their friend and agent, was killed shortly afterward as a penalty for his unswerving friendship to the Indians (Ind. Aff. Rep. 1859, 333, 1860). Dur- ing the civil war the Caddo remained loyal to the Government, taking refuge

Note About Images

Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original work.