The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928 Page: 179
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Descriptions of Tejas or Asinai Indians, 1691-1722 179
the give dances and festivals and exchange gifts of whatever the
country yields in abundance. Thus they renew their friendship
and make treaties to defend each other against their enemies.
They observe this same custom with the tribes that lie to the
south who live near the shores of the Mexican Gulf. They are in
the habit of coming to the aid of the Texas Indians. To keep them
well disposed in times of war, the Texas Indians entertain them
every year after the crops are gathered which is the time when
many families, men and women, come to visit the Asinais. This
is also the time at which they trade with each other for all the
things they lack in their own settlements. They preserve close
friendship with all the Indians who are subject to the French and
when one party visits the other, the exchange of courtesies is very
marked. The preparations for receptions are very great. These
Indians have been so carefully trained in politeness by the French
and our Indians try not to be outdone by them in politeness and
courtesies. They do not yield a point in proving themselves equally
as warlike and valiant. For this reason, they make a show of
handling their guns with dexterity and of running on their horses
at great speed, for, although the Natchitoches have a greater
number of guns than the Texas Indians, the number of horses
they have is limited. The latter thus travel on foot while the
Texas Indians ride on horseback with great skill, their feet hang-
ing loose and, traveling at a great rate, they guide their horses with
only a slender cord which they use in place of a bridle. This the
herdsmen call a barbequejo. They have always shown themselves
friendly and well disposed toward our Spaniards, although, be-
cause of personal interest, they are also very much inclined toward
friendship with the French. They do not have the same intimacy
with them that they have with the Spaniards, with whom they
trade more openly and with whom commerce is less selfish-as will
be recognized by anyone who has been where trade with both
nations is conducted. It is not necessary to prove the friendship
of these Indians by any proof save that of the experiences of those
who have lived among them for some time. For, up to this time,
I have never seen anyone who has left the country of these poor
Indians who does not speak of their kindness.
I could add many other things concerning this matter to this
mixture, but, for the purpose of avoiding prolixity, I wish to con-
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 31, July 1927 - April, 1928, periodical, 1928; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101088/m1/191/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.