Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/151

141 ; are a warlike people, though badly armed. They have large numbers of horses, asses, and mules, and considerable quantities of buffaloe, deer, elk, black bear, antelope, and large horses, as well as the skins of many animals of the fur kind.

Aliatans, La Plays, principally inhabit the rich plains, from the head of the Arkansas, embracing the heads of Red river, and extending to the mountains on the borders of New Mexico. They possess no fire arms, but are warlike and brave; for the Spaniards fear these people, and take care not to furnish them with the implements of war. Their country abounds with wild horses, and raise immense numbers of horses, asses, and mules themselves. The number of these people is great, but not ascertained. These, as well as all the other Aliatans, are wandering people, and have no fixed place of residence.

The Caddo, or Caddoques, residing on Red river, have already been mentioned. These people, some years ago, left their ancient villages, called Caddo old towns, and settled on another part of Red river, nearer to Natchitoches, where they were visited with sickness, particularly the small pox and measles, by which nearly one half of them died. They had the small pox in the winter season, and as soon as the eruption appeared, they plunged into the water, which often proved fatal, in a few hours. The number of warriors of the ancient Caddo is reduced to