Page:A Topographical Description of the State of Ohio, Indiana Territory, and Louisiana.djvu/158

148 guns. They speak the language of the Panis, and claim the same ancestors.

The Hietans or Comanches have neither towns nor villages, nor any fixed place of residence. They are divided into so many bands or tribes, that they have scarcely any knowledge of one another. No estimate of their numbers can be made. They never reside in the same place more than a few days, but constantly follow the buffaloe, which afford them their principal food. They carry their tents with them, which are made of neatly dressed skins, in the form of a cone; they are large enough for a family of ten or twelve persons; those of the chiefs are larger, and are some of them sufficient for fifty or sixty people. When they encamp, their tents are pitched in very exact order, so as to form regular streets and squares, which in a few minutes has the appearance of a handsome town, raised, as it were, by enchantment; and they are equally dexterous in striking their tents and preparing to march, when the signal is given. They allot two horses or mules to every tent, one to carry the tent, and the other the poles used in setting it up, which are neatly made of red cedar. They all travel on horse back. They never turn their horses loose to graze, but keep them tied with a long halter; and every two or three days they are obliged to move, to find grass for the support of their horses; for they have always a large number. They have fine horses, and are