" They are taller and better built than the
Comanches. Their features are more intelli-
gent; they have narrow foreheads, bright,
black eyes, teeth of dazzling whiteness, thick,
shining black hair, an olive-colored skin, and
thin beards. No Indian nation is so little
subject to bodily defects. A lame or hump-



ADVENTURES OF A FRENCH CAPTAIN. 1 35

backed man would be a curious rarity among
them. Their senses are very acute, especially
their sight, which age never impairs in the
slightest degree. They are not subject to the
common European ailments, but small-pox
and yellow fever sometimes make fearful havoc
among them. In all my trading relations with
them, I have found them invariably honest,
not to say engaging. They are generous and
even disinterested when at peace, and with any
friends or allies ; but once on the war-path, they
employ against their foes the utmost refine-
ments of cruelty. I will say nothing of their
weapons and manner of fighting; they are
similar to those of the Comanches."




CHAPTER IX.
MY STAY WITH THE COMANCHES — ^WAR REJOIC-
INGS — DEPARTURE OF THE WARRIORS ON
THE WAR-PATH — I WISH TO LEAVE THE

VILLAGE — ^THE INDIANS OPPOSE MY WISH

ATTACK ON THE VILLAGE BY A BODY OF
SPANISH SOLDIERS — I GO BACK TO LOUIS-
IANA WITH GOURNAY.
My sprained ankle kept me a prisoner for
three weeks. Besides Goumay , I had other visit-
ors — ^the great chief and the principal warriors,
who came to have a chat with me now and then.
