Traces Posted June 1 Share Posted June 1 Tonkawa Indians, 1898. In historic times, they lived in central Texas in the Round Rock/Temple/Waco area, and for a long time it was believed that their ancestral origins were in that same part of Texas, but it is now believed that as of about 1600 AD they were located in what is now northeastern Oklahoma. By 1700, the stronger and more aggressive Apache had pushed the Tonkawa south to the Red River. By the 1740s, some Tonkawa were involved with the Yojuanes and others as settlers in the San Gabriel Missions of Texas along the San Gabriel River in what is now Georgetown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traces Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 Traces of Texas reader Charles Fairchild sent in this fantastic image of a Tonkawa Indian somewhere in north central Texas. The photo is undated but if I am not mistaken that is a Winchester model 1873 lever action rifle in his hands, so probably sometime after that. Thank you, Charles! AWESOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traces Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 Early pioneer Noah Smithwick describing a cannabilistic ceremony in which Tonkawa Indians ate the body of a dead Comanche. This took place in 1840: "The only [ceremony] I ever witnessed was in Webber's prairie, the occasion being the killing of a Comanche, one of a party that had been on a horse stealing trip down to Bastrop. They were hotly pursued, and, reasoning that the biggest must naturally be the best, they mounted a warrior on Manlove's big horse, which was part of the booty, and left him behind as rear guard, while the balance hurried the stolen horses away. The Tonkawas joined the pursuit and when the pursuers came in sight of the lone rear guardsman three of the most expert Tonks were sent to dispatch him. This they soon accomplished, his steed being a slow one. After killing and scalping him they refused to continue the chase, saying they must return home to celebrate the event, which they did by a feast and a scalp dance. Having fleeced off the flesh of the dead Comanche they borrowed a big wash kettle from Puss Webber, into which they put the Comanche meat, together with a lot of corn and potatoes…When the stew was sufficiently cooked to allow its being ladled out with their hands the whole tribe gathered round, dipping it up with their hands and eating it…. Having gorged themselves on the delectable feast they lay down and slept till night, when the entertainment was concluded with the scalp dance. Gotten up in war paint and best breechclouts, the warriors gathered round in a ring, each one armed with some ear-torturing instrument, which they operated in unison with a drum made of dried deer skin stretched tightly over a hoop, at the same time keeping up a monotonous "Ha, ah, ha," raising and lowering their bodies in time that would have pleased a French dancing master, every muscle seeming to twitch in harmony. Meanwhile, a squaw would present each in turn an arm or leg of the dead foe, which they would bite viciously, catching it their teeth and shaking it. And high over all waved from the point of a lance the scalp, dressed and painted, held aloft by a patriotic squaw. The orgies were kept up till the performers were forced to desist from sheer exhaustion." ----- Noah Smithwick, "The Evolution of a State or Recollections of Old Texas Days," published in 1900 and showing that early Texas was no place for the weak of heart. It's one of the most entertaining reads you'll ever wander through. Smithwick knew Bowie, Travis, Houston etc... personally. Shown here: Noah Smithwick at the age of 91 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traces Posted June 1 Author Share Posted June 1 A 1828 description of the Tonkawa Indians: "Their huts were small and numbered thirty, all conical in shape, made of light branches, covered with the same material and an occasional buffalo skin. In the center of each is located the fireplace around which lie the male Indians in complete inaction, while the women are in constant motion either curing the meat of the game, or tanning the skins, or preparing the food, which consists chiefly of roast meat, or perhaps making arms for their indolent husbands." ------ Jose Maria Sanchez, "A Trip to Texas," 1828 Shown here: A Tonkawa village near Fort Griffin in 1873. Courtesy the fabulous Lawrence T. Jones III Texas collection of photos at SMU's Degolyer Library. You can view more photos from this extraordinary collection here: Lawrence T. Jones III Texas Photographs - SMU Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.