Life Of F. M. Buckelew: The Indian Captive by F. M. Buckelew Thomas S. Dennis

Author:F. M. Buckelew, Thomas S. Dennis [F. M. Buckelew, Thomas S. Dennis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786255983
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Normanby Press
Published: 2015-11-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VIII

Sotol Used for Food—Tribe Moves to New Location—Infested With Lice—Exciting Antelope Chase—Whole Tribe Alarmed—Move to Rough Canyon—U. S. Soldiers Leave—Tribe Moves West—Move Back to the Pecos—Encounter with Kickapoo Tribe—Peace Treaty With Kickapoos—Grand Indian Dance—Ghost Dance—Gambling and Sham Battles Old Fox, Kickapoo Chief, Reads English—Old Fox Tries to Buy Me—Kickapoos Leave—Take Mexican Boy and Fifty War-Horses—Peace Treaty Thrown Aside—Lipans Vow Vengeance on the Kickapoo—Mexican Boy Returned—I Get Sick—Doctored By Old Squaw—Poem, Treated for Indigestion.

Another choice food of these Indians, and one in almost constant use, was bread made from the bulb of the sotol plant, which grew in abundance along these western rivers. In preparing this plant for food, large quantities of bulbs were cooked in a kiln. In this kiln they would place wood and rocks in a way that they would be thoroughly heated by the time the wood was burned. The rooks and fire was removed and the rocks replaced. The sotol was placed on these and brush and leaves were placed next to the sotol, and the entire heap covered over with dirt so as to make it air tight. This was allowed to remain several days and during this time the heated rock would thoroughly cock the bulbs.

When satisfied that the contents were thoroughly cooked they would remove the dirt and leaves, and take a hoe and rake the sotol out. When it had cooled, they would beat it up and make a thin sheet of it. They let this dry for several days and put it in a dry place for future use. It could be eaten raw, but their favorite way was to work it for some time in a wooden bowl, or until it resembled meal or flour, it was then mixed with water and made in small cakes and cooked in the ashes. This made a very good substitute for bread.

The tribe remained in camp here but a short time after Custaleta came home. They began preparations for a move, their object being to secure a new location and better range for their stock, and as I supposed to rid themselves of the swarms of lice that infested everything possessing life and many things without life as well. The lice laid their eggs, or nits, in the seams of their clothing. It was amusing to see them take a garment and fold it with the seam exposed and pass it between their teeth biting the nits. You could hear them pop, and from the greedy manner in which they would lick their lips it was evident that they liked the taste of the nits.

The wigwams of the tribe, more than a hundred in number, were taken down and together with the other plunder placed on the backs of pack horses. The journey to a new location was taken up. Each warrior, his family and horses all traveled together. A short distance was kept between each party. The whole tribe was started out in this manner and was more than a mile in length.

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