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. In the bosom of the Comanches;. ual intelligence, andinasmuch as I owed so much to him for my safe returnand the further fact that he rendered such conspicuousservice in leading the Indians from the warpath to thereservations and in establishing friendliness between theIndians and the whites, I shall digress for the purpose ofbriefly depicting this distinguished Comanche chief. Thechieftancy with the Indians was not an hereditary au-thority but rather bestowed by the elective choice of therespective tribes. Some of the more essential qualifica-tions were physical fitness, wisdom in tribal af
. In the bosom of the Comanches;. ual intelligence, andinasmuch as I owed so much to him for my safe returnand the further fact that he rendered such conspicuousservice in leading the Indians from the warpath to thereservations and in establishing friendliness between theIndians and the whites, I shall digress for the purpose ofbriefly depicting this distinguished Comanche chief. Thechieftancy with the Indians was not an hereditary au-thority but rather bestowed by the elective choice of therespective tribes. Some of the more essential qualifica-tions were physical fitness, wisdom in tribal affairs, arecord for dash and daring, and valor and firmness whether In the Bosom of the Comanches 45 in camp or battle. These were the requisites of leadershipby which the braves were guided in choosing their this standard Esserhaby was pre-eminently a greatand powerful chief, and was so regarded by both theIndians and the whites. Esserhaby was a native of Texas,and at the time of his birth the Comanche tribe had great. CHIEF ESSERHABEY (Taken Ironi an old picture) 46 In the Bosom of the Comanches numerical strength and dominated a large division ofTexas. They were notably fierce and aggressive, andalso artful and courageous in battle, and stubbornlycontested every inch as they were beaten back. So longand persistently did they continue to struggle that theremnant of this once vastly numerous and powerful tribeat the termination had an aspect the next thing to an-nihilation. Esserhaby was such a dreaded warrior chief that in1864 J. W. Throckmorton, then governor of Texas, lookingto the pacification of the Indian and ending the struggleinvolving such a frightful loss of life and burden upon theresources of the state, devised a means of communicationwith Esserhaby and arranged a specific date for a con-ference or council at Austin, the state capital, the par-ticipants to be a large Indian delegation composed ofchiefs and prominent tribesmen headed by Esserhaby,and on b
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Keywords: ., book, bookcentury1900, booksubjectindiancaptivities, bookyear1912