Plains Indian Studies - Smithsonian Institution Libraries

126 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ANTHROPOLOGY
The winter hunt was facilitated by the horses
the Wichita now possessed, Spanish mounts usually
obtained by raiding. Dutisne estimated there
were about 300 horses in the two villages near the
Verdigris, indicating that a substantial proportion
of the 450 warriors still did not own any.
This deficiency explains in part the high esteem
in which the animals were held.
The principal game hunted, aside from land
and water fowl, continued to be bison, deer, and
bear. To the same list of cultigens given by the
Spaniards, La Harpe added tobacco. When ripe,
the plants were pounded between two stones
(Boimare, 1831:213) and made into flat loaves
for future use.
Of all the Wichita divisions, the touacaro were
reported to La Harpe to be the most respected,
evidently the highest ranking band. It was a
touacaro "chief who, having been informed of La
Harpe's imminent arrival, led a group of "chiefs"
to meet the approaching visitors some distance
from his village. After demonstrations of friendship,
he and the Frenchman made speeches and
participated in a feast consisting of "cornbread
mixed with some squash {giromont) and smoked
meat" (Benard de La Harpe, 1718-1720, folio
19). La Harpe was then helped onto a fine horse
which he rode almost to the village, a new form
of processional which utilized the esteemed animals.
Here he dismounted so that two prominent
men could carry him on their shoulders, their
faces turned toward the ground, to the dwelling
of the "chief" This was the documented oldtime
manner of bringing an honored guest before the
head chief of a Caddo settlement.
After the Frenchman was placed on a bison
robe on a wooden platform, presumably shared
with the chief, a number of principal men encircled
him and each put his hands in those of La
Harpe to indicate friendship. A gift exchange
followed with La Harpe receiving an "eagle
feather crown," probably the headdress style
characteristic of Southeastern and Caddo Indians,
one distinct from the popularized Plains
headdress with the feathered trail. He was also
given two feathered "calumets," perhaps pipestems
only, one signifying war and one peace. He
characterized them as the most valuable present
the Wichita could give.
Dutisne, in contrast, sent no representative
ahead to the Taovayas, if such they were, and was
greeted with hostility. Ultimately he succeeded in
setting up an alliance and was ritually fed by the
chief at the accompanying feast.
Only a few of the status symbols of chieftainship
were noted in 1719. La Harpe observed that
the assembled head chiefs were almost always
surrounded by men of rank who were eating,
smoking, or playing games. When food was
brought to the touacaro chief he ate some, then
shared the rest. He was described as unmarried
with the privilege of calling for any woman he
desired.
The calumet ceremony was the highlight of
Benard de La Harpe's visit (1718-1720, folio 19).
Dutisne was not so honored. Ceremonial dancing
and singing lasted for almost two days and a
night, with the leaders, the elderly Yscanis and
Taovayas head chiefs, manipulating the calumets
"with infinite skill." They extolled the advantages
of the alliance being consummated. On the second
day. La Harpe was carried to a seat under
an arbor where his head, hands, feet, and stomach
were washed (Boimare, 1831:211) and his face
painted blue and red. He received presents of
thirty bison robes, rock salt, tobacco cakes, verdigris,
ultramarine, and a young Apache slave.
The Frenchman in return gave presents of European
trade goods valued at nearly 1500 livres.
This would indicate a rather thin spread of trade
items. One wonders if any reached people below
those of high rank.
La Harpe was unsuccessful in learning much
about the religion of the Wichita. As a result of
Indian reticence, he decided (1718-1720, folio 20
verso) that "they have little of it," preferring
bodily pleasures. He was informed, however, that
they recognized a Great Spirit, which they venerated
under different forms, and it was to this
being they presented the first fruits of the earth.
Then he was told further of a black man with
horns who loaded the dead into a large pirogue
taking those who had been good to a bison-filled
prairie and the others "who have not been war-