A COMANCHE HORSE-RACE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2698, 26 October 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

A COMANCHE HORSE-RACE.

As we approach the agency it is the hour for the race, and the throng moves to some level place near, where a large ring is formed by the Comanche Indians ou horse-back.

An elderly Indian of great dignity of presence steps into the ring, and with a graceful movement throws his long red blanket to the ground and drops on his knees before it, to receive wagers from such as desire to make them. Mea walked up and threw in silver dollars and every sort of personal property imaginable. A Winchester riile and a large nickle-plated Colt's revolver are laid on the grass near me by a cowboy and an Indian, and then each goes away. It was a wager, and I thought they might well have confidence in their stake-holder —Mother Earth. Two ponies, tied head and head, were led aside and left, horse against horse. No excitement seemed to prevail. Near me a little half-Mexican Comanche boy began to disrobe until he stood clad only ia shirt and broeohcloth. His father addressed some whispered admonition and then led up a roan pony, prancing with impatience and evidently conscious of the work cut out for him that day. With ,i bound the little fellow landed on the neck of the pony only halfway up ; but hia toes caught on the upper muscles of the pony's leg, and like a monkey he clambered up and was in his seat. The pony was as bare as a wild horse except for a bridle, and loped away with his graceful little rider sitting like a a rock. No, not like a rock, but limp and unconcerned, and as full of the motion of the horse as the horse's tail or any other part of him. A Kiowa with loose hair and great coarse face broke away from the group and galloped up the prairie until he stopped at what was to be the starting poiufc, nt the usual distance of ' two arrow flights and a pitch.' He was followed by half-a-dozen ponies at an easy lope, bearing their half-naked jockeys. The Indian spectators sat about on their ponies, as unmoved in countenance as oyster?, being natural gamblers, and stoical as such should be, while the cowboys whispered among themselves. ' That's tho bay stallion there,' said one mau to me as he pointed to a racer, ' and he's never been ben ten. It's his walk over, and I've got my gun upon him with an injiin.' It was to be a flying 3tart, and they jockeyed a good deal and could not seem to ect off. But presently a puff of smoke came from the rifle held aloft by the Kiowa starter, and his horse reared. The report reached us, and witli a scurry the five ponies came away from the scratch, followed by a. cloud of dust. The quirts How though the air at every jump. The ponies bunched and pattered away at a nameless rate, for the quarterrace pony is quick of stride. Nearer and no.irer tlie ponies rcainc, the riders lyinc low on their horse*' neuks, whipping and kiyi-yi-ing. The dust in their wake swept backward and upward, and with a rush they came over the scratch, with the roan pony ahead, and my little Mexican fellow holding his quirt aloft, and his little eyes snipping with the nervous excitement of the great event. He had beaten the invincible bay stallion, the pride of this Comanche tribe, and as he rode back to his father his face had the settled calm which nothing could penetrate, and which befitted his dignity as a young runner. Far be it from these quaint people ever to lose their blankets, their horses, their heroism in order to stalk behind a plough in a pair of cunvas overalls and a battered silk hat, Now they are great in their way ; but then, how miserable ?—Frederick .Remington, in the Century.