the languages are Arapaho, and Shyenne, already noticed; and Cumanch, which is Paduca.
For the Kioway we want specimens. In
Nebraska
they are Sioux, already noticed, and Pawni, allied to the Riccaree. Kanzas leads us to
Texas.
It is convenient in a notice of the languages of the State of Texas to bear in mind its early, as well as its present relations to the United States. In a country where the spread of the population from the other portions of the Union has been so rapid, and where the occupancy is so complete, we are prepared to expect but a small proportion of aborigines. And such, upon the whole, is the case. The displacement of the Indian tribes of Texas has been great. Even, however, when Mexican, Texas was not in the category of the older and more original portions of Mexico. It was not brought under the régime of the missionaries, as we may see by turning to that portion of the Mithridates which treats of the parts west of the Mississippi. The references here are to Dupratz, to Lewis and Clarke, to Charlevoix, to French and English writers rather than to the great authority for the other parts of Spanish America—Hervas. And the information is less precise and complete. All this is because Texas in the earlier part of its history was, in respect to its exploration and description, a part of Louisiana, (and, as such, French) rather than a part of Mexico, and (as such) Spanish.
The notices of Texas, in the Mithridates, taken along with our subsequent data, are to the effect that (a) the Caddo, (b) the Adaize or Adahi, (c) the Attakapa, and (d) the Choktah are the prevailing languages; to which may be added a few others of minor importance.
The details as to the distribution of the subordinate forms of speech over these four leading languages are as follows:—
a. The Nandakoes, Nabadaches, Alich (or Eyish), and Ini or Tachi are expressly stated to be Caddo; and, as it is from the name of the last of these that the word Texas is derived, we have satisfactory evidence that some members, at least, of the Caddo family are truly and originally Texian.