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| The Comanche are a Native American ethnic group whose range (the Comancheria) consisted of present-day eastern New Mexico, southern Colorado, southern Kansas, all of Oklahoma, and most of northern and southern Texas. Originally, the Comanches were hunters and gatherers, with a typical plains Indian culture. There may have been as many as 45,000 Comanches in the late eighteenth century. Today, the Comanche Nation consists of approximately 10,000 members, about half of whom live in Oklahoma (centered at Lawton), and the remainder are concentrated in Texas, California, and New Mexico. The Comanche speak an Uto-Aztecan language, sometimes classified as a Shoshone dialect. The Comanches emerged as a distinct group shortly before 1700, when they broke off from the Shoshone people living along the upper Platte River in Wyoming. This coincided with their acquisition of the horse, which allowed them greater mobility in their search for better hunting grounds. Their original migration took them to southern plains, from where they moved southward into a sweep of territory extending from the Arkansas River to central Texas. During that time, their population increased dramatically because of the abundance of buffalo, an influx of Shoshone migrants, and the adoption of significant numbers of women and children taken captive from rival groups. Nevertheless, the Comanches never formed a single cohesive tribal unit but were divided into almost a dozen autonomous groups. These groups shared the same language and culture but may have fought among themselves just as often as they cooperated. The horse was a key element in the emergence of a distinctive Comanche culture, and there have been suggestions that it was the search for additional sources of horses among the settlers of New Spain to the south (rather than the search for new herds of buffalo) that first led the Comanches to break off from the Shoshone. The Comanches may have been the first group of Plains natives to fully incorporate the horse into their culture, and to have introduced the animal to the other Plains peoples. By the mid-19th century, they were supplying horses to French and American traders and settlers, and later to migrants passing through their territory on their way to the California Gold Rush. Many of these horses had been stolen, and the Comanches earned a reputation as formidable horse, and later, cattle thieves. Their victims included Spanish and American settlers, as well as the other Plains tribes, often leading to war. They were formidable opponents who developed strategies for fighting on horseback with traditional weapons. Warfare was a major part of Comanche life. The dreaded Comanche raids into Mexico, going as far south as Central America, traditionally took place during the full moon, when the Comanche could see to ride at night. This led to the term "Comanche Moon," during which the Comanche raided for horses, captives, weapons, and simply to spread terror. The Native Comanche Indians once ruled the largest area of land claimed by one tribe. Their territory consisted of the hills mountains, plains and rivers from Colorado to the Rio Grande in southern Texas. This plentiful area called the "Great American Desert" was rich with buffalo, deer, antelope, bear and wolves. These animals were often hunted, with the exception of the wolf, by the Comanche for their daily diet. Subsisted by wild potatoes, fruit, nuts and berries that were gathered by the women, their diet was often varied. The Comanche were great horsemen and learned to ride at a very young age. Richness among members of the tribe was calculated by the number of horses owned by one family. The men and boys rode bareback using blankets rather then saddles. To prevent damage by chaparral to their legs, the men of the tribe wore leather britches and loin clothes as well as moccasins. From horseback the men learned to hunt and fight. The only weapons the Comanche used were lances, shields, bows and arrows and hunting knives for hand to hand combat. The lifestyle of the men was described as hunting, fighting and loving women. The women however, were cooks, cleaners, child bearers, child raisers and gatherers. The Comanche were nomadic hunters and whenever the bands decided to move on, it was the women and children who broke down the hide tipis and prepared for the move. As children grew, older men allowed the young to make mistakes in order to learn from them. This was an accepted lifestyle and the young men appreciated it. As men grew older their purpose in old age was to be among friends without boasting or proving one's manhood. The Comanche Indians did not have a great many religious ceremonies celebrated throughout the year. The most important ceremony in a man's life was his vision quest. A boy would prepare for days and would be cleansed physically and spiritually. Afterwards he would find a secluded place to meditate and pray for days to see his vision. Often it would come in the shape of an animal or being. If a boy did not succeed the first time, he would try again until he could return to the village as a man. This was the first time a boy would witness "puha" or power. Comanche were not very superstitious, but they did believe that "puha" guarded their families and weapons. If a man possessed great "puha" and knowledge of ceremonies, medicines and herbs he was then given the name of medicine man. As the white men came into Comanche territory they fought long and hard for the land they loved, but eventually, like all other tribes, they lost. Today there is little documentation of the present Comanche tribe, all that is left are stories, legends and the knowledge that these great people once ruled south western America. |
| The Comanche |
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