History of Texas: From Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, Volume 1 Page: 29
482, 4 p. : ill.View a full description of this book.
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INDIAN SUPERSTITIONS.
The next tribe east were the Nassonis, or Nassonites, a name
perhaps including several tribes living between the Cenis and
the Sabine river. These Indians seemed to be alike distin-
guished with their western neighbors for kindness to strangers,
and the possession of means to make them comfortable.*
Such, a century and three quarters since, were the original
inhabitants of Texas. They formed a portion of the great
Shoshonie class, occupying what is now the southwestern part
of the United States. The landing of the colony of La Salle
was to them a new era. The sight of ships and the sound of
firearms were to them subjects of awe and astonishment. Liv-
ing in the simplicity of uneducated nature, they had their do-
mestic wars, which were conducted without system, but in a
manner suited to their wild habits. They were worshippers
of the sun, and full of the superstitions common to the North
American Indians. They had their rain-makers, their game-
finders, and their witches. But the latter, like the witches of
ancient New England, found little favor: they were deemed
to be in communion with the evil one, and consequently were
put to death-most generally by the war-clubs of those that
suffered nuder their supposed incantations.
At that time, Texas was without a boundary and without a
name. The Spaniards had not yet penetrated east of the Rio
Grande, at least below the Paso del Norte; and La Salle was
still endeavoring and hoping to establish the fact that he was in
the vicinity of one of the 'mouths of the Mississippi. Texas to
him and his people, and afterward his nation, was a part of
Louisiana. J-e had discovered the mouth of the great river;
the coast thence to the confines of Meico; had planted a col-
* The seat of government among the Nassonites appears to have been on the
east bank of the Neches, at the prairie known as the Br'ihkw place. lHere
three lorge mounds remain as evidence of their former labors. This Place was
called Texas, and doubtless gave name to the state.'?
29
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History of Texas: From Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, Volume 1 (Book)
Book describing Texas history up to the time of annexation to the United States of America. This first volume is broken into 22 chapters covering the start of European immigration (roughly 1685) through the establishment of the Republic of Texas in 1835, with a number of appendices containing supplementary information.
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Yoakum, H. (Henderson K.), 1810-1856. History of Texas: From Its First Settlement in 1685 to Its Annexation to the United States in 1846, Volume 1, book, 1855; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2385/m1/37/: accessed July 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.