Texas Indians

Adai-A tribe with a dialect similar to that of the Anadarko.They were members of the Caddo confederacy.In 1529 they were visited by Cabeza de Vaca.The tribe was very helpful to the French arounf 1719.The trail connecting the villages was known as the "contraband trail".This trail was used by traders who went between the French and Spanish provinces.One of their cities was near the Spanish fort at San Antonio,Texas.This tribe was under Spanish and French control and suffered at the hands of both.

Akasquy-This now extinct tribe was visited by La Salle in January of 1687.This tribe lived near the Brazos River in Texas.They made their clothes of bison hair and were adorned with the feathers of birds.

Anadarko-A tribe of Caddo Indians living on the Trinity and Brazos Rivers in Texas.

Apaches-The Apaches are divided into many groups or clans.Their names were taken from natural features,never from animals.The Apache were a rather nomadic people and were always on the move.They have a rather high skill in the making of baskets.They lived on the plains of Texas and New Mexico.They were very warlike and raided whites and Indians alike.

Avavares-A tribe that was visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1527 to 1534.A possible Caddoan group,living in Texas.This tribe traded bows and bone to the Mariames,the latter was ground up by the Mariames and used for food.

Caddo-A confederacy of tribes that belonged to the Caddoan linguistic family.The tribes of this group were visited by La Salle in 1687.They lived along the Red River and its tributaries in what are now the states of Arkansas,Louisiana and over into Texas along the Brazos,Sabine and Colorado rivers and in Oklahoma.

Cahinnio-A tribe closely related to the Caddo.They lived in the southwestern part of Arkansas and the Red River in Texas.They were visited by Cavelier de la Salle in 1687.By the end of the 18th century,the tribe became extinct.

Chayopin-A tribe that lived near the missions of San Antonio in Texas.They were a division of the Tonkawa.They also lived near the present city of Goliad,Texas.

Chorruco-A tribe that lived along the Texas coast.Cabeza de Vaca lived with this tribe for six years(1529).

Coaque-This was the group of Indians that lived on the islands off the coast of Texas(Malhado Island).It was here that Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked in 1527.

Choyopan-A clan of the Tonkawa,means "moving the eyelids or eyebrows".

Cuchendado-The last tribe of Texas Indians that Cabeza de Vaca met along the Gulf Coast as he started inland.

Deadoses-A small tribe of Indians that lived in Texas about 150 miles from the coast,near the Brazos River.They resembled the Tonkawa.In 1777 and 1778 the whole tribe was wiped out by smallpox.

Ebahamo-A tribe that formerly lived along Matagorda Bay in Texas.They were met by La Salle.They were friendly with the Caddo,to whom they were closely related.

Ervipiames-A tribe of Indians that lived in the central part of Texas,somewhat west of the Trinity River.

Espopolames-A possible tribe of the Coahuiltecan who lived along the lower Rio Grande.

Eyeish-One of the tribes of the Caddo confederacy.They lived along the Sabine and Neches River in Texas,they were spread over a much larger area,however.

Guhlkainde-A division of the Mescalero Apache.This group considered their original orgin east of the Pecos River in Texas and into New Mexico.

Haiwal-This was the "Acorn Clan" of the Tonkawa.

Han-A tribe which Cabeza de Vaca had contact with when he and his men were shipwrecked in 1528 on the coast of Texas.They were a possible band of the Attacapa.

Hapes-A tribe that was visited by the early Spanish explorers,located near what is now Eagle Pass,Texas.In 1688 they were almost wiped out by smallpox and in 1689 they were completely exterminated by the Indians of the coastal area.

Heniocane-A tribe that was possibly related to the Coahuiltecan.They lived in southern Texas and were visited by Fernando del Bosque in 1675.

Higos-A tribe that lived in southern Texas which was visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1528.He called them the "fig people",because of their habit of eating the fruit of the prickly pear cactus.

Hume-A small tribe that formerly lived in southern Texas along the Rio Grande.

Jagavans-A small Texas tribe that was visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1530.

Jicarilla-A name given to the Apache.A name given by the Spanish because of the fine basket work these people did.They roamed in Texas,Colorado,New Mexico and into Oklahoma and Kansas.

Kabaye-A name derived from the Ebahamo Indians who lived along the Colorado River in Texas.Visited by the Spanish in 1687.

Kagahanin-This was the "Thunder Clan" of the Caddo Indians.

Karankawa-This name was given to a small tribe which was located along the coast of Texas,near Matagorda Bay in particular.They were mentioned by Cabeza de Vaca.They did not farm,but got their food from the sea and the chase.They are said to have eaten human flesh,as did other Texas tribes.They also practiced head flattening.They were exterminated in 1858 after they attacked Juan Nepomuceno Cortina.

Kiabaha-A tribe visited by Joutel in 1687.They formerly lived along Matagorda Bay and the Maligne River in Texas.

Kichai-A tribe whose language was closely allied with the Pawnee.This Caddoan tribe was met by the French in 1701 along the Red River in Louisiana and down along the Trinity River in Texas.They finally fled from Texas and joined the Wichita.

Kouyam-Also known as the Karankawa Indians.These Indians lived along the Colorado River in Texas.They were visited by Joutel in 1687.

Kwahari-This division of the Comanche roamed the Staked Plains of Texas.They were the last to surrender in 1874.Their name means the "Antelopes".

Lipan-A tribe of Apache that roamed and raided in Texas and southern New Mexico.

Llaneros-This Spanish term,meaning the "plainsmen",referred to the Indians who were found on the Staked Plains of west Texas and eastern New Mexico.

Maliacones-This was one of the tribes visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1528-34.They lived near the Avavares in Texas.

Mallopeme-One of the Indian tribes of west Texas.Many of these people came to the mission at San Jose and San Miguel de Aguayo.

Manos de Perro-One of the tribes who were visited by the Spanish explorers in 1760.They lived along the Rio Grande in Texas.

Mariames-This tribe formerly lived in the Matagorda Bay area of Texas.They were visited by Cabeza de Vaca in 1528-34.They became extinct in the late 1890s.

Mendica-This Texas tribe was met by Cabeza de Vaca in 1527-34.The tribe became extinct at an early date.

Menequen-This small band visited the mission of San Antonio de Valero in Texas around 1745.This band is supposed to have lived in Guadalupe County,Texas.

Mepayaya-This tribe was mentioned by Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691.This tribe of the Payaya formerly lived in the vicinity of San Antonio,Texas.

Mesquites-The Mesquites were a group of Indians that lived near San Antonio,Texas.There was another group known by the same name that lived across the Rio Grande which was composed of about 150 people.They were first mentioned by Espinosa in 1716,he met them along the Brazos River in Texas.

Mulatos-These were the people of west Texas who were baptized at the San Jose mission in 1784.

Muruam-This was a Texas tribe,most of its members were baptized at the beginning of the 18th century at the missions located at San Antonio in Texas.It is supposed that these Indians were Tonkawan and it is possible that some were members of the Ticmamare tribes.

Nabedache-The ancient name of the "salt people" of the southern Caddoan confederacy.This village was located in San Pedro County in Texas.

Nabeyxa-A possible Caddoan tribe mentioned by Douay in 1691,located in the northeastern part of Texas.

Nacachau-One of the nine tribes in Texas which was mentioned by the early explorer Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691.A mission was established for this tribe which became known as the San Francisco de los Neches.

Nacaniche-This Caddoan tribe first was known by the French in 1690.They lived mainly along the Trinity River in Texas.They came under the rule of the Nacogdoches in the first part of the 19th century.

Nacisi-A small Caddoan tribe which lived along the Red River in Louisiana.They were first mentioned by Joutel in 1687.These people drifted to the area of the Nacogdoche in Texas.

Nacogdoche-One of the nine main tribes of Texas.Their main village was located in the same general area of the present city of Nacogdoches in Texas.

Nasoni-This tribe of the Caddo of Texas formerly lived along the Nacogdoche River.In 1719 a Spanish mission was set up in their midst.They were last mentioned in the Texas census of 1790.

Neche-A tribe of Indians that lived along the Neches River in Texas near the present town of Nacogdoches,Texas.Farming was the main method of securing food,though some hunting was done for bison.

Obozi-This is one of the thirty-six tribes mentioned by Juan Sabeata to have been living in Texas in 1683.

Omenaosse-A tribe visited by Joutel in 1687 who lived along the Maligne River in Texas,they were possibly Karankawa people.

Paguan-A tribe of Texas Indians,active about 1690.

Pajalat-This was one of the tribes mentioned by Espinosa in 1746.These people lived around Conception Mission near San Antonio,Texas.

Pamaque-In 1760 this tribe lived along the Texas coast near the Nueces River.

Paouites-A tribe that is supposed to have lived in Texas around 1690.They were mentioned during the testimony regarding the death of La Salle.

Penateka-A former division of the Comanches who lived in eastern Texas.Their name means "honey eaters".

Quinet-This tribe lived near Matagorda Bay in Texas.In 1687 La Salle made a peace agreement with these people.

Quitoles-This was one of the tribes mentioned by Cabeza de Vaca during his seven year stay in Texas(1527),they were possibly Karankawan.

Sana-This was one of the central Texas tribes,possibly the Tonkawan which were met by the Spanish in 1691.They lived in an area now known as San Marcos,Texas.

Sanipao-A tribe of Christianized Indians,formerly belonging to the Coahuiltecan tribes.In 1755,a number of these people came to the Concepcion mission near San Antonio,Texas.They were the first tribe to appear on the marriage books....in one day,they were instructed,baptized and remarried.

Sijame-This tribe of the Tonkawan lived around the San Antonio mission.They were active around 1719.Many of the members of this tribe became Christianized.

Tepemaca-In 1757 this was a tribe that lived near what is now Laredo,Texas.Also known as the "burnt skins".

Texas(Tejas)-A name used by the Spanish to designate the combined tribes of what is now the state of Texas.The tribes were made up mainly of the Hasinai.It was variously spelled,but the general meaning was allies,or friends,it was used as a form of greeting by the Indian.

Tonkawa-This is a linguistic family of people who lived in the central part of Texas.Their name meant "those who stay together",they were a combination of several tribes.

Ujuiap-This was one of the tribes that came to the San Antonio Mission in San Antonio,Texas,and became Christians.They came between 1741 and about 1755.They belonged,it was thought,to the Tonkawan.