What Were: the Comancheros
In John Wayne's 1961 movie, The Comancheros, a Texas Ranger (Wayne) must team up with an outlaw he's transporting back to prison to combat a ruthless border gang who sells liquor and guns to the Comanche Indians in Texas to encourage them to murder, steal and rustle cattle from White men. The Mexican traders and Natives in the film are little better than criminal riff-raff for Wayne to subdue in bravura style.
Not so fast.
Long before Anglo settlers appeared in the area of what is now New Mexico and Texas, the resident Spanish and Native tribes had reached a level of mutual coexistence. Plains tribes began using Spanish horses extensively during the 17th century, enabling them to hunt and raid further than they previously had. Among these tribes were the Comanche, a Shoshonean-speaking people living in what is now primarily Texas. While Comanches could and did raid Spanish settlements, they came to understand that the Spanish, the source of the horses, were much better trading partners than enemies. The Spanish also had other trade goods, flour, cloth, beads and the like. This relationship was made much easier after New Mexico governor Juan Bautista de Anza signed a treaty with the Comanche in 1786. With the Comanche now allies of the Spanish, a flourishing trading community grew up. Unlike the English and French, who tried to centralize trade through posts and trading companies, the New Mexicans preferred to operate independently. Each trader would load up his cart or carreta with trade goods and head for the nearest trade fair or any other place where they were likely to find customers. Though the Comanches were the preferred clientele, Utes, Apaches or other Plains people were welcome.
These traders became known as Comancheros, after their Comanche clients. Most were of Hispanic origin. As with any community, proximity soon makes for close relationships. Some Comancheros intermarried with Comanches and vice-versa, similar to Metis in the east and Canada. White settlement managed to upset this delicate balance. As more and more White settlers poured into the American west and began efforts to take the territory from Mexico, they also made war against the Comanche and other tribes, who raided right back. Mexicans and Natives soon found themselves on the same side of the issue, fighting for land they considered theirs against White intervention. After the end of the Civil War, the Whites turned their attention to the west in earnest and began an extensive campaign against the Comanche. Comanchero families continued to trade with the Comanche and often served as suppliers and sources of information and assistance. What the Comanches viewed as allies, the Whites, particularly army commanders and later law enforcement, viewed as nuisances.
White army officers and lawmen believed that the Comancheros were supplying guns, ammunition and liquor to the Comanches, Apaches and other tribes who adamantly opposed White settlement on their land. Sources differ but most likely the Comanchero traders, operating independently and on a small-time level, had little access to weapons or liquor. They traded items that were easily obtained and distributed. While some Comancheros may have trade guns or alcohol to the Natives when they had the resources, and some may have ridden with Comanche bands or raided for their own sake on the lawless frontier, most were simply subsistence traders who were doing what their ancestors had done since the Spanish came into the area, co-exist with the local people as best they could. The Mexican bandito, though, makes more movies than a substance farmer and small-time trader, so the legend and myth carry on.
Not so fast.
Long before Anglo settlers appeared in the area of what is now New Mexico and Texas, the resident Spanish and Native tribes had reached a level of mutual coexistence. Plains tribes began using Spanish horses extensively during the 17th century, enabling them to hunt and raid further than they previously had. Among these tribes were the Comanche, a Shoshonean-speaking people living in what is now primarily Texas. While Comanches could and did raid Spanish settlements, they came to understand that the Spanish, the source of the horses, were much better trading partners than enemies. The Spanish also had other trade goods, flour, cloth, beads and the like. This relationship was made much easier after New Mexico governor Juan Bautista de Anza signed a treaty with the Comanche in 1786. With the Comanche now allies of the Spanish, a flourishing trading community grew up. Unlike the English and French, who tried to centralize trade through posts and trading companies, the New Mexicans preferred to operate independently. Each trader would load up his cart or carreta with trade goods and head for the nearest trade fair or any other place where they were likely to find customers. Though the Comanches were the preferred clientele, Utes, Apaches or other Plains people were welcome.
These traders became known as Comancheros, after their Comanche clients. Most were of Hispanic origin. As with any community, proximity soon makes for close relationships. Some Comancheros intermarried with Comanches and vice-versa, similar to Metis in the east and Canada. White settlement managed to upset this delicate balance. As more and more White settlers poured into the American west and began efforts to take the territory from Mexico, they also made war against the Comanche and other tribes, who raided right back. Mexicans and Natives soon found themselves on the same side of the issue, fighting for land they considered theirs against White intervention. After the end of the Civil War, the Whites turned their attention to the west in earnest and began an extensive campaign against the Comanche. Comanchero families continued to trade with the Comanche and often served as suppliers and sources of information and assistance. What the Comanches viewed as allies, the Whites, particularly army commanders and later law enforcement, viewed as nuisances.
White army officers and lawmen believed that the Comancheros were supplying guns, ammunition and liquor to the Comanches, Apaches and other tribes who adamantly opposed White settlement on their land. Sources differ but most likely the Comanchero traders, operating independently and on a small-time level, had little access to weapons or liquor. They traded items that were easily obtained and distributed. While some Comancheros may have trade guns or alcohol to the Natives when they had the resources, and some may have ridden with Comanche bands or raided for their own sake on the lawless frontier, most were simply subsistence traders who were doing what their ancestors had done since the Spanish came into the area, co-exist with the local people as best they could. The Mexican bandito, though, makes more movies than a substance farmer and small-time trader, so the legend and myth carry on.
Comments
Post a Comment