Karankawa

A group of Native American peoples, now extinct, known collectively as the Karankawa (also Karankawan, Clamcoëhs, and called in their language Auia), played a pivotal part in early Texas history. Image File history File links Karankawa_lang. ... Image File history File links Karankawa_lang. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of species. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... The history of Texas (as part of the United States) began in 1845, but settlement of the region dates back to the end of the Upper Paleolithic Period, around 10,000 BC. Its history has been shaped by being part of six independent countries: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of...

The term Karankawa has been popularly applied to a group of Native American tribes who had a common dialect and culture. These people can be more specifically identified as the Capoques (Coaques, Cocos), Kohanis, Kopanes (Copanes), and Karankawa (Carancaquacas) bands. They inhabited the Gulf Coast of Texas from Galveston Bay in the present-day Greater Houston area, then southwestward to Corpus Christi Bay. The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ... Galveston Bay is a large estuary located along Texass coastline. ... The Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, a title designated by the U.S. Census as of 2003, is the seventh-largest metropolitan area and one of the most diverse[2] in the United States consisting of 10 counties within the state of Texas. ... A map of Corpus Christi Bay and the surrounding bays, gulf, and counties The Corpus Christi Bay is located in the southern Texas Coastal Bend, in a semi-arid region. ...

Language

Their language, of which only about a hundred words are preserved, is also called Karankawa and may have been related to the Coahuiltecan, but researchers cannot be certain as so little is known of languages in this region. The significance of the name Karankawa is not certain, but it is generally held to mean "dog-lovers" or "dog-raisers." That rendering seems creditable, since the Karankawas had dogs that were a fox or coyote-like species. A nomadic-type culture existed and they seasonally migrated between the mainland and the barrier islands. Coahuiltecan is a general name for a group of people who previously lived in the southern Texas region near the Rio Grande river. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ... This article is about the animal. ... For other uses, see Coyote (disambiguation). ... Communities of nomadic people move from place to place, rather than settling down in one location. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... Sand bars in the Mississippi River at Arkansas and Mississippi A bar is a linear shoaling landform feature within a body of water. ...

Origins

Environment

The indigenous peoples that lived along the Texas Coast from Galveston Island to a location southward far past Corpus Christi, Texas endured much hardship from the elements. The bays, back bays, lagoons and bayous along the Texas Coast, were the tribal hunting and harvesting grounds. The shallow waters in the bays allowed them to wade out into the deep pools with lances or bows and arrows, to spear fish as the older men, women and children harvested the waters for blue and stone crabs, oysters, mussels, sea turtles, shellfish, and other eatable crustaceans. There are accounts that some Karankawas were seen in Colorado County at Eagle Lake, close to 100 miles from the coastline, but no evidence shows they made permanent camps there. Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Counties Government  - Mayor Henry Garrett Area  - City 1,192. ... In geography, a bay or gulf is a collection of water that is surrounded by land on three sides. ... This mid bay barrier in Narrabeen, a suburb of Sydney (Australia), has blocked what used to be a bay to form a lagoon. ... Big Cypress Bayou in Jefferson, Texas off of U.S. Route 59. ... The term lance has become a catchall for a variety of different pole weapons based on the spear. ... This image depicts a typical bow, as made by the Huns, lying against a tree. ... Traditional target arrow and replica medieval arrow. ... For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 The blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) is a crustacean found in the waters off the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. ... Binomial name Menippe mercenaria (Say, 1818) The Florida stone crab, Menippe mercenaria, is a crab found in the western North Atlantic, from North Carolina to Belize, including Texas, the Gulf of Mexico, Cuba and the Bahamas that is widely caught for food. ... For other uses, see Oyster (disambiguation). ... Subclasses Pteriomorpha (marine mussels) Palaeoheterodonta (freshwater mussels) Heterodonta (zebra mussels) The term mussel is used for several families of bivalve molluscs inhabiting lakes, rivers, and creeks, as well as intertidal areas along coastlines worldwide. ... Genera Family Cheloniidae (Oppel, 1811) Caretta Chelonia Eretmochelys Lepidochelys Natator Family Dermochelyidae Dermochelys Family Protostegidae (extinct) Family Toxochelyidae (extinct) Family Thalassemyidae (extinct) Sea turtles (Superfamily Chelonioidea) are turtles found in all the worlds oceans except the Arctic Ocean. ... Cooked mussels Shellfish is a term used to describe shelled molluscs and crustaceans used as food. ... For the Dutch band, see Crustacean (band). ... Colorado County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Eagle Lake is a city located in Colorado County, Texas. ...

A few of their campsites have been discovered in recent years, giving us better clues on daily life and activities. Disease, 'land acquisitions", troubles with the newcomers to the land, wars, and general genocide condemned them to extinction before 1860. This article is about the medical term. ... For other uses, see War (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Genocide (disambiguation). ...

It is now known that they wintered around the coastal bays, eating oysters, clams, shellfish, black drum, redfish, spotted seatrout and the other abundant species of fish. During the summer months, and hot weather the oysters, clams and other shellfish are not safe to eat, and the fish make their yearly migration out the pass, which in turn would send the tribal bands migrating further inland as well. Undoubtedly summer tropical storms and hurricanes would have an impact on this decision to move further inland as well. For other uses, see Clam (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Pogonias cromis (Linnaeus, 1766) The black drum (Pogonias cromis) is a saltwater fish similar to its cousin, the red drum. ... Binomial name Micropterus punctulatus (Rafinesque, 1819) The spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) is a species of freshwater fish in the sunfish family (Centrarchidae) of order Perciformes. ... Binomial name Cynoscion nebulosus Unknown, 0 The Spotted Seatrout is a common estuary fish found in the southern United States. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ...

They would traverse the bays in dugouts and lived in round thatch huts. Some of the campsites show a population of several hundred. The discarded clam and oyster shells would make huge mounds around this camp site. Their most prized hunting tool was the long bow, some well over six foot long and arrow shafts as long as three feet, making it easier to spot and retrieve them from the shallow waters. Their major inland game was the deer and American Bison, as the many discarded remains of these animals has been found at these camp sites. They also harvested local roots, berries and nuts. A dugout is a boat which is basically a hollowed tree trunk. ... A thatched pub (The Williams Arms) at Wrafton, near Braunton, North Devon, England “thatch” redirects here. ... This article is about the ruminant animal. ... Binomial name (Linnaeus, 1758) Subspecies B. b. ... This article is about the fruit. ... For other uses, see Nut (disambiguation). ...

Encounters with Spanish Conquistadors

The Karankawa peoples were living this type of nomadic existence when Spaniards, lead by Alvarez de Piñeda, probed the coast in 1519. Governor Francisco de Garay of Jamaica had commissioned him to explore the Gulf Coast from Florida to Veracruz. Events March 4 - Hernán Cortés lands in Mexico. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami metropolitan area Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... The state of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave is one of the 31 states that comprise Mexico. ...

The heavily tattooed, pierced, and painted nomadic Karankawa tribe, held the islands for the most part in south Texas. Their territory was perhaps from the west end of Galveston Island down the coast to the mouth of the Rio Grande, and inland about 25-65 miles depending on the region. Superb hunters, fisherman, warriors and longbow archery experts, they were a powerful enemy to anyone wishing to take their prime hunting grounds away. For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ... Look up pierce in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A map of Galveston Island, a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Houston. ... “Río Bravo” redirects here. ... Lemonwood, purpleheart and hickory longbow, 45 lbf draw force. ... Archery is the practice of using a bow to shoot arrows. ...

The impression they left on those that wrote of encounters with the tribes were monumental. The men were strikingly tall, described to be between six and almost seven feet ( 180-205 cm ). They were tattooed and wore shell ornaments and many greased themselves down with shark liver oil to ward off mosquitoes and other biting insects. Additionally, the men pierced each nipple as well as the bottom lip of the mouth with small pieces of cane. Various seashells Danielle A shell is the hard, rigid outer covering, or integument, allanimals. ... For other uses, see Fashion (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Mosquito (disambiguation). ...

Encounters with Jean Laffite

After being run out of New Orleans around 1817, Lafitte relocated to the island of Galveston, Texas establishing another "kingdom" he named "Campeche". In Galveston, Lafitte either purchased or set his claim to a lavishly furnished mansion used by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury, which he named "Maison Rouge". The building's upper level was converted into a fortress where cannon commanding Galveston harbor were placed. In 1819, a brief encounter between the Karankawa and Lafitte's men proved to be a great loss for the natives. Three hundred Karankawa warriors tried to retrieve one of their women from Lafitte's men. The cannons were used to defeat the natives inflicting a great loss to this group of fighters, and resulting in a further step toward tribal extinction. New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Galveston redirects here. ... Louis-Michel Aury was a French pirate operating in the Gulf of Mexico during the early 19th century. ...

Around 1820, Lafitte reportedly married Madeline Regaud, possibly the widow or daughter of a French colonist who had died during an ill-fated expedition to Galveston. In 1821, the schooner USS Enterprise was sent to Galveston to remove Lafitte's presence from the Gulf after one of the pirate's captains attacked an American merchant ship. Lafitte agreed to leave the island without a fight, and in 1821 or 1822 departed on his flagship, the Pride, burning his fortress and settlements and reportedly taking an immense treasure with him. All that remains of Maison Rouge is the foundation, located at 1417 Avenue A near the Galveston wharf. When Laffite left Galveston Island in 1820, he made Jao de la Porta a full-time trader. [1] Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ... The third USS Enterprise, a schooner, was built by Henry Spencer at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1799, and placed under the command of Lieutenant John Shaw. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Joa de la Porta, along with his brother Morin, financed the first settlement by Europeans on Galveston Island in 1816. ...

Cannibalism

In 1768, a Spanish Padre gave detail to their ritual flesh eating ceremonies,because they thought that eating the 'victims' flesh could gain them power of there strength.The "savages" would lash a captive to a stake and then, dancing around the sacrifice, they would dart in, slice off a piece of flesh with a sharp blade, then roast it in front of the victim, in an already prepared campfire. Then they would devour it, as the victim watched in horror at consumption of himself, before his very eyes. 1768 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about religious workers. ...

Some recent authors have put forward the theory that at times the Karankawa were mistaken for the Atakapa (Atakapan or Attakapan) people, Gulf Coast tribes whose lands stretched from Galveston Bay to Bayou Teche and Vermillion Bay in Louisiana. The people of these tribes were known for their body tattoos and their cannibalistic retribution upon their enemies. Undertaken only upon one's blood enemies, ritual cannibalism was common among the coastal tribes of Texas and Louisiana. Pre-contact distribution of Atakapa The Atakapa (pronounced uh-TAK-uh-paw, also spelled Attakapa, Attakapas, Attacapa, formally known as the Ishaks, pronounced ee-SHAKS, translated as The People [1] ) were a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes and with a common language that lived along the Gulf of Mexico. ... Atakapa The Atakapa (also Attacapan) were a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes and with a common language that lived along the Gulf of Mexico. ... Atakapa The Atakapa (also Attacapan) were a Southeastern culture of Native American tribes and with a common language that lived along the Gulf of Mexico. ... The Bayou Teche is a 125-mile long waterway of great cultural significance in south central Louisiana. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ...

However, some recent scholarship has cast doubt upon claims that the Karankawa were cannibals at all and rather has drawn attention to the original impression of the Karankawa given in the record of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1528, a most telling insight into the culture and nature of these giants. Finding Cabeza de Vaca, lost and frightened, washed ashore on Galveston Island with the few survivors of the ill-fated Pánfilo de Narváez Expedition, the Karankawa sat down and wept with them. Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca (circa 1490 – circa 1557) was an early Spanish explorer of the New World and is remembered as a protoanthropological author. ... Events June 19 - Battle of Landriano - A French army in Italy under Marshal St. ... A map of Galveston Island, a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Houston. ... Pánfilo de Narváez Pánfilo de Narváez (1470 – 1528) was a Spanish conqueror and soldier in the Americas. ...

External links

• Cultural attributes - TPW Magazine
• Karankawa Indians from the Handbook of Texas Online