Ghosts of Highways Past: El Camino Real
Caddoans
Religion
Each group of allied tribes was headed by a high priest called the
Grand Xinesi (hee-ne-see). The priest was the middleman
between the people and the gods, and most of his duties were
religious tasks. One of his jobs was to tend a fire in the temple.
The position of the high priest was inherited through the male line
(that is, it was passed from father to son, or from uncle to nephew).
The Caddoans believed in a creator god who punished evil and
rewarded good, but they also believed in other less powerful gods.
The powerful creator-god was known as Ayo-ay-may. The Grand
Xinesi demanded offerings to satisfy the spirits.
Many religious ceremonies were held throughout the year.
There were special rituals for greeting strangers and welcoming
guests. They also held festivals at harvest time, which included
feasting, dancing, games, prayers, and speeches. The harvest
festivals were very important, for it was then that the high priest
made predictions about the next year's crops.
The Caddoans believed in life after death and therefore
performed elaborate burial rituals. Important people, such as
priests and chiefs, were given special funeral ceremonies when they
died, and the whole tribe attended. Common people were buried
with simpler rituals. Men were buried with their weapons, and
women with their household utensils.
Trade
Caddoans traded bison hides, dried meat, and pottery, including bowls,
bottles, storage jars, and smoking pipes. They also traded bows
made from the Osage orange tree, which were highly prized by
other Indians. The Caddoans traded with the surrounding tribes and
occasionally with the New Mexicans. Cotton blankets and
turquoise from the New Mexican pueblos were traded for the
Caddoan bows. Horses and Spanish goods, as well as standard
items, were available at the Caddoan trade fairs, which were held
once a year.
Government
The social organization of the Caddoans was more complex than
that of most other Texas Indians. Each tribe was governed by
chieftains called caddices. If a tribe was fairly large, there were a number of lesser officials, or canhas. The canhas assisted the caddi by taking his place when he needed to be absent, calling the elders together, and by announcing his commands throughout his
jurisdiction. Under canhas were the chayas, who carried out the orders of the caddi or canhas. Another group of officials, the tammas, were law enforcers, similar to sheriffs. One of their duties was whipping laggards. A war hero was referred to as an
amayxoya. He was set apart as a member of another distinguished
group. He carried and wore special insignia.