Euphemia's family and friends are tormented by murderous Comanche bands, who themselves have been decimated by perfidious whites.
James Pratt, son of Rachel Plummer, was separated from his mother (who never knew about his further fate) and was soon given away to another Comanche band.
He was from the Comanche band of Paha-yuca, whom Blue Duck had known long ago, when he was still welcome among the Comanche people.
Most of the Comanche bands had already come in--only a few hundred warriors were still free and inclined to fight.
He considered that they had accomplished nothing but frighten one hostile Comanche band.
Because of cultural and linguistic differences from other Comanche bands, they became the "(Yap)Root-Eaters", in contrast to the Kʉhtsʉtʉhka ("Buffalo-Eaters").
An entire Comanche band could be packed and chasing a buffalo herd within about twenty minutes.
In preceding years, the Towakoni and Waco tribes, allied with various Comanche bands, had regularly raided Texas settlements.
Its surviving members joined other Comanche bands.
By the end of 1785 all, or substantially all, of the Comanche bands had agreed.