Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • My Term Papers • Get Free Essays • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Miscellaneous Karankawan Indians Karankawan Indians Karankawa: A Native American Society Many Native American civilizations are well known. However, many stereotypes are created based on the belief that all Native Americans were similar. There is one native tribe that has the most controversy revolving around it. That was the culture of the Karankawas. Until just recently most known information came from words of mouth, and there were many distorted views on this great nation. Unlike most other Native American tribes in the southwest region of Texas, the Karankawas held one thing in their society that was different to their neighbors of the north and south – they were non-nomadic. This nation built semi permanent homes near the coast and only moved inland during the summer, do to fact that their main food source moved out to sea – fish. They lived in a structure known as the wickiup. It was constructed simply of drift wood or mesquite covered in mud and animal skins. It provided great protection from the surrounding environment, given this regions dry status. The home that they lived in was not meant for anything other than sleep, and very few personal belongings were actually kept by a single family. The tribes were very communal when it came to belongings. Everyone in the society had their jobs and specific roles and kept to them. When one person could not perform their duties, or became to old, they were either held as a revered seer, depending on how old and wise a person was, or they were put to death. Cruel and inhumane by today’s standards, however, death held a higher meaning in this society. It wasn’t a disgrace to be killed, it was actually meant to be a great honor. It was believed that if your life role was complete, then you could move on to a more divine role in the heavens. Leading them to have very secretive and sometimes almost unknown burial practices. Anthropologists know very little about this tribe do to their secrecy. Another thing that our society brandishes as being absurd and somewhat “evil” in nature, would be that this tribe did practice human sacrifices and cannibalism. However, this was not for some dark ritual that can not be explained. It was a belief that the only way another tribe or that tribe’s leader could be released into the heavens was through the consumption of what was impure on earth. In the beliefs of the Karankawas, they were rewarded for this sacrifice on their part by becoming bestowed with their conquered enemy’s strength. By drinking the blood of their enemies, they became enlightened on how to survive even longer. Surprisingly, even though, this practice is unhealthy and can lead to the spread of diseases, the Karankawas never recorded a plague in their society. This could be do to their advancements in herbal medicines. This nation was very adept at creating anesthetics from native herbs and plants. One of the most commonly known today would be their primitive usage of the Prickly Ash. This plant contains small amounts of a chemical that would later be introduced to our society as lanocane. A chemical that is very effective for relieving tooth and abrasion pain. They also used local plants such as the Socamwen, which is a plant that contains a natural disinfectant. Of all the local Native American tribes in the surrounding areas, these were above all the most advanced in medical cleanliness. Along with this usage of plants, they gained a great knowledge about they foods around them. The final contribution of this tribe was its heavy trade in food and culture with the surrounding nations. Its main sustenance was the fish it gathered during the fall and spring months. However they also learned to gather berries and local nuts such as the wild raspberry and the lopai – a nut similar to the almond. From their southern neighbors, they learned how to proficiently use corn and made many useful foods from it. Although this nation did hunt, their main food sources came from gathering. Foods like eggs and small rabbits were usually the extent of hunting for this tribe. However, the occasionally deer and waterfowl would also be eaten when it could be found. They also had a divine way of finding the sweetest and healthiest food that was native to them. Whenever a new plant was found by the society, the elder of the village would try it. If he lived, they knew they could eat it, if he didn’t, they knew their gods were warning them that the plant was evil. This is how they came to use such plants as shallow water beet and the sugarberry. That is about as much as can be said for this mis understood tribe. Yes they did practice cannibalism, but it was for a truly divine reason. However, this tribe’s culture obviously goes far beyond eating people. Their contributions will be forever noted by our society. Bibliography: Word Count: 825
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