Description
The Nacogdoche are a Native American tribe from eastern Texas. The Nacogdoche were part of the Hasinai branch of the Caddo Confederacy and closely allied with the Lower Nasoni. They historically lived between the Angelina and the Sabine Rivers in Texas. The Gentleman of Elvas, a member of Hernando de Soto's 1541 expedition, wrote about the tribe, as did Francisco de Jesus Maria in 1691. While Spanish colonizers claimed Nacogdoche land, the tribe traded freely with the French. French traders provided firearms, ammunition, metal-bladed knives, cloth, vermilion dye, and other sundries in exchange for horses, prepared animal hides, bear's fat, beans, corn, and Apache slaves. By 1800, European diseases and warfare had greatly reduced the population of the tribe. The survivors joined other Hasinai tribes.
Language
The Caddo language is known as Hasinai to its native speakers.
Culture
They were a semisedentary agricultural people. They lived in conical dwellings constructed of poles covered with a thatch of grass; these were grouped around ceremonial centres of temple mounds. They were skillful potters and basket makers. They wove cloth of vegetable fibres and, on special occasions, wore mantles decorated with feathers. They also wore nose rings and, like many other southeastern tribes, adorned their bodies with tattoos. Their economy depended upon sustainable development. Game animals such as deer, peccary, buffalo, antelope, and bear were important to the Hasinai for food, bones, sinew, and skins. Turkeys lived in great roosts near the villages and served as a watch for raiders and provided meat and feathers.