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Earliest recorded tribal conflict on the plains was reported by Governor-General
Don Juan de Onate in southern Kansas in 1601 when his Spanish expedition
found themselves caught between two warring tribes; the Escanjaques,
whose lineage is unknown, and the Rayados, generally believed to be
Wichitas. The Escanjaques had followed the Spanish to the Rayado village
just beyond a broad river thought to have been the Arkansas. That these
two primitive peoples were bitter enemies became immediately clear.
Approximately 300-400 Rayado warriors occupied a hilltop facing the
70 Spaniards hooting and twanging their bowstrings. To their rear the
Escanjaques shouted insults and counterchallenges at the Rayados. After
exchanging presents with the Rayados in an attempt to avoid a fight
the Rayados invited the Spanish to their village. The next day, Onate
found the village deserted. When the Escanjaques began to loot and burn
the village, he ordered his men to put a stop to the plundering. As
the Spaniards started back to New Mexico, they were attacked by an estimated
1500-3000 Escanjaques.
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