Quiscat was a prominent 18th century Native American tribal chief, whose ethnic community, the

Tawakoni The Tawakoni (also Tahuacano and Tehuacana) are a Southern Plains Native American tribe, closely related to the Wichitas. They historically spoke a Wichita language of the Caddoan language family. Currently, they are enrolled in the Wichita a ...

(also referred to as Towakoni), inhabited an area in what is now East Central

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. In 1772, Chief Quiscat embarked on a voyage to

San Antonio ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= U.S. state, State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , s ...

in a bid to negotiate an end to hostilities with

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

which, between 1690 and 1821, had governed Texas as a colony named "Kingdom of Texas". Quiscat's name was subsequently appended to the primary Tawakoni village, located on the banks of the

Brazos River The Brazos River ( , ), called the ''Río de los Brazos de Dios'' (translated as "The River of the Arms of God") by early Spanish explorers, is the 11th-longest river in the United States at from its headwater source at the head of Blackwater Dr ...

, in the vicinity of present-day

Waco, Texas Waco ( ) is the county seat of McLennan County, Texas, United States. It is situated along the Brazos River and I-35, halfway between Dallas and Austin. The city had a 2020 population of 138,486, making it the 22nd-most populous city in the ...

. The village, also referred to by its Spanish name, "El Quiscat", was situated on the river's west side. It sat on a

bluff Bluff or The Bluff may refer to: Places Australia * Bluff, Queensland, Australia, a town * The Bluff, Queensland (Ipswich), a rural locality in the city of Ipswich * The Bluff, Queensland (Toowoomba Region), a rural locality * Bluff River (New ...

overlooking an agglomeration of springs and, during the period, had approximately 750 inhabitants. The village was visited at least twice by outsiders—

Athanase de Mézières Athanase is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Antoine-Athanase Royer-Collard (1768–1825), French physician born in the village of Sompuis, département Marne * Athanase Coquerel (disambiguation) * Athanase David (1882–1953) ...

came there in 1779, and

Pedro Vial Pedro Vial, or Pierre Vial (c. 1746 in Lyon, France – October 1814 in Santa Fe, New Mexico), was a French explorer and frontiersman who lived among the Comanche and Wichita Indians for many years. He later worked for the Spanish government as ...

recovered from injuries for several weeks there in 1786. Reference to the village occurs as late as 1795; no available documentation exists detailing its ultimate fate.

References

Quiscat

Handbook of Texas The ''Handbook of Texas'' is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). History The original ''Handbook'' was the brainchild of TSHA President Wal ...

entry (retrieved March 31, 2007). Native American leaders 18th-century Native Americans Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown Place of death unknown Native American history of Texas {{NorthAm-native-stub