[2] An alternate theory says their original name was Wawadishe from the Caddo word, witish, meaning "salt.
[1] In 1686, French explorer, Henri Joutel, encountered the tribe living at the headwaters of the Neches River, near present-day Houston County, Texas.
European contact brought devastating diseases, and the Nabedache suffered an epidemic in 1690-91.
In the ensuing century, their principal village, was 12–15 miles west of the Neches River.
[3] Spanish chroniclers observed that women, as well as men, could be priests and hold high ranks.