Enter a name, company, place or keywords to search across this item. Then click "Search" (or hit Enter).
Inter Pocala & History of California (Various Pages) (33 pages)
Go to the Archive Home
Go to Thumbnail View of this Item
Go to Single Page View of this Item
Download the Page Image
Copy the Page Text to the Clipboard
Don't highlight the search terms on the Image
Show the Page Image
Show the Image Page Text
Reset View and Center Image
Zoom Out
Zoom In
Rotate Left
Rotate Right
Toggle Full Page View
Flip Image Horizontally
More Information About this Image
Get a Citation for Page or Image - Copy to the Clipboard
Go to the Previous Page (or Left Arrow key)
Go to the Next Page (or Right Arrow key)
Page: of 33
Vv
/
/
_¢
476 EXTERMINATION OF THE INDIANS.
beyond, the influence of the missions faded into a still
fainter impress left by occasional contact with settled
outposts, and with kidnappers from missions and
pueblos. The" gold discovery brought them a share
of affluence,’ but the increased intercourse with white.
adventurers led to degrading habits, particularly
drunkenness and prostitution, which acquired further
virulence from the fostered taste for finery, and the
disposition to linger round mining camps to pick up
cast-off clothing and refuse.‘
disease produced sadder havoc in their ranks than
sword or famine.
The most prominent feature of their contact with —
the gold-seekers was abuse on the part of white men,
and consequent retaliation. A hatred for Indians
was acquired on the plains, from which the milder
tribes of California had to suffer. Then followed the
rush of miners into regions hitherto claimed as tribal
‘ranges, with consequent encounters, and the slaughter
or repulse of less strong intruders,* many of whom
found to their cost that the confidence inspired by the
milder natives of the lower Sacramento was misplaced
when applied to the fiercer clans of the north and of
the hills. The old practice of kidnapping continued
in force, partly owing to the high price of labor, partly
for immoral purposes.
Race antagonism, for much of which the Mexicans
were responsible, brought on many evil complications;
\ later came maletreatment by agents, with embezzlement of presents and property pertaining to the wards;
*Partly in working for the white men, partly for themselves, the women .
being generally set to dig for the men. Barstow's Stat., MS., ii.
‘They never learned to duly appreciate the value of money. Traders
could readily cheat them. Beads and flaming colors took their fancy, and
liquor their brains. G@rimshaw’s Narr., MS., 44-8; Hay’s Stat., MS., 15-17;
Cesar, Cosas, MS., 17.. Though women were readily sold, yet husbands
proved occasionally strict. Overland, xii. 24; Little’s Stat., MS., 7; Matthewson's Cal. Aff., MS., 4-7; Connor’s Early Days, MS., 3-4; Delano’s Life, 309,
et 8eq.; Cal. Courier, Aug. 17, 23, 31, 1850, Feb. 19-20, March 29, 1851; Pace.
News., Aug. 23, 26, Oct. 1.
were against early trappers.
The attendant train of
°Jn 1848 the Trinity River indians drove back prospectors, roused as they.
INFAMOUS AGENTS. 477
and disregarded treaties and criminal neglect by the
government.® The indifference and errors of the latter were a main cause for the many wanton outrages.
Thus it is that the California valley cannot grace
her annals with a single Indian war bordering on respectability. It can boast, however, a hundred or
two of as brutal butcherings, on the part of our honest miners and brave pioneers, as any area of equal
extent in our republic. The poor natives of California had neither the strength nor the intelligence to
-unite in any formidable numbers; hence, when now
and then one of them plucked up courage to defend
his wife and little ones, or.to retaliate on one of the
many outrages that were constantly being perpetrated upon them by whité persons, sufficient excuse
was offered for the miners and settlers to band and
shoot down any Indians they met, old or young, innocent or guilty, friendly or hostile, until their appetite for blood was appeased.
The United States authorities began in 1847 to interest themselves in behalf of their wards by appointing agents,’ and recommended the people to aid the
priests in promoting industry among the Indians
in the southern coast counties, without interfering in
their internal government under elected alcaldes.*
The legislature passed a special law April 22, 1850,
for their government and care, which confirmed them
in possession of their villages, although owners of the
land were at liberty to arrange with them for occupying
Official swindlers have been the rule rather than the exception. Hayes’
Indians, v. 225; i. 76-85. Encroachments on reservations formed later a frequent cause for ill-feeling. Alta Cal., Oct. 6, 1851; U.S. Gov. Doc., cong. 34,
sess. 3, H. Hx. Doc. 76, p. 127-30.
TVallejo, as sub-agent for the Sonoma region, extending to Clear lake;
Sutter for Sac. and San Joaquin, each with $750 salary, and J. D. Hunter as
agent for the south, with headquarters at San Luis Rey. They had power
merely to admonish and watch over their charges. Kearney in 1849 placed
the sub-agents to act till the regular appointees should arrive, Riley recommending three for San Joaquin and Sxcramento valleys. Pres’t Message,
cong. 38, sess, 1. i. 171.
U.S. Gov. Doc., cong. 31, sess. 1, H. Ex. Doc., 17, p. 701. Halleck’s
circular in Avila, Doc. 6. This applied particularly to mission Indians.
The property reserved for churches and priests should be respected.
Ban?