OCR Text |
Show 198 REPORT OF THE • when we discovered, in the distance, a perfect cloud of dust, which we perceived was produced by a large hand of Indians coming towards us in a sweeping gallop. In a few minutes they were in camp, when we discovered them to be a band of Shoshonees, or Snakes proper, from the Green river country, numbering something over one hun-dred, who had come over to the mouth of Bear river to fish; and hear-ing that we were in the neighborhood, sdd they supposed we had come to give them presents, and I soon saw they were not disposed to leave disappointed. So I gave them all some shirts and tobacco and some bits of calico for their squaws. These are a good looking band of Indians, and left a favorable impression of their friendly disposition towards the whites. After passing this band, to my great disappointment, I saw no Indians till we reached the valley of the Bumboldt, and I began to fear that we should have difficulty in accomplishing our objects with them. But it was not long after reaching that valley till we met a large band, and as we had camped for tbe night we had a talk with them, told them the object of our visit, gave them some tobacco, and inquired where the balance of their nation were; they said that a great many of them had gone south to hunt, hut that Nim-ah-tu-cah and the most of his band were about one hun-dred and fifty miles west, fishing. They staid till near dark, and left in small parties for their camp; but the next morning, a. little after sunrise, they all returned with their squaws an'd children, and after seating themselves in a circle, said they had come to get all I had. But I told them it would not be good for me to give them all my presents when their principal men were off hunting; hut that they must point out to me twelve young braves who would go to the bands and let them know that I had come to see them. They soon complied with my request, and after fitting them out with some provisions and tobacco, they put off in different directions. I then moved on abqut fifty miles further, which brought me to the neighborhood of Peter Banes, an old gentleman, who settled in this valley near two years ago, and I must say that I think he has made a wholesome impression upon the Indians in his neighborhood: I stopped hcre to recruit my animals, and to give the Indians time to collect. We saw no Indians for near a week, when they began to drop in in small parties, and in less than three days we had a com-pany of about 400 in all. They all complained of being hungry, many having travelled the distance of one hundred miles without eat-ing, and I soon sam that I should be obliged to feed them. I gave them to understand that all difficulties between us had now to he set-tled, and requested the chiefs to assemble their people for the purpose of having a talk. We talked freely and at great length, many of the chiefs displaying more shrewdness and sagacity in council than I had expected. We endeavored tu adjust all matters of dispute, both old and new, and I flatter myself that our efforts were not without suc-cess. For though me did not see the whole population of that vast region of country, yet we had a respectable delegation from each tribe and petty tribe, consisting of principal men and warriors, represent-ing between 1,200 and 1,500 people or more; and from their great |