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Show REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT IN OREGON. 207 palls of liquors; scarcely an article is found that the emigranis stand most in need of. By unkind treatment to the ipdians they make them unfriendly towards the emigrants; schisms arlse which they take ad-vantage of, and sted, and commit more depredations than the Indians, aU of which they manage to have charged to thc Indians. I was told by the Indians that some of these traders had prop~spltlo them to steal stock from emigrants, and run them off into the vaUc-yi in the moun-tains, and after the emigration had ceased passing, the!- would bring out guns, ammunition, blankets, kc., and trade with them for the stock stolen. I endeavored to put a stop to this species of trade and traffic. I informed them that they were violating the laws, and subjecting them-selves to tines and punishment, and that I should be compelled to put the lams in tbrce against them. They laughed at me; they defied me and the Inn-s; they told me there were so many of them that they could and would do as they pleased, law or no law. As I had not a force su5cient to enable me to enforce the laws, I could do nothing with them; it was useless to attempt what I had not the power to enforce. I had, therefore, to leave them to their own will. In aprevious communication I gave you my views in relation to this section of the Territory. From my recent trip I am more strongly im-pressed with its importance. I feel satisfied that until government throws pnrotectian over this route, and places the means within the reach d t h e officers to enforce their authority and the laws, there can he no safety to trx~el. The whites who infest the country are far more troubleso~ncth an the Indians. Having been delayed on the Humholdt qnietius the difficulties with these Indians, I did not arrirc in this city in time to lnake out my accounts, which should aceompan- tllis report, before the 111nil \\-ill leare. Being relieved from duty, and my uccessor I having arrivrd, I 5hxU conieqnently leave for the States as early as possible. I sllilll \-isit Ii-a:l~ir~son:i s soon as I return; and, if it would not he a viol:~tlon of rule, I wuilld I,,! pleased if you n-ould receive this report, and grant me the pri\-ilczc crf srttling my accounts with the de-partment at Washington, ns I cannot get them ready for this mail. I have the honor to bc, very respectf~~llyo, ur obedient servant, J. H. HOLEM-4N, Indian Agens, Utah Thtory. His Excellency BRICHAJTI OZ:SG, Ex-oficio Szprintendent Indian Affairs, Li. T. SIR : Being informed that n party of thirty or forty men were about to set out in a few days along the route of the new road from the Wil-lamette valley to Fort Boise, for the purpose of completing that work, yet in an unfinished state on the eastern end, I have availed myself of this safe and economical escort to send agent J. &I. Garrison to visit the Indian tribes tluongh whose country this road passes. |
