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Show 46 THE SHORTEST ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA. as hybrid races between the Sho- sho- nes and the Utahs* The Snakes are fierce and warlike in their habits, and inhabit the country bordering on Snake River, Bear River, Green River, and as far east as Wind River. They are well supplied with horses and fire-arms, and subsist principally by hunting. They are the enemies of the Crows and Blackfeet, on account of the buffalo having disappeared from their country west of the Rocky Mountains, and their being obliged to hunt them as trespassers on the ter-ritory of these tribes east of the mountains. They have also been at war with the Utes for several gen-erations. They, however, profess friendship for the * Mr. J. Forney, Superintendent of Indian Affairs in Utah, classes and numbers the various tribes and bands of Indians in Utah as follows : " Sho- sho- nes, or Snakes 4,500 Bannacks 500 UintaUtes 1,000 Spanish Fork and San Pete farms 900 Pah- vant ( Utes) . 700 Pey- utes ( South) 2,200 Pey- utes ( West) 6,000 Elk Mountain Utes 2,000 Washoe of Honey Lake 700 18,500 " The Sho- sho- nes claim the northeastern portion of the ter-ritory for about four hundred miles west and from one hundred to one hundred and twenty- five miles south from the Oregon line. The Utes claim the balance of the territory." ( Pres. Mes. and Doc., 1859- 60, Part I.) |