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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 9 On arriving at San Francisco, notice was given for over two weeks in the principal daily papers for the claimants to present and substantiate their claims before the ccnin.' ittee. Only two claimants for small amounts were present in response to the notice. Subsequently, diligent inquiry was made by Commissioner Farwell in the localities where the principal claims were alleged to have originated. AVith the exception of some small claims, his convictions are very strong that nearly all of them are either- fraudulent or have been already paid. ( See report of Commissioner John V. Farwell, investigation of alleged claims in California, Appendix A e.) Commissioner Farwell visited Hoopa Valley arid Hound Valley reser-vations. He found the Indians in Hoopa Valley using McCormick's reapers in harvesting on the agency farm, and giving abundant evidence of capacity for advancement, and, at the same time, showing in almost every other respect the most striking proofs of abuse and mismanagement on the part of those to whom their care has been heretofore intrusted. The too near vicinity of soldiers is deemed injurious both to themselves and the Indians, and, as in the case of the Washington and Oregon reservations, it is imperatively necessary that the lines of the reserva-tions should be defined, and trespassers ejected. ( See Appendix A e.) 3IISSION INDIANS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. The condition of the Mission Indians in Southern California demands the serious attention of the Government. In the year 1802, according to the records of the missions, they harvested 33,576 bushels of wheat, and owned 67,782 horned cattle, 107,172 sheep, 3,064 horses and mules, and 1,040 hogs. The choice spots from San Frr. ncisco on the north to San Diego on the south were owned and occupied by them. Thirty-eight years ago, by a Mexican law, their lauds and stock, before held in common, were divided among them. Since they have come under the control of the United States those lands have been taken from them, and they are now poor. They are scattered through the counties of Los Angeles, San Barnardino, San Diego, and Santa Barbara, and num-ber perhaps 3,000 souls. They have a good knowledge of the manual-labor. occupations of the country, and perform the most of it themselves, as herders, farm- hands, grape- gatherers, & c., and ar^ in fact in a state of \ assalage to the whites, and their women furnish most of the domestic labor of the country. The meaner class of whites either cheat the In-dians out of the pay for their labor, or pay them in that which increases their demoralization. Many of them speak both Spanish and English. Many are indus-trious and well- behaved, while many others are drunkards and debased in the extreme. Their character is the natural result of the temptations and abuse to which they have been subjected, together with their de-privation of all incentives to manly exertion. To the rich rauclieros they are slaves in all but the name. A few of these are gentlemen, who seem to have a kindly feeling toward them, and a desire that '' something should be done for them." The valley of San Pasquale was, by the order of the Presidenl, withdrawn from set-tlement with a view7 to create a reservation, upon which it was pro-posed to collect and care for them, but the remonstrances of the whites led to the revocation of the order, and the project is abandoned. It is believed that the opposition to the reservation plan really originated from an unwillingness to lose the labor of the Indians in the settled districts, and not, as was supposed, from the settlers in or about San |
