OCR Text |
Show 148 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. the " white man's doctor" has the requisite means and knowledge to cure them, and unani-mously concede to him the privilege. The prevailing diseases are venereal, scrofula, and rheumatism. About fifty per cent, of the whole number have venereal in some form. This terrible disorder was introduced by the early settlers, and owes its perpetuation, in a large degree, to the presence of the mili-tary. One of the rancherias is very contiguous to the post, and, until recently, the soldiers have been allowed to mingle freely with the squaws, and practice their venery to their own gratification. This state of things not being countenanced by the present agent, their visits are made in the night or by stealth. It is impossible to break it up completely without the co- operation of the commanding officer at the post. Scrolula prevails extensively, consequently many die of consumption. This, in my opin-ion, is caused by their manner of living, and their imperfect mode of preparing their food, " which is primitive in the extreme. Rheumatism, third in importance, ought and would be very rare in this climate, were it not fur a barbarous custom that still prevails among them. I refer to their " tarco," or sweat- house, from which they emerge dripping with perspiration, and instantly plunge into the cold river, at all seasons of the year. Their main dependence for food, exclusive of that furnished by Government, is salmon, acorns, berries, deer, grouse, and other game. Though not so plentiful as in former times, yet, with the flour, beef, potatoes, & c., issued irom time to time, they manage to have City, and, if they could be instructed in cookery, would live as well as their white neigh- On the whole, they are comparatively happy and contented, though they are conscious that their race is about run, and in a few years more there will be no more Indians. Very respectfully, yours, L. FORCE, Physician on Reservation. Hon. J. V. FARWELL. APPENDIX A e, No. 29. EUREKA, HUMBOLDT COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, August 1, 1871. MY DFAR SIR : In accordance with your expressed desire, this communication is addressed to you, and through you, as I hope, to the board of commissioners of which you are a mem-ber. It may be that I shall seem tedious. It is very probable that much of what I may say has occurred to yourself, or been suggested by others. I do not flatter myself that I am the only one who takes this view of Indian affairs, but my attention has been so feelingly directed to ihis subject, and I am so powerfully impressed with the necessity of a radical change in the policy pursued, that I am constrained to enlarge, at the risk of some impa-tience. Many times my neighbors, in disgust at the reports from the reservation, have desired me to assail the agents in the public prints, but I have forborne to do so thus far, feeling that my acquaintance with the subject would not justify an attack on any person, and did not enable me to suggest any remedy for the evils complained of. Within the past twelve months, however, circumstances have introduced me to the agent, employes, arid Indians on the Ho pa Valley reservation, and afforded me. such facilities for observation that I feel competent to offer my views even to your honorable board. About April or May, 1870, 1 visited the valley at the request of a New York correspondent of mine, on a tour of inspection. On being informed of my mission, the agent, Captain , received me very courteously, arid gave me every facility for acquiring information. My stay, however, was but for a few days. About August, 1870, the agent sent for me to assist him with 1m returns, and to see the property turned over to the new agent, daily expected. I remained on the reservation nearly six months, mingling with all parties, more especially with the Indians, and studying the state of atfairs. I found the Indians thoughtful, docile, and apparently eager to enter into any project for their good, if they could only believe that it would be carried out in good faith, but utterly wanting in confidence in the agent, the Government, the reservation, or the white man. They said every promise to them had been broken ; they had been cooped up in this valley, away from their natural resources, with just a little flour to eat, enough to stay the stomach, but not enough to give energy or enterprise ; had been treated like children by the agent ; had no control over their own affairs, and knew not, from day to day, what new humor the agent might take. They said they had no assurance of anything; they were made to work, they knew rot why; their allowance was made or cut off, they could not tell what for; their women prostituted themselves to the soldiers and officers from sheer necessity ; and that leth-argy, starvation, and disease were thinning their numbers, and leading them down to the grave. I found, in fact, that the reservation was a rehash of a negro plantation. The agent, an absolute dictator, restrained by no law and no compact known to the Indians. His ein- |