to leave St. Louis, and funds will therefore be placed in the hands of the superintendent at that place, to be turned over to you as follows: One year's salary for self One year's salary for interpreter Contingent expenses, including presents to Indians; purchase of two horses for yourself and your interpreter; collection of statistical information; forage for horses; house rent, fuel, stationery, &c., together with your travelling expenses $750 300 100 1,200 2,350 You are authorized to purchase two horses, one for yourself and one for your interpreter, for which you will be held accountable as public property. In making presents to Indians, you will be as economical as possible, and confine yourself to such cases only as will effect some important object. It is supposed that there are captives or prisoners-either Mexicans or Americans among some of the Indians of California or New Mexico. If you should find such to be the case among the Indians of your subagency, you will demand and endeavor to procure their release and surrender, whether Americans or Mexicans; but it must, if possible, be done without any compensation whatever, as to make compensation would but encourage a continuance of the practice of making captives; and any demand must be made under circumstances not calculated to produce mischief or hostile feelings on the part of the Indians. I enclose blank forms to guide you in rendering your accounts, which must be done quarter-yearly, or as nearly so as possible. In rendering your accounts, you will account for the money placed in your hands under the following heads of appropriation, viz: Pay of sub-agents Pay of interpreters Contingencies Indian department $750 400 1,200 2,350 I also herewith enclose a copy of the late treaty with Mexico; and also copies of the reports of Messrs. Frémont, Emory, Abert, and Cook, which you will find useful to you. Respectfully, your obedient servant, ADAM JOHNSTON, Esq., Present. W. MEDILL. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, May 2, 1849. SIR: Your bond as sub Indian agent, transmitted with your letter of the ultimo, has received the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. Respectfully, your obedient servant, ADAM JOHNSTON, Esq., W. MEDILL. Sub-Indian Agent, St. Louis, Mo. Department of the Interior, Office Indian Affairs, November 24, 1849. SIR: The Secretary of the Interior has directed that two sub-agencies be formed out of the one now held by you, and has appointed John A. Sutter, Esq., of California, sub-agent for all the Indians on the Sacramento river-your own to be confined to those in the valley of San Joa. chim. Mr. Sutter's commission has been forwarded to him, and he has been requested to communicate with you as to the dividing line between your agencies, so that the relative boundaries may be perfectly understood between you. Respectfully, your obedient servant, ADAM JOHNSTON, Esq., San Francisco, California. ORLANDO BROWN. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Office Indian Affairs, November 24, 1849. SIR 1 enclose you a number of circulars requiring to be filled up for the tribes of Indians under your care, and will thank you for the replies. I also transmit you a copy of a bibliographical catalogue, by which you will perceive that this office is desirous of obtaining copies of any publication in the Indian languages, or upon their principle. Respectfully, your obedient servant, ADAM JOHNSTON, Esq., Sacramento, California. ORLANDO BROWN. Same to JOHN A. SUTTER, California. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERior, Office Indian Affairs, November 24, 1849. SIR: I have the honor to enclose herewith a commission constituting you sub-Indian agent on the Sacramento river in California, to include the Indians there or in the vicinity thereof, and any others that may hereafter be designated by this department. Your compensation will be at the rate of $750 per annum; to be in full for pay and all emoluments whatsoever. You will execute a bond in the penal sum of $2,000, with two or more sureties, whose sufficiency must be certified by a district judge or United States attorney, or by the commandant of a military post. This sub-agency lately included the valley of the San Joachim, but is now separated, and two distinct sub-agencies formed out of it; the one on the Sacramento to be held by you, and that on the San Joachim by the present incumbent, Adam Johnston, esq. It would be well for you to communicate with Mr. Johnston, and have an understanding as to the relative boundaries of separation between the two. Very little is known here of the condition, situation, and locality of these Indians, and the department looks to you to furnish it with such statistical and other information as will give every particular relating to them, embracing the names of the tribes; their location; the probable extent of country owned by each respectively; the tenure by which they claim it; their manners, habits, disposition towards the United States and whites generally, and towards each other-whether hostile or otherwise; whether the tribes speak different languages, and where different, the apparent analogies between them; and also what laws and regulations for their government are necessary, and how far the law regulating trade and intercourse with the Indian tribes (a copy of which I enclose) will, if extended to that country, properly apply to the Indians there, and to trade and intercourse with them; and what modification, if any, will be required to produce the greatest degree of efficiency. You are authorized to employ one or more interpreters, but it is sup posed more than one will not be required at any one time, and no more should be employed unless it is absolutely necessary to aid you in the discharge of your duties. The compensation of the interpreter, if employed by the year, will be at the rate of $300 per annum; but where employed temporarily, you will procure their services on the best terms you can, and for the shortest possible periods. You are authorized to purchase two horses, one for your own use and one for the use of your interpreter, for which you will be held accountable as public property. Two hundred dollars will be allowed for this object. The sum of three hundred dollars per annum will be allowed you for contingent expenses and such small presents as you may from time to time find it proper to make, but in these you will confine yourself to cases where some object is to be effected of importance to the government or to the Indians. As the country of California is under military law, it will be proper for you to confer with the military governor or the commandants of the military posts in your vicinity, and obtain their co operation in all cases where you find assistance necessary either in obtaining the restitution of captives among the Indians, whether Americans or Mexicans, or in any other manner. There being no appropriation out of which payment can be made for the restoration of captives, of course you will incur no expense on that account. I enclose blank forms to guide you in rendering your accounts, which must be done quarter yearly, or as nearly so as possible. You are authorized to draw for the following sums, after your bond shall have been approved, and will account for them under the following heads of appropriation: Pay of sub agents one year Pay of interpreters one year $750 00 400 00 Contingencies, to include purchase of two horses and presents 500 00 1,650 00 Respectfully, your obedient servant, ORLANDO BROWN. JOHN A. SUTTER, Esq., San Francisco, California. P. S.-Copies of this letter have been forwarded to Sacramento and to Sutter's mills. Your commission and accompanying papers are forwarded with this to San Francisco. O. B. SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, SIR: Having been appointed by Brigadier General Kearny governor of the Territory of New Mexico, and by virtue of that appointment ex officio superintendent of Indian affairs for said Territory, it becomes my duty to lay before you the following information in regard to the different tribes of Indians inhabiting and frequenting this Territory: First. I will mention the Apaches or Jicarillas, a band of about 100 lodges, or 500 souls. The Jicarillas have no permanent residence, but roam through the northern settlements of New Mexico. They are an indo. lent and cowardly people, living principally by thefts committed on the Mexicans, there being but little game in the country through which they range, and their fear of other Indians not permitting them to venture on the plains for buffalo. Their only attempt at manufacture is a species of potter's ware, capable of tolerable resistance to fire, and much used by them and the Mexicans for culinary purposes. This they barter with the Mexicans for the necessaries of life, but in such small quantities as scarcely to deserve the name of traffic. The predatory habits of these Indians render them a great annoyance to the New Mexicans. Second. The Apaches proper, who range through the southern portion of this Territory, through the country of the Rio del Norte and its tributaries, and westward about the headwaters of the river Gila, are a warlike people, numbering about 900 lodges and from 5,000 to 6,000 souls; know nothing of agriculture or manufactures of any description, but live almost entirely by plundering the Mexican settlements. For many years past they have been in the habit of committing constant depredations upon the lives and property of the inhabitants of this and the adjoining provinces, from which they have carried off an incredible amount of stock of all kinds. The only article of food that grows in their general range is the magney plant, and that spontaneously and in very small quantities. Several bands of the Apaches have for some years past received a bounty of so much per head per diem from the government of the State of Chihuahua, with the object of inducing the Indians to cease their depredations, but without having the desired effect. Third. The Navajoes are an industrious, intelligent, and warlike tribe of Indians, who cultivate the soil and raise sufficient grain and fruits of various kinds for their own consumption. They are the owners of large flocks and herds of cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and asses. It is estimated that the tribe possesses 30,000 head of horned cattle, 500,000 head of sheep, and 10,000 head of horses, mules, and asses, it not being a rare instance for one individual to possess 5,000 to 10,000 sheep, and 400 to 500 head of other stock. Their horses and sheep are said to be greatly superior to those raised by the New Mexicans. A large portion of their stock has been acquired by marauding expeditions against the settlements of this Territory. They manufacture excellent coarse blankets and coarse woollen goods for wearing apparel. They have no permanent villages or places of residence, but roam over the country between the river San Juan on the north and the waters of the Gila on the south. The country between these two rivers is about 150 miles wide, consisting of high table mountains, difficult of access, and affording them as yet effectual protection against their enemies. Water is scarce and difficult to be found by those not acquainted with the country, affording another natural safeguard against invasion. Their numbers are variously estimated from 1,000 to 2,000 families, or from 7,000 to 14,000 souls. The Navajoes, so far as I am informed, are the only Indians on the continent having intercourse with white men, that are increasing in numbers. They have in their possession many prisoners, men, women, and children, taken from the settlements of this Territory, whom they hold and treat as slaves. Fourth. The Moques are neighbors of the Navajoes, and live in permanent villages, cultivate grain and fruits, and raise all the varieties of stock. They were formerly a very numerous people, the possessors of large flocks and herds, but have been reduced in numbers and possessions by their more warlike neighbors and enemies the Navajoes. The Moques are an intelligent and industrious people; their manufactures are the same as those of the Navajoes. They number about 350 families, or about 2,450 souls. Fifth. The Utahs inhabit the country north of the Navajoes, and west of the northern settlements of this Territory. They number 800 lodges, and about 4,000 to 5,000 souls. Their range extends from the Navajo country, in about latitude 35° to 40° north. Their range of country is very moun tainous and broken, abounding in deer, elk, bear, and other wild game, which serve them for food and raiment. They are a hardy, warlike people, subsisting by the chase. Several bands of them have been carrying on a predatory war with the New Mexicans for the last two years, and have killed and taken prisoners many of the people, and driven off large amounts of stock. Since General Kearny's arrival, these Indians have sued for peace, and measures are now taking to effect a permanent treaty. Sixth. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes range through the country of the Arkansas and its tributaries, to the north of this Territory. They live almost entirely on the buffalo, and carry on a considerable trade with the Americans and Mexicans in buffalo robes, for which they obtain all the necessaries not derived from the buffalo. They are a roving people, and have for many years been on friendly terms with the New Mexicans. The Arapahoes nuniber about 400 lodges, or 2,000 souls; the Cheyennes 300 lodges, or 1,500 souls. Seventh. The Comanches range east of the mountains of New Mexicoa numerous and warlike people, subsisting entirely by the chase. The different bands number in all about 2,500 lodges, or 12,000 souls. They have been at peace for many years with the New Mexicans, but have carried on an incessant and destructive war with the States of Chihuahua, Durango, and Coahuila, from which they have carried off and still hold as slaves a large number of women and children, and immense herds of horses, mules, and asses. Eighth. The Cayugas range through a part of the same country, and are similar in habits and customs, and are considered a more brave people than the Comanches. They number about 400 lodges, or 2,000 souls. |