Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-09-17

which we must SWIM Our travel IS, therefore, |
confined TO the bottoms the hills are impossible
during the rain, except on foot. 1t may be truly
said that there are but two modes of travel here
during the winter, that is, either fyor scim. The
game is scarce, but during the winter there are a
great many waier.fowls. They leave in the spring
for more northern-attude, and do not stop TO
breed here, as have been reported nor is II true
that "you gether feather bed IN day on
Feather Riger."
Musqueiloes, flies and insects Of every descrp-
ton arc here in mnumeraJb myriads-lleas and
mice, but no chinehes.
Lands have been obtained by persons who have
resided here some years and had become citizens,
in grants some three four, and sometimes thirty
TO fifty leagues. But the Government has become
alarmed aud changed IFS policy. There are but few
who can R01 obtain grants of any size; and those
who have lands are not authorized by their titles,
to sell there being no such thing fee simple
titles, except in a few special instances. The
grants arc only loans from the Government, which
is the main reason why the people live in tents
little shanties, and at the same time own seyers
thousand head Of stock They will not lmproy
the lands until there is security for the til,
| would like TO write you more at length but M
time aud your patience admonish me TO stop.
The people am but Ill qualified TO give you
description of, from personal intercourse, for too
charge Of the first plantation saw in the valley am
have Travelled only in that valley and the rancho
are from ten TO fifty miles apart have, therefore
seen but about one hundred men since my arrival
and those entirely foreigners, most Of them person
who have either retired from the sea- or run ava
from the shipping Some oftbem are clever men
and others scamps. Most Of them give each other
bad characters many not only confess that they
steal horses and cattle, but boast oft. bought a
horse this morning that The man is 10 steal for me
in a day or hco You will think this strange con-
duct but this man was not only robbed, but beaten
by the other and there is no law to punish him, so
that he has to make himself whole in the coin Of
his opponent. The spanish portion U. the popula-
ton are represented thiering, cowardly, dane
ing, lewd people, and generally indolent and faith
less. The history given Of them by Capt, Hastings,
in his 'Emigrants Gnde,' is confirmed by general
report here. 1t may be truly said, we have priests,
governor, and alcaldes, but VIC have neither ia,o
nor gospel
The Indians of the valleys are numerous and live
in small villages. They have chief and an acal-
de who in the habit of selling them to the whites
for mere trlfles-a few beads or handkerchief
| The men are entirely naked and the women have
bunch of weeds or grass tied round their waists.
| Those who are employed by the whites, generally
get shirts and pants for their work. They are
entirely noifensive, but very wild. Those who
bought by the whites when young, learn TO do
| well, but the wild live on acorns and roots -
| They catch fish at seasons, but many of them
live on elOper, like sheep.
! send you a copy of Castro's proclamation,
which will show you how Capt Fremont has been
treated Fremont left his party on the other side OF
! the mountains and crossed with n few men, and
called the Governor for permission to bring them
in, which was granted but when the company ar
/ rived, the Captain ordered out OF the country
forthwith. He remained ~ purchase supplies
| Then the proclamation issued and the Span
ords embodied. Fremont wrote TO our Consul at
Monterey for advices, aud he, (Mr Larkin,) full
blooded Spanard in feeling. advised him TO leave,
which he did; seeing that he must fight the whole
force Of California, without the countenance Of the
Consul, whose advise was dictated by his private
interests entirely and not by the honor Of his coun.
try. There are few Americans here but what would
be glad TO hear Of his removal from Office We
were all in hopes that Fremont would remain until
| attacked by the commandant, which would have
| been the signal for united action ofthe foreigners
! TO from new government We were all waiting
for the word TO rally round the stripes and stars,
and under it declare California free from the Mex
leans, and qualified TO live under laws Of their own
making
There is sufficient force in the country to main.
tain our independence. and have no doubt that
we could do so against any power which Mexico
in her present condition, could send here from the
fact that it is almost far from Mexico as from
the States. The authorities much alarmed a.
OOut the expected emigration oil tnls summer. III
is reported that the Mormons are coming in large
numbers. The Governor has sent a special mes.
senger TO Mexico with request and earnest appeal
for forces to stop the emigranis from entering the
country. My own opinion is, from what | can
learn that Castro will make effort TO cut off the
foreigners now in the country in the course Of the
next month, which will be after the departure of the
party for the States and the one for Oregon We
shall be weaker than we ever will be again but we
have no fear of the result even then. Several A.
merlcans, who have become citizens of California
have been imprisoned and had their property con.
hscated for their refusal to turn out against FREE
mont The only trouble we have now is the want
of one man who has suificien, influence TO unite
the foreigners.
Copy Of Proclamation, translatedJy Capt Sutfer.
Head Quarters, SAN Juan.
March slh, 1916
The citizen Jose Castro, Lieufenanf-CoL of The
Mericdn army and COmmader-in-chief of The
department ofthe Caltornias'
FELLow-CrIzENs A band of robbers com.
manded by Captain of the United States Army
]. c. Fremont, have, without respect to the laws
and authorities ofthis department, darnply intro.
duced themselves into the country. aud dsobeyinp
the orders, both of your Command-in. chief and the
Project OF the District by whom he was command.
ed to march, forthwith, out of the limits of our
country and without answering their letter he re.
mains encamped at the Natiyidad, from which he
sales forth, committing depredations and making
scandalous skirmishes
In the name of our native country, write you
10 place yourself under my immediate orders al
Head-Quarers, where we will prepare TO lance the
ulcer, which should il moi be DONE would DESTROY
! nd