The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29

and especially since the discovery of gold in the
mountains, their numbers at the missions and in
the valleys the coast have very much dimin-
lshed. In fact, the whole race seems to be rapidly
disappearing.
TIE remains of a vast number Of villages in all
the valleys of the Sierra Nevada, and among the
foot bills of that range of mountains, show that at
no distant day there must have been numerous
population where there is not now an Indian TO be
seen. There are few still retained in the service
OF the old Calfornans, but these do not amount to
more than few thousand in the whole Territory
II is said there are large numbers Of them in the
mountains and valleys about the headwaters Of the
San Joaquin, along the western base Of the Sierra
snd in the hss part Of the TdsIAy II and s.
killed by them during the last summer in at
tempting to penetrate high up the rivers in
search Of gold they also drove one or two par,
instances attacked parties coming from or return
ing to Oregon, in the section OF country which the
lamented Captain Warner was examining when he
was killed.
It is quite impossible to form any estimate of the
number Of these mountain Indians Some suppose
there are as many three hundred thousand in the
Territory, but should not be inclined to believe
that there can be ne-third of that number II is
quite evident that they are hostile, and that they
ought to be chastised for the murders already COM
mitted.
The small bands with whom met, scattered
through the lower portions OF the foot hills OF the
| Sierra, and in the valleys between them and the
coast, seemed to be almost the lowest grade Of hu
man beings. They live chiefly acorns, roots,
insects, and the kernel Of the pine burr-occason-
! ally they catch fish and game They use the bow
and arrow, but are said to be too lazy and effemi
nate to make successful hunters. They do not ap-
pear to have the slightest inclination to cultivate
the soil, nor do they even attempt it-as far as
could obtain information-exce When they are in
duced to enter the service of the white inhabitants
They have never pretended to hold any interest in
the soil, nor have they been treated by the Spanish
or American immigrants as possessing any.
| MEXICAN
them for the purchase of land, or the relinquish-
ment of any claim to it whatever. They are lazy,
idle to the last degree, and, although they are said
to be willing to give their services to any one who
will provide them with blankets, beef and bread,
it is with much difficulty they can be made to per
! form labor enough to reward their employers for
these very limited means of comfort.
! Formerly, at the missions, those who were
brought up and instructed by the priests, made
very good servants. Many Of these now attached
to families seem to be faithful and intelligent But
those who at all in wild and uncultvated
state most degraded objects of filth and idle
ness.
1t is possible that Government might, by collect
ing them together, teach them, in some degree, the
arts and habits of civilizations but, If may judge
of the future from the past, they will disappear
from the face of the earth the settlements Of the
whites extend over the country. A very consider
able military force will be necessary, however, to
protect the emigrants in the northern and south
ern portions of the territory.
| CLIMATE.
now come to consider the climate. The eli
mate Of California is remarkable in its periodical
changes, and for the long continuance of the wet
and dry seasons, dividing they do, the year into
about two equal parts, which have a most peculiar
influence on the labor applied to agriculture and
the products Of the soil, and in fact, connect them
selves so inseparaby with all the interests Of the
country, that deem ii proper briefly TO mention the
causes which produce these changes, and which, it
will be seen, this report proceeds, must exercise
a controlling influence on the commercial pros
AM 0f ~ trv
IL is well-established theory, that the currents
Of air under which the earth passes in its diurna
revolutions follow the line of the SUMS greatest at
traction. These currents of air drawn towards
this line from great distances on each side of ii
and as the earth revolves from west TO east, they
blow from northeast and southeast, meeting, and
OF course causing calm, on the line.
Thus, when the sun is directly, in common par
lance, over the equator, in the month of March,
these currents Of blow from distance north
of the tropic Of Cancer and south OF the tropic o
Capricorn, in an oblque direction towards this line
Of the SUMS greatest attraction and forming what
are known the northeast and southeast trade
winds
As the earth, in its path round the sun, gradual
ly brings the line Of attraction north, ip summer
these currents of air arc carried toih IL; that
about the middle Of May the current from the
northeast has extended far the 35th or 39tt
degree Of north latitude, and by the twentieth o
June, the period of the suns greatest northern in
clination TO the northern portions Of California and
the southern section Of Oregon.
These northeast winds, in their progress across
the continent, towards the Pacific ocean, pass
the capped ridges Of the Rocky mountains
and the Sierra Nevada, and are Of course deprived
of all the moisture which can be extracted from
them by the low temperature Of those regions o.
eternal snow, and consequently no moisture can b
precipitated from them, in the form Of dew rain
In n higher temperature than that 20 which they
have been subjected They therefore pass tn,
hills and plains Of California, where the tempera
turc is very high in summer, In avery dry state
md far hein ored wit hey
absorb, like sponge, all that the atmosphere anc
surface Of the earth can yield, until both become
apparently, perfectly dry.
This process commences, as have said, when III,
line Of the suns greatest attraction comes north ia
summer, bringing with II these vast atmospheric
movements, and ON their approach produce the dry
in California, which, governed by these laws
continues until time after the sun repasses The
equator in September, when, about the middle o.
November, the climate being relieved from these
northeast currents Of air. the southwest winds set In
from the ocean charged with mosture-the rains
commence and continue 10 fall, not constantly, az
some persons have represented, but with sufficient
frequency 10 designate the period Of their continu
ance from about the middle Of November until the
middle Of May, in the latitude Of San Francisco, NJ
the tcef season
II follows, as a matter Of course. that the drl
season commences first, and continues longest in
the southern portions Of the Territory, and that the
climate Of the northern part IL influenced in n much
less degree, by tho causes which have mentioned
than any other section Of the country. Conse-
qucntly, we find that low down as latitude 80
rains sufficiently frequent in summer TO render
irrigation quite unnecessary TO the perfect maturity
Of any crop which Is suited TO the soil and climate.
There IL an extensive ocean current Of cold water
which comes from the northern regions OF the Pa
cihc, or perhaps, from the Arctic, and flows along
the coast Of California. II comes charged with
and emts in its progress, air, which appears In th'
form Of fog when IL comes in contact with higher
temperature on the American coast, as the gulf
stream Of the Atlantic exhales yapor when j
meets, in any part of its progress, lower temper
sture. This current has not been surveyed, and
therefore, its source, temperature, velocity, width
and course, have not been accurately ascertained
II is believed by Lieutenant Maury, on what bs
considers sufficient evidence-snd no higher au-
tborty can be cited--thst this current comes from
the coasts Of China and japan, flows northvardly
10 the peninsula Of Kamtschstka, and, making cir
cult 10 the eastward strikes the American coast in
about latitude ale or 42o. II passes thence south
wardly, and finally loses itself in the tropics.
Below latitude thirty mine, and west OF the foot
hills Of the Sierra Nevada the forests Of California
are limited 10 some scattering groves oil oak in the
valleys and along the borders Of the streams, and
of red wood on the ridges and in the gorges Of the
hls-sometimes extending into the plains. Some
Of the hills are covered with dwarf shrubs, which