The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-02
Interesting Sketch OF the California Indians
Their History, Country Customs, and
Cspaeity for War.

Assuming that DO dep arturo from the established
policy OF The government will De permitted. and
that i must Of Necessity be our guiding star in all
oui official relations with the Indians will proceed
to give you carefully collated history of the In
dams OF this counuy-ther habits, manners, and
customs, their present. modes of subsistence, aud
their capaclty for
The limits of the county of San Diego, Gas defined
by an act OF the State Legisature,) covers an i'm
nleDse area OF territory, and contains wi hin its
boundaries about GOO lncians, divided Into three
distinct lations tribes-Yumas, 500; Cohuillis,
2 900; DieguiDas 500, The tao last named tribes
are again suhdivdsd into mission or Christianized
Indians, and GenlleS
The Yumas are 4 Wild fierce and warlike people,
inhshtng the section OF country watered by the Co
iurxu, and FROM time lmuemorial have been ut
with their neighaprs and never omit an opportunity
to plumber their irItnos. The Degu,nas reside 10 the
southern part OF the country and claim the land from
a point on the Pacific to the eastern foot OF the
mountains impinging on the desert. The Cohuillas
reside in the northern half OF the country and south
ern part OF Los Angeles; they claim strip OF coun
try commencing on the coast and extending to with
in fifty miles OF the Colorado river following the
eastern base Of the mountains This division Of ter
ri'ory Is well knosn to, and recognized by, all the
Indians. No violation OF q neghbOrs empire il ever
passed over satisfaction Is promptly demanded and
mus be full and ample to meet the requirement ofan
International law that rgidly enforces the rights of
ali The grasshOpper grounds the rabbit grounds, and
to for bread are divided on and apportioned by
law, the validity of which the people acknowledge
and respect The greater number OF Indians reside
in villages, whose domains include the arabic foot
hills at the western base of the mountains and have
some idea Of agriculture and its attendant pursuits.
About five hundred Of the Cohuila nation origi-
nally belonged TO the mission of San Luis Rev. aud
are now residing at Pala Tema:ula Ahua1ga Aqua
Csiente, San Jacinto, and some few at and about
the mission. Less than one-half OF the Dieguinas
are neOphytes. The greater part reside on land be-
longing to Gente de Rason, and are partially do
mesticated, though manifesting great aversion to
at a heir
vious free and mountain life, that possesses charms
Tor them that far outweigh anything to be found in
the simple life of a husbandman. They are to be
found in the valleys Of San Pascua, Santa Isabel,
and San Jose; q few cling to the mission of San
Diego The greater part of those who neophytes,
their descendants, and the partially domesticated
Indians are for greater or less period OF the year.
to be found scattered not only the country OF
San Diego bus also over that Of Los Angeles at the
various grazing, agricultural, and vintage grounds
constituting very considerable portion Gas they
formerly did the whoe) OF the hireing class of la
borers. A portion OF the Cohuillas never acknog-
legged allegiance to the missions. and, Of course
were not subservient to the viii of the mars. Yet
villages of theirs, not excepting those on the de-
sert east Of the mountains, fail to send forth repre-
sentatives during the harvest in the southern coun
ties Of the State.
The value OF this cheap labor to the farmer
Only be understood by those who are familiar with
the southern portion Of the State it, resources and
capabilities. ADOPT the policy sought to be urged
by the Indian agents of the State, and you concen
trate and maintain at the expense Of government
people upon whom We are dependent for the neces
sary labor to enable b gather crops and
our vintage. Such policy cannot but be prejudcia
to the best interests Of the inhabitants of south Cali
for ia, the vnegroaing counties, and the State at
large. and will never be sanctioned or respected by
the people. portion Of the neODhytes reside upon
land the property Of American citizens and will not
consent to removal, unless very strong induce
grazier and the farmer find it to their interest t. cu
tvate friendly feeling with these people, and in
pursuance of their interest, have acquired indu-
ence over them that caonot be easily shaken.
The Yuma nation sith whom are now at war;
reside at or lear the junction of the ella and the
Colorado rivers. No particular section OF that coun-
ty be designated rs their abiding place: for we
find them sometimes residing at tue junction OF the
two rivers, again east of the Colorado and north o.
the ella, aud again south of the b uniary line, and
on the lands within the jurisdiction Of the Mexican
republic. Nonsdc il their habits, their hos ility TO
their eg hbors, above and below them the rivers,
Restraints them 10 q well defined seeioa Of country,
large portion Of which is nothing more than in-
terminabe network Of sloughs, rendering extreme
" difficult, If TOT impossible, for our Il oops to lind
them when anxious for concealme Tue nation
WIS almost annihistsd in 1925 by . combined effort
Of their Indian nejghbors Those that escaped de-
struction fed their homes and located for safety at
the Mohaye villages, nigh up the rivers, aud remain
ed there until the spring OF lS45, during which time
they bad go far recuper tied in numbers induce
areturn to their original hunting grounds.
powerful effort on our part might compel these
Southern land route OF immigration from the annoy
ances and dangers conseql ent upon their proximity
to it. A removal of the Indians from the country
will necessarily be attended with heavy expense
but il must be acknowledged tina, q continuance in
their present position and habits exposes the citizens
of the country to great loss of life and property con-
sequent upon their annual irruptions and incursions
The State Of California has been involved ia a
heavy debt, for the payment Of which she Is UMPIRE
pared by failure TO establish few litary posts
the maintenance OF which would have been expen.
sive. bet beneficial beyond calculation.
The abandonment of Camp Yuma, and the failure
to establish troops at or near Aqua Caliente afforded
an opportunity long and anxously sought for by an
ambit Gus, disconnected and restless Indian, (pos
sessing all the requisites of Indian chieftan to
ally the Cohuilla and Yuma nations in an atem II to
sweep Lower California, and exterminate the Ameri.
can inhabitants. Antonio Garra's plans and comb.
nations evinoed tact, talent and profound knowledge
OF the country and our resources and hesitate not
in saying that but for the disafection of Juan An
tonic Cohuilla cheftan of influence the war would
not have terminated without an immense loss of life
and property Antonio Cara played high but failed
through the treachery of one whom be supposed a
devoted partisan; but the recollection of his effort
has not yet passed from the minds Of his people and
have this summer heard bis requiem chanted on
the Of his native Sierra by hundreds of his
people, who mourn his death with a sincerity too ap-
parent to be miscon oeived or misconstrued. That
feeling points to another, and, perhaps greater ef
fort unless we convince them of our strength Of num-
beers and will.
NY own Judgment, (founded upon an extensive
acquaintance 9TH the Indians and their habits)
would dictate the maintenance of Camp Yuma; the
10 alton of a small mounted force at some point in
the vicinity of San Felipe, Aqua Caliente, or San
Isabel; another double or treble the number Of ef
fective men, on the Mohave river, about $50 miles
northeast of Los Angeles; and one somewhere in the
vicinity Of the four creeks Of Tule lake. am con
WINGED they would be all sufficient for the protection
of Southern California. Without such Gordon Of
posts, holding in check the mountain Indians, and
restraining those more particularly spoken Of in this
report, It is idle to expect anything but repetition
Of last years occurrences
II Is easy to understand the motives that Influenced
the rancheros in their opposition to the policy Of
thus congregatng the Indians in settlements by
themselves. Few ranches have not their indigenous
Inhabitants. who have become, as it were, se,fs
q the soil not by coercion of the law but who have
thus remained on account of the strong attachment
q the Indian to the land of his fathers This has
given the rancheros, holding, az it we're q second
and more powerful claim the SOIL the opportu-
nifty Of forcing the Indians service,-not that he
owned the Indian, but that he owned tho aoil a,d