Butte record., 1856-12-06
Special correspondence.
RED BLUFFS, TEHAMA, Co. }
Dfeemhar Lot 1GSe

RED BLUFFS, TEHAMA, Co.
December lst, 1856.
Mr.. EDITOR As you have lately lost you,
Indians, Mohalas and all. you would proba
bly, like to hear what has become of them
and as happen to know of their Shefea-
bouts. and having had personal inspection
OF the Indian Reservation, (Nomee tackeel
thought would drop you a line, and give
you short description of the place, with
the farming operations.
As you probably know, it is situated at
the head of Thom's Creek, near the Coast
Range, and certainly Capt Ford exhibited
good judgment in its selection, for more
suitable place could not have been chosen in
all the State. Within the area of the TWEEN
/ tyfive thousand acres, there are at least
/ six thousand acres of excellent bottom land
nearly all Of which can easily be irrigated
and at least half of the rest. rood meadow
land, for at the present time the wild oats
is shoe nouti high and as thick as it can
well stand, and every season thousands of
tons of hay could be cut if needed. At pres
ent they have several hundred tons Of fine
oat hay uuder cover, who will not be used
as the work oxen are fat enough for beef,
and the horses up to their eyes in clover and
oats.
Already they have seeded in one field af-
ter ploughiug twice, upwards of three hun
dred acres of wheat, which the recent rains
have handsomely brought up; and believe
it is the intention to seed some two thousand
acres the present season, besides several
fields Of corn and vegetables. On the prem
ises there is small but complete mill, driv-
en- by an overshot wheel the water is
brought in a race about four miles, with
good fall. With this mill and the large
quantities of wheat housed on different parts
of the Reservation, there is but little dan
ger of the Indians suffering before the new
crop is harvested.
In the low hills and Coast Range in the
vicinity, deer, elk and bear abound The
last named not only saw, but tasted, and
believe me when tell you, that if broiled
on the Goals of the camp fire, when hungry
it was good, at least imagined it So
l should judge that at present there are
about three thousand Indians collected
there. scattered about FIVE miles around, and
as far as l could judge, they seemed happy
and contented the children playing round
in groups, fast losing their wild nature, and
little and big looking fat and sleek. Som
few Of the old fellows look little sullen
and do not seem to like to fitcaH vel a,
the younger ones.
was informed that there had not been
more than doz n deaths among them for
two years The physician seems very at
tentiye to their wants, and has entirely con
vnced them of the error of their Thompso-
nian practice, aud their sweat houses ar,
abandoned.
Among the one hundred and twent.
brought from Feather River, there was bu |
one nursing child, while at least treRt. |
could be seen among the same number OF
the Reservation.
1t has been said that this business was |
humbug, and l was half inclined to believ !
it until l saw for myself; and if Presiden |
Pierce has been unfortunate in his fedora
appointments, he selected the right man fo |
this post-he takes pleasure in showing an,
gentleman his operations and his Indians
aud is a man Of firmness and decisive Q |
character. and from his selecti n Of employ |
ees, who are all attentive and humane, show,
him TO be man of sense, and we'll qualifet |
to manage and control Indians.
On one evening team was yoked up an
for a load of dry manzanita |
brush, which was deposited on the plaza
and we soon learned that the new comers
we're to be treated to fandango, and aite.
dark the brush was kindled, and illumina-
ted the entire hill and the g Big Medicine
mounted large stump and sung "Le mena
mo la mohala' and in ten minutes the |
ground was red with diggers, and such
collection of Indianas and 9" such a Citing |
up stairs never did see" More anon.
j. E. S.