Weekly Trinity journal., 1865-06-17
The Hoona Reservation.
TRINITY RIVER. June 9th.

TRINITY RIVER, June 9th, 1865.
EDITOR TRINITY JOURNAL Cut off as we are
from the world and the balance of mankind, we
seldom trouble the newspapers with communica-
tons but circumstances which have lately trans
pired compel US to come to the resolution OF
trying it for the purpose, if possible, OF gaining
some information in regard to the laws and usa-
ges of Indian Reservations. The first question
is Where is the eastern boundary line of the
Hoopa Reservation? Second has or has not the
Reservation Agent the authority to give Indians
passes to roam about the country twenty miles
or mere from the Reservation, with guns and
other implements of warfare in their possession,
and especially in a neighborhood which the same
Indians burned, sacked and plundered only
year or so since? You will confer favor on the
settlers down here by answering these questions
through your paper, as we are certain that you
have a better opportunity of knowing than our
selves There are only few people here and
they entirely at the mercy of the Indians. We
wish to know about these matters, that we may
act promptly in case of extreme necessity.
This end of the county is at present almost
depopuated and very good chance for 1t to
remain so if different arrangements are not made
concerning the hostile Indians Only few days
since two of the lIoopa Valley Indians cafe here
Cat least twenty miles above the Reservation
and took our boat away leaving US on the north
side o. .Ae river, with very little provisions and
no way of crossing to get more, and still we are
afraid of violating some of the Reservation laws
by interfering with or visiting punishment on
the Indians, and all for the want of the informa-
ton asked for. The country is so unnteresting
down here, al present, and the few people so dis
couraged that we have but little to communicate
We subscribe ourselves your friends, etc,
r. l.. THOMAS, AND OTHERS.
We have taken some pains to obtain the infor-
Il CO. e. IL,
of the soldiers of Company C, - Mountaineers, p"
lately disbanded and who has just come from
lower Trinity, informs us that he was at Thomas
place when the Indians took the boat away He
further says, if the settlers had known of their
intention in time that the Indian depredators
would never have reached the Reservation again
From another source we learn that the Indians
simply took the boat for the purpose of crossing
the river, having done which they moorei it
safely sir miles Leiou. OF course it left the
settlers, who were :. short of provisions, y in
perplexing fix, but whether it would be consid-
cred an q overt act" by the Hoopa authorities
remains to be known.
In regard to the eastern boundary of the Res
ervation we have learned this much That it is
supposed by the settlers that the Reservation
extends no further up the river than Campbell's
ranch, which was not appraised by the Govern
ment agents. The Indians claim, however, that
their hunting grounds extend to the mouth of
Willow Creek, some eigteen miles up the river
Thomas place is some six or eight miles further
up, so that it viii be seen that they do not con-
fine themselves to the bounds Of the o Rcserya-
ton as they consider it.
In answer to the second query, we can only
say that the Reservation regulations do notalow
Indians to leave it at will. If the agent has
power to issue passes to the redskins to roam at
will, prudence would dictate that Indians who
have been the most mischievous should be kept
under strict surveillance, in order to guard
against further trouble. If bad Indian is al
lowed to leave the boundaries of the Rcserva-
ton, lie may easily incite those not so disposed
to mischief Our candid belief is, that if Gov
eminent has purchased the IIoopa Valley lands
for Reservation purposes pays men to guard and
conduct it as such, and feeds and clothes the
Indians there, they (the Indians) have no right
or license to leave it. IF, however, agents and
supernumeraries are neglected. Of their duties,
(as they arc accused), the Indian cannot be cen
sured for overstepping his prescribed bounds.
We shall close by saying, on the best informa-
ton, that if some twenty thirty of the more
mischievous Indians (including :. Big jim. = Ce-
onaltn John and :. Handsome Billy'O could
be disposed Of. the trouble would be virtually at
an end. Big Jim" was the leader in all the
depredatons committed on Trinity river, and we
wonder not that it is distasteful to settlers who
have lost their all at his hands to find him roam
ing at large with . pass from the Reservation
agent If twenty-five wcll-armed miners will
locate on lower Trinity and make it their business
to shoot down every Indian showing himself
outside the boundaries of the Reservation. dep
relations will soon be at an end. And if a Gov
ernmcnt agent or officer interferes outside the
u, L..