MF1323.1197_Reel_35_0258

California H77 Thomas J Henley Wash'n March 20. '56

Enc. letter form Capt. J. A. Sutter, and copies of his appointment and instructions as Special Agent, without Compensation

Greyson

Recd March 20. '56 File 20_Finance

Hock Farm February 9th 1856.

Col. Ths. J. Henley Superintendant of Indian Affairs in the State of California

Sir,

I take the liberty of giving you some information of the Indians on this river so far as Mary'sville and environs, as Nicolaus are the Olash Indians consisting of only a few perhaps in all about there 15 souls. The Yukalmey tribe 3 miles below Hock Farm is nearly extinct and the few survivors are here united with the Hock tribe, the Yakulme & Hocks are about in all about 35 souls (men, women & children). Then about 3 miles higher up are the Sishaux consisting of very few, which are now united with the Yuba tribe, in Yuba City, higher up on the right and left bank of Feather River are the Bagas, Daichesa's, Temcha's & Bullu's of whome I know very little only that they come from time to time to the City of Mary'sville, and conduct themselves nearly but not quite so bad as the before mentioned tribes. In the first place these Indians are all idle and don't like more to work, unless we are paid more as we earn, it now a year ago that every week from 4 to 6 to work at one Dollar cash per day, this I could no more stand, and since employed them no more longer, as I found it not advantageous, as for a small amount more I can get good white laborers and have not the troubles to watch them, and an Indian eat more provision as 2 or 3 white men will, and then, when they work one week, the next they will rest and others come in their place, Rest this next say they go to Mary'sville and buy back Rhum or Whiskey and get drunk and disorderly. Formerly I paid them in clothing and provisions, but they would no more answer them, nothing as the Dollars could bring to work.

[Left]

Because in Mary'sville they go to do a little some thing fetching water, or wood, in a [illegible] of a Hotel or boarding house, there they get to eat and perhaps 25 50 cts according their worth, which of course goes immediately for Grog, and the [illegible] they pick up in the [Good?] [illegible], which peoples laboring away, and [illegible] [illegible] are in [illegible] [illegible] money which they get for their bows & arrows which they sell to high prices likewise other curiosities, fish, fowls, berries, etc. when they are not to too lazy to get them; and then, there goes they money for bad liquor, which they drink to such an excess, that when they do fight and before then, the bad Liquor will kill them; it happened about 3 weeks past, that 5 men and two women died in the Yubas Rancheria (not in the Hock Rancheria and not in one but in two days, like the "Demi Inquirer" in Mary'sville said in two days from the affect of Liquor. It is not quiet [quite] a year yet when the Sishaux & Yubas on a few of the Hocks had a fight when desperately [illegible], in which four had been killed and about 5 or 6 badly wounded. Such [illegible] [again?]; of such things civil authorities [illegible] to the [illegible] all and [illegible] take care of them. A most cruel act happened about two years ago in the Hocks Rancheria; one of the Yukalme tribe, who have a wife and children, wanted absolutely another woman of the same tribe she was a widow of the deceased Olash Chief, and of the Yukalmey tribe, the Woman did not like nor want him, and particular as she was pregnant, this fellow took his gun (they have a new fire arms, some of them) and shot the Woman twice, once in the abdomen the second time in the leg, and then massacred her most cruelly with his knife till she was dead, during this it was night the whole Rancheria was deadly drunk, Men and Women [illegible], you can hardly imagine what far seems happen when they are intoxicated, and what for a noise, then the fights begins about the Women, because not all of them have Women, they take them on their hair and drag them, naked over the ground to their holes etc.

The man who has killed the above mentioned women, left immediately to parts unknown, as I intended to take him as a prisoner.

[Right]

These Indians are just now doing what they please, and I am not a little afraid for next summer and fall, for my Orchards & Vineyards, if they can act so independent as now, they will steal continually [illegible] they have done it already, and will steal at any time when they have a chance. Such thing happened no more when they has been under my Control. I wish now you would do me the great favor to remove these few tribes which behave so badly to the near reservation. I cannot stand it any longer; and have longer the worse will it be, as the largest part of the timber is cut down, so that they cannot more get their acorns and grass seed like before, the squatters drove them away last fall when they want to get acorns, they told them that they need them for their hog etc. so is it with the grass seed, they people will [illegible] [illegible] allow them even this, they say the need the grass for hay.

They are nearly all time in want of food now, and formerly they [illegible] [illegible]. I am informed that Major Bidwell, Mr. McNeal, and a good many others in the Valley have the Indians under control and make them work for a small compensation.

It is certainly hard to take them away against their will to a reservation but there are only two ways, to take them away make them work and provide for them, or if you would give me the control only of the Hock & Yukalmey Indians, I would make them work and pay them a reasonable compensation, in food and clothing, and when they know that it is your Order, they will do so, in preference of leaving the Grounds where they are born and where thair ancestors have dwelled.

If you honor me with an [illegible], I shall feel much obliged to you. I am with the highest Respect

Your Most Obedt Servant J. A. Sutter

Appointment & instructions [out?] to J. A. Sutter by mail Feb 13, 56

(copy) Office of Supt. of Indian Affairs San Francisco California February 13th 1856.

Hon. John A Sutter Hock Farm County of Sutter, Cala

Sir,

You are hereby appointed Special Indian Agent for the Hock and Yukalmey Indians, in the vicinity of Hock Farm

It will be your duty to protect these tribes of Indians from imposition, and abuse by evil disposed white persons; to settle disputes, or difficulties, either among themselves or with white persons, and generally to take such steps, as you may deem necessary, and best calculated to preserve the peace of your neighborhood.

Very Respectfully Your Obt. Ser. Thomas J. Henley Supt Indian Affairs

By Thos. P. Madden Clk to Superintendent