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proposed purchaser, and how long would the Indians be permitted to remain in possession, after having cultivated the land, built houses, and otherwise improved and enhanced the value of the property? Would not the instinct of the whites devise some means of reaching the government funds even in this isolated retreat? I must confess experience has not given me much cause for hope even where a plan so plausible as the present is sug gested. I believe it would result, as all others have done, in utter failure. Men are no more honest in California now than they have been during the past ten or twelve years.

What, then, is to be done with the Indians? This is a difficult problem to solve. So much depends upon the integrity of public officers and the forbearers and humanity of private citizens, that it is about impossible to obtain such general co-operation of all classes as will infuse the success of any plan that may be devised. My own belief is, that the remnant of the tribes now remaining in California, would fare better if turned over to the protection of the military department. I am unable to suggest anything else that can be done with them. this would

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at least afford them some security from the rapacity and cruelty of the whites, who are now driving them from their homes and from every place of refuge in which they seek to preserve their lives. Let all who molest them, within certain prescribed limits, be held amenable to military law and something may yet be done to meliorate their condition.

Arizona I have now to call your attention to the Indians in Arizona.

On the 5th of December, having desirous of rendering such service to the Department as lay in my power, I joined Mr Poston Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Arizona, and started from San Francisco on a tour of exploration through that Territory. It was expected that the Governor and territorial officers would be at Tucson, about the time of our arrival there, and that immediate measures would be taken for the organi zation of the territorial government. I was desirus of affording those gentlemen all the assistance in my power, and at the same time carrying with effect the instructions of the Department in reference to various [branches?] of the public

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service. The great importance which Arizona has recently assumed, in conse quence of its extraordinary mineral wealth, seemed to justify me in the belief that I could not employ my time more beneficially to the government and the country than by aiding in the establishment of the laws and the development of the [illegible] of the territory. The sparsity of the white population and the number and hostile character of the predominating Indian tribes, rendered it a matter of peculiar interest that the Department should be placed in possession of full and accurate nformation respecting the difficulties to be encountered in the settlement of the country; and this, I believed, came appro priately within the limits of my official duties.

Yuma Inds On the arrival of Superintendent Poston and myself at this point of our journey (Fort Yuma) it became evident that the Yuma tribe of Indians were in a very destitute condition, owing to the low stage of the river during the past season and the entire failure of their customary crops. Heretofore these Indians

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have supported themselves without much difficulty, and have only occassionally and at very remote intervals received aid from the government. Under ordinary circumstances, when the usual overflow of the Colorado takes place, they cultivate the low lands in their rude way, and generally succeed in raising considerable crops of grain and vegetables. These bottom lands are light, rich and easily worked, and afford ample means of subsistence to the tribes bordering on the river. During the past year, however, there has been no overflow, had consequently no crops have been put in by the Indians. To add to their misfortune, it has been a season of such unusual drought that the mesquit beans, berries and other wild crops upon which they are accustomed to depend in seasons of scarcity, have entirely failed; so that they are left utterly destitute. Their seed wheat and beans stored for planting have long since given out; and for some time past they have been compelled to subsist on rats, mice, frogs, lizards and such poor and scanty food of the kind as they can gather on the deserts and banks of the river. From their agricultural

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habits they are unskilled in procurring this kind of food, and many of them are in a starving condition. In some instances children have died for want of proper nourishment; and disease has spread among them with greater number than usual as it always does in seasons of scarcity. Most of these Yumas are within the District of Arizona. A considerable number, however, reside on the California side of the river. They are all connected by family relationship, and it is difficult to separate them. The total number of the tribe is variously estimated at from 1,200 to 1,500.

Upon ascertaining their condition, we deemed it advisable to call a meeting of the Chiefs at the Fort, and have a talk with them, so as to determine what could be done to afford them relief.

Pasqual, the head chief, and others were present.

The result of the interview was, that Mr Poston the Superintendent, considered it expedient to make them an issue of goods and farming utensils; in which I fully agreed with him.