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his digits, intending to convey the idea that there were only the same number yet to come in. In fact, he had left on the road nine of his men, who had been wounded in an encounter with a party of the Ishmaelitish Shaste Indians, their wounds being too serious to admit of traveling. The terrified settler-a man by the name of Sill-was exactly in a frame of mind to magnify everything which tended in the least to confirm his fears, and jumped at once at the conclusion, that his visitors were a mere advanced guard, and that the main body of nine hundred fierce warriors remained behind, and were then marching on the trail of the supposed vanguard. Taking counsel of his fears, he seized the first opportunity to slip away from his ill-boding guests, leaving them in undisputed possession of his premises and property; and hastily saddling his fleetest horse he rode as if the fiend were at his heels directly to the Fort. Arrived at a place of safety, he was not slow in justifying his consternation and precipitate flight. He announced, with all the assurance of one who deals with certainties, that the Walla-wallas had at length arrived in force, to harry the farms and carry off the cattle of the settlers, for the purpose of avenging the death of the young chief, Elijah, and that a thousand savage warriors were on their way, breathing nothing but death and desolation, and resolved to make war to the knife upon all the whites who came in their way. From this apocryphal story originated the fearful rumors which were flying through the country, and rousing the peaceful population to take up arms to repel the savage onslaught.

My spies reported that they had scoured the country and could find no trace of any more Walla-wallas besides the little party which had come up to the fort, and they assured us that it was absurd to suppose Yellow-Bird had come with hostile intentions, inasmuch as his band had brought along their women and children.

The effect of this intelligence was quite depressing. My

A DELICATE FOIBLE.

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men had hoped to the last that they would have a brush with the Walla-wallas; and one queer fellow, a Canadian Frenchman, named Gendron, proposed that we should now, in view of the unfortunate turn of affairs, exterminate a rancheria or two of the inoffensive Indians of the Sacramento. I regret to say that this humane and equitable proposal was applauded by some of the American settlers, who were bent on having a fight on some terms.

As the more civilized of our party, including myself, did not exactly approve of the views of these respectable gen tlemen, on the subject of going to war, I was inclined to march back to the fort, not knowing to what lengths my undisciplined troops might see fit to go if they remained in the wilderness.

Those not familiar with the lawless spirit and brutal insensibility of some of the old backwoodsmen, may suppose that the atrocious proposition of the Canadian was not meant in earnest. But never was a plan of operations more seriously advised in a council of war. The fact was that several of the settlers desired to take advantage of the armed party under my command for the purpose of obtaining Indian servants according to

"the good old rule,

the simple plan—

That they should take who have the power,
And they should keep who can."

The Canadian Gendron indeed did not hesitate to admit his desire to gratify an amiable weakness of his lady-love, who was a huge Nez Percé woman, and had followed his rugged fortunes over half the continent. This strapping squaw officiated in our camp as a sort of vivandiere, and made a very creditable "fille du regiment" for the backwoods. She was, indeed, a female of irreproachable character, and her personal attractions were so very peculiar that she might easily have passed through the world with

$162

AGUE AND FEVER.

the reputation of a vestal, had not her charms overcome the sensibilities of the amorous Canadian. But this lovely creature had her little foibles, and, among others, was a strong desire to obtain a fille de chambre. It was with a view to obtain this appendage of civilized life, that the Canadian had proposed to sack a rancheria; and I could not help laughing at the droll humor and impudence of the fellow when he divulged to me that such was his desire. The bare idea that a semi-barbarian, who had passed his whole life under no better shelter than a few boughs, or at best a skin tent, and who never spent even his winters in a house, should take a fancy for a female attendant-not for himself, but for the fascinating wife of his bosom-was so intensely ludicrous, that I could not rebuke his barbarity so sternly as I meant to do.

Having become satisfied that there were no Walla-wallas in the neighborhood, except those encamped on Feather river, and becoming assured that I could control the evil passions of the few men who had a hankering after Indian captives, I resolved to march to the encampment of old Yellow-Bird. He received us very courteously, and I found most of his party sick, owing to the unhealthy situation of their encampment. The site they had selected was in the bend, just where the Feather river falls into the Sacramento, and a more unhealthy spot could hardly have been chosen.

Most of my men, both whites and Indians, as well as myself, caught the ague and fever from this visit up the Sacramento valley, from which I infer that this meanest of all diseases may be apprehended wherever the tulé lands border the river. The decomposition of the short-lived tulé upon these lands when they are overflowed, generates a miasma which produces that universal malady of new countries. The uplands sloping towards the Sierra, on each side of the tulé plains, are supposed to be comparatively exempt from the prevalence of the curse; but until the country becomes more settled, I should prefer to give the

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lands, which are periodically overflowed, as wide a berth as possible.

The settlers in the Sacramento valley, however, pay little regard to the ague and fever. There is nothing like habit in such cases, and the old beldame who insisted that eels thought nothing of being skinned, because they were used to it, might not have been so far out of the way after all.

The upland slopes on the side towards the Sierra Nevada are extremely beautiful, and must soon attract the attention of settlers. The waters of the streams proceeding from that Sierra, such as the American Fork, the Cosunmes, &c., are as clear and as cold as the purest and coldest springwater. The most admirable locations can be selected, combining many advantages, among which are a salubrious climate, fertile land, water-power, and such scenery as ought to soften the natures of the most reckless adventurers. Mill seats may be found in great abundance; and the quantity of timber on the spot, ready for the axe and saw, is almost inexhaustible.

Returning from my visit to the Walla-wallas, I very foolishly mounted an American mare, instead of a Californian horse, and the beast not only fell with me, but adding insult to injury, saw fit to roll over me. Unfortunately, I fell with the guard of my sabre under me, and the weight of the mare caused it to make a very disagreeable impression on my ribs, from the effects of which I did not recover for several days. At this time, my forces had been reduced to my usual command at the garrison, and I now dismissed them, and sent them to Sonoma. I followed after in about a week, but had another attack of fever and ague when I reached Napa valley, from which, however, I rapidly recovered, under the genial influence of the exquisite climate, which prevails in that abode of bliss.

CHAPTER XVI.

An account of the operations at Los Angeles.

THE New Year (1847) found most of the ships of the Pacific Squadron, lying at anchor in the harbor of San Diego, which town was garrisoned by our forces. Next to the splendid harbor of San Francisco, that of San Diego is the best in California; and it is so graphically and accurately described by Mr. Dana, in his excellent book, entitled "Two Years before the Mast," as to render any further description superfluous.*

From what has been already said, it might be inferred that all the Californians were well satisfied to live under the government of the United States. But such was not the fact. It is a singular trait of human character, that men will adhere to governments to which they are accustomed, even though they be extremely oppressive. So in the matter of religion, the popular faith is maintained by the masses, with a tenacity and fanaticism proportioned to its absurdity, intolerance, and tyrannical administration. Patriotism or loyalty, appears to be inherent in all races of mankind; and in colonies, the mother country-notwith

* I would here take occasion to remark, that the encomiums bestowed upon that record of a merchant sailor's life, are richly deserved by the accomplished author, whose description of the seacoast and harbors of the Pacific, are of unsurpassed excellence. It is much to be regretted, that an opportunity was not afforded to a writer so competent, to describe the glorious scenery of the interior, and also the manners and customs of the people of California.

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