As you will doubtless avail yourself of the military escort which will leave St. Louis shortly, funds will be placed in the hands of the superintendent of Indian affairs at that place, to be turned over to you.

The remote position of the scene of your operations has induced the Secretary of the Interior to authorize an advance of one year's salary to yourself and your interpreter, together with other sums for other objects, as follows, viz:

One year's salary for yourself

Do do for interpreter

Pay of additional interpreter

Contingent expenses, including presents to Indians, purchase. of two horses, forage for the same, house rent, fuel, stationery, collection of statistical information, together with your travelling expenses to your agency

$1,500

300

200

1,500

3,500

It has been represented to this department that there is a Mexican boy in captivity among the Indians, either in New Mexico or California, and for whose release the Mexican minister has made a demand on this government; but as the department is as yet unacquainted with the particulars of the case, it will be made the subject of a special communication to you as soon as they can be ascertained.

After obtaining all the information you can collect with regard to any captives, you will report their names, ages, whether they are Mexicans or Americans, the length of time they have been held in captivity; and if they are Mexicans, whether they were taken prior to the termination of the war and treaty with Mexico, or subsequently.

In dispensing presents to the Indians, you will be as economical as possible, and confine the disposition of them to cases where some important end is to be accomplished.

You will report directly to this office, and will lose no opportunity of doing so, as it is extremely desirable that the department be kept well advised of the state of affairs in that region.

I enclose blank forms to guide you in rendering your accounts, which

must be done quarter-yearly, or as nearly so as possible.

In rendering your accounts you will account for the money placed in your hands under the following heads of appropriation, viz:

Pay of superintendents and Indian agents

Pay of interpreters

Contingencies, Indian department

$1,500

500

1,500

3,500

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. MEDILL.

JOHN WILSON, Esq., Indian Agent, Salt Lake, California.

P. S. I enclose a copy of the late treaty with Mexico, and also copies

of the reports of Messrs. Frémont, Emory, Abert, and Cook.

W. M.

FORT BRIDGER, ON BLACK'S FORK OF

GREEN OR COLORADO RIVER, August 22, 1849.

SIR: We arrived here yesterday. Messrs. Vasques and Bridger are the proprietors, and have resided here and in these mountains for more than 25 years. They are engaged as traders, belonging to the American Fur Company. They are gentlemen of integrity and intelligence, and can be fully relied on in relation to any statement they make in regard to the different tribes, claims, boundaries, and other information in relation to the Utah and Sho-sho-nie tribes and a small band of Pummacks, as they have during all their residence been engaged in trade with them.

Among the Sho-sho-nies there are only two bands, properly speaking. The principal or better portion are called Sho-sho-nies, (or Suakes) who are rich enough to own horses. The others, the Sho-sho-coes, (or Walkers) are those who cannot or do not own horses. The principal chiefs of the Sho-sho-nies are Mono, (about 45 years old,) so called from a wound in his face or cheek from a ball, that disfigures him; Wiskin, (Cut-hair,) Washikick, (Gourd Rattle,) with whom I have had an interview; and Oapichi, (Big man.)

Of the Sho-sho-coes, Augutasipa is the most noted. Both bands number, probably, over 1,000 lodges of four persons each. Of the relative portion of each band, no definite account can be given; for so soon as a Sho-sho-nie becomes too poor to, or does not, own a horse, he is at once called a Sho-sho-coe; but as soon as a Sho-sho.coe can or does own a horse he is again a riding Indian, and therefore a Sho-sho-nie.

Their language, with the exception of some Patois differences, is said to be that of the Comanche tribe. Their claim of boundary is to the east from the Red Buttes, on the north fork of the Platte, to its head in the Park, (decayague,) in Buffalo Bull Pen, in the Rocky mountains; to the south, across the mountains, over to the Yom-pa-pa, till it enters Green or Colorado river, and then across to the Back-Bone, or ridge of mountains called the Bear River mountains, running nearly due west towards the Salt Lake, so as to take in most of the Salt Lake; and thence on to the Sinks of Mary's or Humboldt's river; thence north to the fisheries on the Snake river in Oregon; and thence south (their northern boundary) to the Red Buttes, including the sources of Green river-a territory probably 300 miles square, most of which has too high an elevation ever to be useful for cultivation of any sort. In most of these mountains and valleys it freezes every night in the year, and is in summer quite warm at noon and to half-past three p. m. Nothing whatever will grow of grain or vegetables; but the most luxurious and nutritious grasses grow with the greatest luxuriance, and the valleys are the richest meadows. The part of the Salt Lake valley included in this boundary, the Cache valley, 50 by 100 miles, and part of the valley near and beyond Fort Hall, down Snake river, can be cultivated, and with good results; but this forms a very small part of this country. How these people are to live or ever exist for any great length of time, I cannot by any means determine. Their support has heretofore been mostly game and certain roots, which, in their native state, are rank poison, (called the tobacco root,) but, when put in a hole in the ground and a large fire burnt over them, become wholesome diet. The Mormon settlement in the Salt Lake valley has not only greatly diminished their former very great resource of obtain ing fish out of the Utah lake and its sources, which to them was an

important resource, but their settlement, with the great emigration to California, has already nearly driven away all the game, and will, unquestionably, soon deprive them almost entirely of the only chances they have for food. This will in a few years produce a result not only disastrous to them, but must inevitably engage the sympathies of the nation. How this is to be avoided is a question of much difficulty, but it is nevertheless the more imperative on the government not only to discuss but to put in practice some mode of relief for these unfortunate people, the outside barriers or enclosing mountains of whose whole country are not only covered in their constant sight with perpetual snow, but in whose lodges every night in the year ice is made, over water left in a basin, of near seveneighths of an inch in thickness. Except in three small places already named as exceptions-and two of these, the Salt Lake valley and Snake river, are already taken from them by the whites-there is but little doubt the Cache valley will soon be so occupied.

The Utahs probably amount to from two to three thousand lodges, and are divided into many bands-as the Taos, 300 lodges; Yom-pa-pa Uahs, 500 lodges; Ewinte, 50 lodges; Ten penny Utahs, 50 lodges, (this band are about all who reside in the Salt Lake valley ;) Pavant Utahs, not estimated. Pahnutes (or Paynutes) Utahs and the Sampiche Utahs of these last bands, numbers not known. Their claim of boundaries is all south of that of the Sho-sho-nies, embracing the waters of the Colorado, going most probably to the gulf of California.

This is a much more fortunate location, and large portions of it are rich and fertile lands and a good climate. Their language is essentially Comanche; and although not technically, yet it supposed to be substantially the same as that of the Sho sho nies; for although, on first meeting, they do not fully understand each other, yet I am informed four or five days' association enables them to converse freely together. Some of the people are already engaged in the cultivation of the soil, and large tracts of the country afford ample rewards to those who thus expend the sweat of their brow. Portions of these bands have always been at war with the Mexicans, constantly making inroads into New Mexico and California to steal horses. Portions of them are at present at variance with the Shosho-nies; and, indeed, the manners and customs of the Yom-pa-pas render an association on the part of the whites with them dangerous, for should one be found amongst them when a sudden death, from either accident or common sickness, takes place amongst them, the relatives of the dead man are at liberty, and are sure to exercise it, of killing any stranger who may happen to be amongst them. Thus, until this custom is abandoned, no safe intercourse can be carried on with them. Their country being more south and out of the range of white settlements or emigrants, the game is not likely to be so scarce for many years to come as it is in the Sho-sho-nie country even now, for already it has nearly all left their boundaries, except a small corner in the northeast corner of their claim; and as they are at war with the Utahs, near whose lines it is, they are afraid to go there to hunt.

Supposing the government will be prepared next summer to take some decided steps towards a regular system of intercourse with them, and with a view of enabling the government as effectually as possible to guard against the unfortunate results in operation for their entire starvation, a few only of which I have mentioned, for want of time, I have concluded

to so arrange matters before I leave that both these nations will be able to send large delegations, if not most of the principal bands of their tribes, to a great council to be held here next summer, being by far the most convenient place for such a council, but is also where the principal agency ought to be established; and here also ought to be established the leading military post of these mountains, for which hereafter I shall give my views more at large.

I have suggested the matter of the great council to Washikick, the only principal chief I have seen, and he highly approves of the plan. I have already made such arrangements, through the assistance of Mr. Vasques, (Mr. Bridger not being at home) that all of both tribes will be notified of my design to hold such a council; and so soon as I shall hear your pleasure on the subject, which I hope will be at an early day after I get to San Francisco, in November, I will then fix a time which will best suit the views of the department, (if it shall meet with your approbation, as I hope it will,) and will then cause them to be notified of the day, which must, of necessity, not be later than August, and not earlier than July, as any other month would not be convenient for them to attend. The Sho-sho-nies are reputed an honest and sober people, decidedly friendly to the whites; and if proper agents are kept among them, they will be easily managed, if a fair support can be provided for them. Some of the objects which I have supposed might be gained by such a council, you will easily perceive from what I have said above; and many others of perhaps equal importance may also be accomplished. It is of great importance that these Utahs should be laid under obligations to cease their accustomed depredations on the whites and their property; and it is of greater importance to adopt some mode or other to save the Snakes from utter destitution, which, in a year or two, must inevitably take place if things remain as they now are.

I write this in great haste; and, having broken my spectacles, I have to go it blind nearly. This, with the shortness of my stay here, is my excuse for not writing more; but I have touched on all the subjects most important at the present moment. When I get to Salt Lake, I shall have more time and better eyes, and will go more into detail; till when, I remain your obedient servant,

Hon. T. EWING,

Secretary of the Department of the Interior.

JOHN WILSON.

GREAT SALT LAKE VALLEY, Salt Lake Indian Agency, September 4, 1849.

SIR: Referring you to my letter dated at Fort Bridger for what I said. in relation to the Indians east of the Sierra Nevada, as to nations, bands, numbers, claimed boundaries, as well as some few items as to their manners and customs, my opportunities since have been such as not to add much to the information I then had the honor to communicate. All subsequent information received strongly confirms my then impressions, that the Sho-sho-nies, as a nation, must soon perish for want of food, unless the philanthropy of individuals, or the wisdom and energy of the government, shall devise some method of staying the march of causes which

inevitably must produce such a distressing result. You will observe that their claim of boundaries gives them a vast territory, not far from being square-perhaps, however, a little the longer east and west. Our route has, thus far, led us transversely across their territory from the Red Buttes (their southeast corner) in a pretty direct line towards the southwest corner, (somewhere west of the Salt lake.) Hereafter we shall turn more north till we strike the road which leads from Fort Hall to San Francisco, and this will thus cause us to pass through the entire length and almost centre of their country. This valley, a very small portion of the country about Fort Hall, probably a part of Cache valley, and it may be New Park, (which latter, you will observe, is the valley of the head of the north fork of the Platte,) are the only portions of all their claim which can ever be applied to the purposes of agriculture, on account of the high altitude of its position. Their whole country is essentially a fine grazing country during the summer and fall; and, in many places in the valleys, stock (I mean cattle, horses, mules, &c.) sustain themselves all the year round; and this I am informed they can always do, except when the snows are too deep. Indeed, with the exception of this valley, the snows always fall too deep; but the face of the country is so covered with high mountains and deep valleys, which produce so many currents of the winds as to almost insure that much of the land is left bare by the drifting, in the deepest snows, so that the cattle, &c., can still get access to the grass which remains upon the land all winter; and, although dry, it is good hay, because it is cured without much if any rain; so little of it falls in this country as to leave the grass cured for hay. This valley has been already taken up by the Latter-Day Saints, who will soon spread to Cache and Bear river valleys, if they shall be found to produce grain and vegetables, which is exceedingly doubtful; and the government have already occupied the most favored portion about Fort Hall; and then the Indians will have only the New Park, (if indeed it will answer for agricultural pursuits,) and this is a very small piece of country for so many people to attempt the cultivation of the soil, if it should be the policy of the govern ment to attempt to draw the attention of the Indians to that pursuit, to enable them to sustain the simplest but imperative calls of nature. The valley along Black's fuk and Harn's fork of Green river and their tributaries (in which is Fort Bridger,) is, perhaps, next to this valley, (and you will see the Sho-sho-nies do not claim all this,) the most extensive and most beautiful, and as to pasturage is perhaps little behind this; but yet it is conceived to be entirely beyond the power of the most approved cultivation to raise either grain or vegetables so as to pay for the labor of the husbandman, for there is frost nearly every night in the year, as it is reported by those who have long resided therein. The elevation of Fort Bridger is 6,665 feet above the level of the sea; that of the South Pass, 7,085 feet; that of Bear river, (where we crossed it,) 6,836 feet; while the elevation of this valley is only 4,300 feet, and is enclosed in, entirely surrounded by mountains about one and a half mile high. Even in this valley there are light frosts many nights during all the summer months, as I am informed; and indeed, in last month several have fallen while we have been here. There only remain, then, to be mentioned, New Park and Brown's Hole, (see Fremont's map, by Colonel J. J. Abert,) if, indeed, that belongs to the Sho sho-nies (or Snakes,) in which we can expect