24 SMITHSOXIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 97 



left the main camp at an early hour this morning, and commenced ascending 

 the mountains dividing the Russian river and Clear Lake valleys, follov^ing a 

 narrow, precipitous trail leading in many places through a dense forest, with 

 oak and chemisall undergrowth . . . We are encamped upon the table-lands 

 immediately adjoining the lake. Several Indians have visited camp this evening, 

 and we expect to have several chiefs in council to-morrow. 



On the morning of the i8th "according to agreement a number 

 of the chiefs and braves of the Clear Lake Indians" met the com- 

 mission in council. Much of interest and importance transpired 

 during the succeeding hours. The Council again convened on 

 Tuesday afternoon, August 19, when McKee explained to the 

 Indians the nature of the proposed treaty, and stated that he would 

 give them, in the name of the President, "all of the Clear Lake 

 valley proper, upon condition they would all live in it peaceably, and 

 agree that all other tribes the President may send among them to 

 live should .be received as brothers, &c." To this the Indians agreed. 



The party returned to the main encampment on Russian River 

 and soon continued northward. During August 25, they crossed the 

 mountains between the Russian and Eel Rivers and that night 

 camped in a valley near an old Indian village. The Indians were 

 "entirely nude and very wild." Many Indians appeared at the camp 

 the following morning, and the commissioner explained the nature 

 of the treaties made with the Indians at Clear Lake and Russian 

 River, after which there was a mutual understanding for peace. 



The expedition continued through the mountains, but advanced 

 slowly over unknown trails. They left camp early on August 29 but 

 were soon forced to stop in a canon, a place where sufficient water 

 could be obtained for the animals. During the day 15 or 16 Indian 

 men, all entirely naked, visited the camp. From them it was learned 

 that many Indians w^ere living in "a long valley on the headwaters 

 of the middle fork of Eel river." The party had been unable to 

 discover the valley, although they had spent several days in hunting 

 for it. The Indians called the valley Ba-tim-da-kia. 



During September 5 and 6, the expedition rested at Camp Red- 

 wood, on the South Eork of Eel River. 



On September 10, the camp was at "Big Bend of Eel river," where 

 the party remained several days. Gibbs had, as always, been active 

 in obtaining information concerning the Indians, and as mentioned 

 in the journal (p. 151) : "Some words, relating to sensible objects, 

 have been obtained by Mr. Gibbs. The names of tribes could not be 

 ascertained, nor their numbers. But he has learned that all the Indians 

 around Humboldt bay, and as far up Eel river as Van Dusen's fork, 

 say fourteen miles, speak the same language. Above the forks a 



