"Indians!" * * * * * * 95 



Lassen Volcanic National Park, in northern California, is historic 

 ground. One of the old emigrant trails runs through the northern part 

 of the park and is today one of the most interesting features of the 

 region. Northeastward are the lava beds where the famous Modoc War 

 took place in 1872 and 1873. This war was a bitter one, and many 

 settlers and soldiers as well as Indians were killed. The Modocs still 

 inhabit the Lassen country and are to be found all the way up to 

 Oregon, where their ancient contacts were made with the Klamaths; 

 but they rarely come into the park and the visitor to that region should 

 look for Indians in the more northerly valleys. 



Crater Lake National Park is in the heart of the country of the 

 Klamath Indians. As one goes toward the south or east entrances of 

 this park, he passes through the Klamath Indian reservation, which has 

 many broad mountain meadows and splendid forests. The Klamaths 

 were troublesome when the whites first came into their territory, and 

 the government had to build Fort Klamath and station troops there to 

 keep the Indians quiet; but it was not long until they came under the 

 influence of missionaries and turned to peaceful pursuits. Old Fort 

 Klamath was a picturesque reminder of the early days of Oregon, and 

 stood near the road to Crater Lake Park until very recently. Crater 

 Lake Park figured prominently in the legends of the Klamaths. 



The Indians west of Rainier Park were Diggers resembling in 

 many respects those of the tribes of the California coast and interior 

 valleys. They were the Nisqually, the Puyallup, and the Cowlitz tribes, 

 all short, flat-faced, unattractive Indians who gave the white settlers 

 very little trouble and did not quarrel much among themselves. They 

 speared fish, principally salmon, dug clams in the sands of Puget Sound, 

 and in summer gathered berries and roots in the hills. 



Quite different are the characteristics of the Yakimas and Klickitats 

 who lived beyond the park territory on the east. They resembled the 

 Plains Indians. They were tall, lithe, and had strong features. They 

 owned horses and were excellent riders. They were hunters, and each 

 year came to the great mountain to stalk the wild goat, deer, bear, and 

 the big elk which formerly roamed that country in large bands. 



Many of these northern tribes feared Mount Rainier and refused 

 to venture above the snow line. The Indians viewed with alarm the 

 efforts of the white man to climb Mount Rainier. The records of various 

 parties which undertook to scale the mountain tell of the difficulty of 

 securing Indian guides. There is preserved in the records of the 

 Stevens party a sincere warning voiced by Sluiskin, the Indian guide to 

 the expedition, who refused to go beyond Paradise Valley. Said he to 

 his white friends : 



"Listen to me, my good friends. I must talk to you. Your plan to 



