OVERLAND EXPEDITION TO SAN FRANCISCO. 277 



cattle, but they were attacked by the Indians during the night, 

 near the base of the Shaste Mountains, and ten of his com- 

 panions were massacred. Two of the party were killed im- 

 mediately. Turner was seated by the fire when the savages 

 rushed into the camp ; he snatched up a brand and defended 

 himself with it until his Indian woman brought him his rifle, 

 with which he killed four. His surviving companions had 

 now seized their fire-arms, and dealt such destruction among 

 the Indians that they at last retreated, and allowed Turner 

 and his five companions to make good their retreat to the 

 settlement. 



We were detained at Turner's place all the next day, on 

 account of two of the horses having got astray. In the after- 

 noon I took a stroll, and fell in with an encampment of Cali- 

 poya Indians. There were altogether five families of them, 

 and each had its own fire and tent. They were miserably 

 clad, and their habitations were swarming with vermin. The 

 surrounding country was perfectly level, and produced luxu- 

 riant grasses and some trees. 



On the 10th we left Mr. Turner's place, and directed our 

 steps to the southward and eastward. We crossed during 

 this day several small streams, which are tributary to the 

 Willamette. The country continued level, but all the vegeta- 

 tion, except the trees, had been destroyed by fire, said to have 

 been kindled by the Prairie Indians, for the purpose of pro- 

 curing a certain species of root, which forms a principal part 

 of their food. We spent the night on the banks of a creek, 

 named Igneas. 



At 9 o'clock the following day we resumed our march, and 

 shortly after reached Guardepii Lake, which is not more than 

 a mile in circumference. In the course of the afternoon we 

 crossed Lumtumbuff River, which is a branch of the Willa- 



