Ixii ETHNOGRAPHIC SKETCH. 



Wf.ruer Lake, and thence to the boundaiy of Idaho, witli it.s "six miles 

 limit" grants on botli sides, took place before the conclusion of the treaty. 



In order to subject the ti'oublesome Snake and Modoc tribes to a 

 stricter control, and to secure more protection to settlers and the immi- 

 grants traveling through Oregon, Fort Klamath was established north of 

 Upper Klamath Lake, in Lake County, and garrisoned with several com- 

 panies, who were of great service in preserving order in these sparsely 

 inhabited tracts. The Klamath Lake Indians were more inclined to keep 

 up friendship with the white people than the other tribes, nevertheless 

 some turbulent characters among them necessitated militar}* restraint. 



The Superintendent of Indian Affiiirs of the Northern District of Cali- 

 fornia, Judge E. Steele, adjusted some grave difficulties between the Shasti 

 and the Maklaks Indians, which threatened to break out into a terrible war 

 of devastation against the Shasti and the white settlers alike. Some of the 

 Maklaks " braves" had been killed upon the lands of white settlers, and the 

 injured Indians had begun retaliation already. Colonel Drew, stationed at 

 Fort Klamath (who fought marauding bands of Shoshoni and Bannocks 

 during the summer of 1864), had arrested and executed "Captain" George, 

 a Klamath Lake chief, for criminal acts, and killed an Indian conmionly 

 known as Skukuui John. The chiefs and some representative Indians of 

 the contending tribes met Judge Steele near Yreka, California, on Febru- 

 ary 14, 1S64, and for some trifling consideration agreed to forego all further 

 hostilities among themselves, to allow free passage to anybody traveling 

 through their territories, and to maintain terms of friendship with all whites, 

 negroes, and Chinese. The Modoes also made the special jjromise to 

 harass no longer the Pit River Indians b}- annual i-aids. It also appears 

 from Mr. Steele's allocution to the Indians that thev had been sellinsr to 

 whites and others Indian children of their own and of other tribes, and also 

 squaws, the latter mainly for the purpose of prostitution.* 



The establishment of Fort Klamath, the increase of white men's settle- 

 ments, the possibility of Indian outbreaks on account of the greater vicinity 

 of the farms to the Indian villages, and the desire of the Indians themselves 

 to obtain rations, supplies, and annuities brought the opportunity of a 



» Report of the Commissioner of ludiau Aliairs for 18G4, pp. 84, 85 and 108-110, 



