34 EXPLORATIONS ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



back ; and Mr. Meek's well-earned reputation as a paleontologist will certainly engage 

 for him the attention of the scientific world. As these reports are very thorough, and 

 include many facts of great interest to the geologist, I respectfully ask for them the 

 perusal which their importance in reference to so great an extent of country demand. 



In regard to the Indians, for a particular description of their persons and habits, 

 I refer the reader to my journal, with its illustrations, and to the journal of Mr. Kern 

 (Appendix Q) ; also the communication of Dr. Garland Hurt (Appendix 0), whose 

 residence in Utah for several years as Indian agent and well-known intelligence and 

 character for truth and patriotism render his essay of great value. I would also refer 

 to the communication of Maj. Frederick Dodge, Indian agent, incorporated in my 

 journal of June 12, for information respecting the Pi-Utes and the Wa-shoes inhabit- 

 ing Western Utah and Eastern California. 



The Sho-sho-nees are divided by Dr. Hurt into the Snakes, Bannacks, To-si- 

 witches, Go-sha-Utes, and Cum-um-pahs, though he afterward classes the two latter 

 divisions as hybrid races between the Sho-sho-nees and Utahs, and this" last I think 

 the best classification. p 



The Snakes are fierce and warlike in their habits and inhabit the country border- 

 ing on Snake River, Bear River, Green River, and as far east as Wind River. They 

 are well supplied with horses and fire-arms, and subsist principally by hunting. They 

 are the enemies of the Crows and Blackfeet on account of the buffalo having disap- 

 peared from their country west of the Rocky Mountains and their being obliged from 

 necessity to hunt them as trespassers on the territory of these tribes east of the mount- 

 ains. They have also been at war with the Utes for several generations. They, 

 however, profess friendship for the whites, and it is their boast that, under their chief, 

 Wash-i-kee, the blood of the white man has never stained their soil. It is certain, 

 however, that small parties of this band, living in Box Elder County, in the Territory, 

 with some Bannack Indians from Oregon, robbed, during the season of 1859, three 

 parties of emigrants on the emigration road to the north and east of Great Salt Lake, 

 and killed ten or twelve of their number. q 



The Bannacks inhabit the southern borders of Oregon along the old Humboldt 



(p) Dr. I. Forney, superintendent of Indian affairs in Utah, classes and numbers the various tribes and bands of 

 Indians in Utah as follows : 



Bannacks 500 



Uinta Utes 1,000 



Spanish Fork and San Pete farms 900 



Pah-Vants (Utes) 700 



Pey-utes (South) 2,200 



Pey-utes (West) 6,000 



Elk Mountain Utes 2,000 



Wa-sho of Honey Lake 700 



The Sho-sho-nees claim the northeastern portion of the Territory for about four hundred miles west 

 hnndred to one hundred and twenty -five miles south from the Oregon line. The Utes claim the balance of 

 (See Pres. Mes. and Doc., 1859-'60, part 1, p. 733.) 



(#) See report of General Johnston to headquarters of the Army, of November 2, 1859 ; Supt. I. Forney's 

 Porter, of September 22 ; and Maj. I. Lynde's report to General Johnston, of October 24, accompanying An 

 Secretary of War for 1859. 



