38 EXPLORATIONS ACEOSS THE GREAT BASIN OF UTAH. 



Sho-sho-nee, could not understand them. u This tribe is frequently confounded with 

 the Pah-Utes, with which they show only a distant affinity. 



The Washoes, according to Major Dodge, " number about 900 souls, and inhabit 

 the country along the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, from Honey Lake on the 

 north to the Rio Clara, the west branch of the Walker's River, a distance of 150 miles. 

 They are not inclined to agricultural pursuits nor any other advancement toward 

 civilization. They are destitute of all the necessaries to make life even desirable. 

 There is not one horse, pony, or mule in the nation. They are peaceable, but indo- 

 lent. In the summer they wander around the shores of Lake Bigler, in the Sierra 

 Nevada, principally subsisting on the fish found in it. In the winter they lay about in 

 the artemisia of their different localities, subsisting on a little grass-seed." The Indian 

 vocabulary (Appendix J) will show that they are a distinct tribe, and in no way as- 

 similated with the Utes, Sho-sho-nees, or Py-Utes. 



The Indians living along or in the vicinity of my routes are, as above stated, 

 starting from Camp Floyd, first, the Go-shoots, as far as the Un-go-we-ah range ; 

 second, the Humboldt Indians, from the Un-go-we-ah range to Cooper's range; third, 

 the Diggers or Pah-Utes, who are of Sho-sho-nee origin, from Cooper's range to the 

 Pe-er-re-ah range; fourth, the Pi-Utes, from the Pe-er-re-ah range to the Sierra 

 Nevada ; and, fifth, the Washoes, at the base of the Sierra Nevada. All these Indians, 

 as they seldom carry any weapons but the bow and arrow, will be found perfectly 

 harmless to parties of emigrants who are tolerably well armed and sufficiently on the 

 alert not to invite attacks or theft. In our case, as a general thing, it was as much as 

 we could do to get them to visit us at all, their fright was so great. Indeed, never do 

 emigrants meet with any difficulty from Indians passing over the plains, when they 

 observe but ordinary vigilance and care/ 



(u.) Mr. J. Forney, superintendent of Indiana in Utah, 

 Interior (Mess, and Doc, 1859-'60, p. 732), speaking of these 

 they are designated by several different names, yet all have emanated from < 

 language." My vocabulary (in Appendix J) will show that in this last particular be is dooi reel ■ Tr iV'ist so faTaTthn 

 Py-Utes are concerned. 



r Lynde, in his report to General Johnston, of October 24, 1859, giving an account of his expedition 



Humboldt River road, makes the following remarks 



proper vigilance against Indian surprises and attacks : 



ledge that they were perfectly unprepared for defense. The Indians 



n well-armed and watchful, they do not molest it. I have seen many 



arms, but they were carried in the wagons, ant 



t being loaded. The emigrants would laugh at me when I told them of the necessity of always having 



their arms ready for instant use." (See report of Secretary of War, 1859, p. 241.) * * g 



