CALIFORNIA. 195 



Ringgold therefore left her at this place, under charge of Mr. 

 Williams, taking sufficient provisions in the boats. The oaks became 

 more scattered, and the soil thickly covered with vegetation, although 

 parched up by continued drought. 



On the 26th, they reached the mouth of Feather river, which 

 is fifteen miles above New Helvetia. It appeared nearly as broad 

 as the main stream, but there is a bar extending the whole distance 

 across it, on which the boats grounded. On the point of the fork, the 

 ground was strewed with the skulls and bones of an Indian tribe, all 

 of whom -are said to have died, within a few years, of the tertian 

 fever, and to have nearly become extinct in consequence. Near 

 this, had been an Indian village, which was destroyed by Captain 

 Suter and his trappers, because its inhabitants had stolen cattle, 

 &c. The affair resulted in one of the Indians being killed, twenty- 

 seven made captive, and the removal of the remainder beyond the 

 limits of his territory. The battle-ground was pointed out, at a bend 

 of the river, which is only one-third of a mile across, though three 

 around. Above the junction of the two rivers, the Sacramento 

 becomes sensibly diminished. 



Game is represented to have decreased in this vicinity, from the 

 numbers destroyed by the parties of the Hudson Bay Company, who 

 annually frequent these grounds. Large flocks of curlew were seen 

 around ; and the California quail, which disappeared since leaving the 

 coast, was again seen. The trees that line the banks consist of the 

 cotton-wood, &c. Single oaks, with short grass beneath them, are 

 scattered over the plain. 



The next day, as they advanced, game became more plentiful, and 

 elk were found to be most so. Some of them were of large size, and 

 at this season of the year, the rutting, they are seen generally in 

 pairs ; but at other times, the females are in large herds. They are 

 fine-looking animals, with very large antlers, and seemed, in the first 

 instance, devoid of fear. The herds are usually thirty to forty in 

 number, and are chiefly composed of females and their young. The 

 father of the flock is always conspicuous, and with his horns seemed 

 to overshadow and protect the family. 



The tula or bulrush was still found in great quantities, growing 

 on the banks. The Indians use its roots as food, either raw, or 

 mixed with the grass seed, which forms the principal article of their 

 food. This root is likewise eaten by the grisly bear. 



