CALIFORNIA. 187 



cattle and make peace. These Indians do not use the tomahawk, nor 

 practise scalping. They go unclothed, even in winter, although the 

 climate is occasionally quite cold in this northern part of the valley. 



On the morning when the party were breaking up camp to embark, 

 an Indian boldly seized the bowie-knife-pistol of Dr. Pickering, and 

 made at once for the woods. He had chosen his time well, for no 

 arms were at hand. Several of the men pursued him, but by his alert- 

 ness he eluded all pursuit ; and having gained the bushes, escaped with 

 his prize. 



This act, committed in open daylight, and at the risk of life, shows 

 how strong is their propensity to steal. All the other Indians present 

 soon understood the difficulty, and at once took their departure. The 

 chief was not present ; those who were concerned in the theft had not 

 been before seen, and it was conjectured belonged to one of the ran- 

 cherias higher up the river. A short distance above the place where 

 this occurred, they met the chief, to whom the theft was made known, 

 and who promised to restore the stolen article. 



At noon they passed the Prairie Butes, which are a collection of 

 isolated hills, rising from the level plain, as if out of the sea. As they 

 were visited by the party that passed through from Oregon, I shall give 

 a particular account of them in the narrative of that journey. They 

 formed one of the connecting links between the operations of the two 

 parties, and served to verify their respective observations. Indians were 

 seen on the west bank of the river, with a number of women in com- 

 pany, who seemed well disposed to enter into communication, as they 

 motioned the party to land. 



In the afternoon they encamped on the west bank, at a considerable 

 distance above the Butes. The river was here only two hundred feet 

 wide, and its banks but fifteen feet high. The trees on the shores had 

 now become quite thick, and grew with great luxuriance ; so much so, 

 that were the sight confined to the river banks, it might be supposed 

 that the country was one continued forest, instead of an open prairie. 



The Indians who visited them at this camp, were less timid, and a 

 much finer-looking set of men than those before seen. They allowed 

 the officers and men to examine their bows and arrows, and appeared 

 to have confidence in our good feeling towards them. The old chief 

 welcomed the party, granted them permission to encamp on the bank, 

 and then departing with all his tribe, nothing more was seen of him 

 until late the next morning. 



On the 31st, they again proceeded, and passed several Indian villages. 

 Before noon, they arrived at a substantially-built fish-weir, of which 

 the Indians began to take a part down, but Lieutenant-Commandant 



