4

Some time after about January 1850 the wife of one these men
in Sonoma was threatened by a young Indian and for which he received 100
lashes by order of the alcalde and in about an hour after was shot through the head by her
husband. Next night all the Indians in the vicinity fled to the lake and in
a short time they in return murdered the Brother of the man who shot
the Indian, and his partner and drove off large number of their
cattle. for which the Brothers of the murdered man called a strong
force and on pretence of going to the lake and punishing the murderers
but instead of which they commenced an indiscriminate Slaughter
of the Indians who resided on farms working for Americans and
in one night Slew Twenty. They were prevented by the citizens from
utterly annihilating them. And most of them were arrested by order
of the Government but no further proceedings instituted. Since
the the Indians were Severely punished at the lake by the expedition
Sent to chastise them commanded by Capt. Lyons of which you are
already in possession. And through dread they have kept the mountains
till lately that they are becoming friendly. But if there were proper
persons in whom they could dispose confidence placed over them or
arrange them who would teach them husbandry &c and teach
them civilization they would become very docile and useful as
Servants in a country where labor is at such a maximum as the
immense influx of emigration requires the agricultural Resources of
the State to be husbanded and which will amply Repay the labor with
valleys. Last week I was called on to go up Russian River some 50
miles to Settle a dispute between some Spaniards on a Ranchero
and a tribe of Indians. The Mexicans believing they had a right to
exercise dominion over them as usual but they learning that our
government did not permit such tyranny applied to me as a Magistrate