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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1857
([1857])
California superintendency, pp. 387-408
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Page 401
and posterity. The greatest obstacle that is now in the way of the Indian department's civilizing and moralizing the Indians in this section of country, is the rude and wanton manner in which their young women, who reside in unprotected rancheros and in the vicinity of mining towns, are sought by men who resort to the frequent use of ardent spirits to allure them into their evil ways. This evil can only be obviated by their permanent residence on the farms, which would add but little expense to the department, if the women's time, under a proper instructress, was appropriated to the manufacturing of men's clothing. Now that the season and the plan of catching and curing fish is all understood, it is believed that considerable Indian food may be ob- tained from that source this fall; in anticipation of which, I have engaged barrels and coarse salt, and am now making preparations for the coming fish season. I am of the opinion that it is politic and best to retain this plaoe this coming season as a home and place of resort for all the Indians north of San Joaquin and its vicinity. The necessary ditches for irrigation now having been cut, and the training of the water and the practicability of its application being well understood, it is only necessary to commence in time and incur a small expense, and the certain irrigation of all the land desired is practicable; and there is no good reason why fears for the success of a crop on this place should be entertained, if I am instructed to proceed in time. By the first day of September next, preparations for the coming crop should have commenced. All of which is respectfully submitted by your most obedient, M. B. LEWIS, Sub-Agent. THos. J. HENLEY, Esq., Superintendent Indian A4ffairs, San Francisco, California. No. 166. AGENCY, SEBASTIAN MILITARY RESERVE, Tejon Valley, California, August 15, 1857. SIR: In compliance with the regulations of the department, I have the honor herewith to submit my annual report for the current year. The Indians under my charge have, during the past year, enjoyed the blessings of health, peace, plenty, and, so far as their dissolute habits would permit, contentment. The early part of the past winter promised fair for an abundance of rain, and consequently favorable for an .abundant crop. I therefore, at the proper season, used my utmost energies in putting in a plen- teous crop of wheat and barley. I succeeded in seeding about six hun- dred acres of wheat and one hundred and fifteen acres of barley iia good condition. This, in addition to the large quantity of volunteer grain, promised an abundant harvest and an abundant supply for 26 CALIFORNIA, 401
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