Took Kanota & the boy Peevish [ ? ] with me to visit the camp where the In- dians were burning yesterday. The Indians had all fled from the camp which had all the appearance of devastation, the most of the huts were burnt, large caches of provisions principally acorns remained but much broken down. We found the places where four individuals had been burnt, some of them not entirely consumed, their skulls remained, the hard parts of which were broken so that there is little doubt that they died by violence. There were also different places which had the appearance of graves but perhaps it was where provisions were concealed and not recepticals of the dead. The plain altogether had a most desolate appearance. During my absence the Indians who came to the camp yesterday reported their visit and by signs made it understood that a few nights ago a party of savages from across the moun- tains probably the chastys [i. e. Shastas? ] had fallen upon the camp above aluded to while the people were all asleep, killed two of them and carried off several into slavery.^^
Sunday 2$ Rained in the night, fine warm weather during the day.
The most of the canoes ready. I directed them to proceed up the river where there is the appearance of a chance beaver, they are to remain off two days & if they find beaver worth while we are to move camp up the river. The hunters out & killed 4 deer & 4 elk^* the animals here are generally very lean.
Monday 26 Heavy rain the most of the day. The people with the
canoes returned & state that they found no beaver worth while to stay for, but they have left their canoes too heavy & are unable to work them against the current which I conceive the principal cause of their returning. 4 beaver taken.
Tuesday 27 Overcast, fair weather. The people busy cutting away
the superfluous wood from their canoes. 4 beaver taken. The young men out hunting & killed 5 elk, 3 Deer & i antelope. The animals are all very lean.
Wednesday 28 Stormy weather. Raised camp & proceeded across
a point & down the big river to Sycamore^^ river 10 miles S.E. The canoe party started with their canoes and are permitted to remain absent two nights. There are a great many Indians encamped along the river. They are very much afraid of the horses. ^^ Some of them visited us in the evening. Some of the men visited this fork but found no appearance of beaver tho' it appears well adapted for them. Very poor feeding here for the horses.
Thursday 2^ Fair weather. Continued our route 1 5 miles S. across
some stony hills & fell on the big river at the commencement of the plains^^ This was a hard day's work both on horses and people the road exceed- ingly rugged and stony. Crossed one small creek. We have pretty good feed- ing here for the horses. There is a large camp of Indians on the opposite side of the river a little below us.
