In February 1864 these border Indians, who belonged some to California and some to Oreo-on, but who knew nothing of the 42d degree of latitude which formed the boundary between, and who were in the habit of visiting Yreka, the residence of Superintendent Steele, being led to fear that they would be punished by the Oregon troops for their misconduct, sought the advice of Steele who made with them a sort of treaty of friendship and peace. This treaty was made solely with Steele, and witnessed by a justice of the peace, E. W. Potter, and the sheriff cf Siskiyou county, D. Kearn. It required of the Indians nothing but their promise to live in peace among each other and with the white men, to refrain from killing, and stealing from members of the several tribes, and from interrupting the travel of individuals of one tribe through the country of another. The penalty for breaking this promise was to be given up to the soldiers for punishment. They were required to respect the lives and property of white men, negroes, and. Chinamen, allowing them to pass through the country claimed by them without molestation, or being taxed for right of way, or robbed of their property or money, but they were permitted to charge a fair price for ferrying travellers across streams, or acting as guides if desired to do so.
They agreed not to get drunk when they came to the settlements, nor to steal while on these visits, nor to rob the sluice-boxes of Chinamen, but promised to remain out of town at night in their own camps. They also promised not to sell their own or the children of other Indians, or to sell their women to white men unless the purchasers would go before a justice and marry these women, nor to bring their arms into the settlements, except to be repaired. On the part of the white people it was agreed by Steele that they should be protected when they came to the settlements; but they were counselled to obtain passes from the officers at the forts, and the Modocs and
