It is impossible at this late day to determine the real causes that led to the war on tule River in the spring of 1856, since the events were not noted in detail at the time, and but few of the prominent actors are now living; and, after the lapse of years, it is the most important items concerning troubles of this kind—the causes that led to them—that are soonest forgotten, only the more vivid pictures remaining distinct on memory’s page. the Indians, of course, were credited at the time with the full blame of forcing the conflict; but there is much to lead to the belief that the exercise of a little moderation on the part of the white settlers would have prevented any great amount of bloodshed. Before entering upon the account of this war it may be of interest to make brief allusion to former Indian troubles, and to say a word concerning affairs prior to the outbreak.
Large numbers of Indians were living at that time about the eastern shore of tulare Lake, and along the several streams issuing from the Sierra Nevada mountains—Kings River, Kaweah River, tule River, Deer Creek, White River, Posa Creek, Kern River, and smaller streams. It was estimated that among the several tribes, speaking the same language with only the variance of an occasional word, there were in the neighborhood of two thousand warriors. Game and fish, upon which they subsisted principally, acorns, and the plants and roots and other articles that varied their diet, were plentiful; and before becoming acquainted with the fatal vices of civilized man, they were a healthy and contented people. Petty jealousies existed among the different tribes, and occasional ruptures occurred; but they were never so warlike nor so blood-thirsty as the large tribes farther east, that have maintained the struggle against civilization since the advent of the first white man among them. the first hunters and trappers who entered the valley found the Indians hospitable and friendly. A few parties of white men, Fremont’s exploring party among others, passed through the valley, but were not molested until they encountered the tribes farther north, who had had more intercourse with Americans.
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