Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/32



singers. Such is  the  capital  of  the  vast  interior  valley, pregnant with  approaching  importance. In Decem- ber 1847 Sutter  reported  a  white  population  of  289 in the  district,  with  16  half-breeds,  Hawaiians,  and negroes, 479  tame  Indians,  and  a  large  number  of gentiles,  estimated  with  not  very  great  precision  at 21,873  for  the  valley,  including  the  region  above  the Buttes.^ There  are  60  houses  in  or  near  the  fort, and six  mills  and  one  tannery  in  the  district;  14,000 fanegas of  wheat  were  raised  during  the  season,  and 40,000 expected  during  the  following  year,  besides other crops. Sutter owns  12,000  cattle,  2,000  horses and mules,  from  10,000  to  15,000  sheep,  and  1,000 hogs.^ John  Sinclair  figures  as  alcalde,  and  George McKinstry as  sheriff*

The greater  portion  of  the  people  round  the  fort depend upon  Sutter  as  permanent  or  temporary  em- ployes, the latter  embracing  immigrants  preparing  to settle,  and  Mormons  intent  on  presently  proceeding to Great  Salt  Lake. As a  class  they  present  a  hardy, backwoods type  of  rough  exterior,  relieved  here  and there by  bits  of  Hispano-Californian  attire,  in  bright sashes, wide  sombreros,  and  jingling  spurs. The na- tives appear probably  to  better  advantage  here  than elsewhere in  California,  in  the  body  of  half  a  hundred well-clothed soldiers  trained  by  Sutter,  and  among his staff  of  steady  servants  and  helpers,  who  have  ac- quired both skill  and  neatness. A horde  of  subdued savages, engaged  as  herders,  tillers,  and  laborers,  are conspicuous by  their  half-naked,  swarthy  bodies;  and others may  be  seen  moving  about,  bent  on  gossip  or trade,  stalking  along,  shrouded  in  the  all-shielding blanket, which  the  winter  chill  has  obliged  them  to put  on. Head and  neck,  however,  bear  evidence  to their  love  of  finery,  in  gaudy  kerchiefs,  strings  of  beads, and other  ornaments.

" McKinstry  Pap.,  MS.,  28.

version reproduced  in  JSac. Co, Hist.,  31,  differs  somewhat.
 * ' There were  30  ploughs  in  operation.  Siitter^s  Per  a.  Rem,,  MS.,  43.  The