Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/215

Rh miles above its entrance into the Bay of St. Francisco, at the head of tide water, and some distance below the affluence of the Rio de los Americanos, or the American River, a stream which has its source in the Mountains to the East. It is in latitude 38 deg. 35 min. North, and is the principal place in the Sacramento Valley, and one to which the foreigners who are residing in Upper California look for refuge and protection, in case of an outbreak by the Indians or an attempt on the part of the Spaniards to expel them from the country. The Fort is a quadrangular wall, built of large sun-dried brick, and has bastions in the corners in which are mounted several small pieces of artillery. It is garrisoned by about forty Indians, one of whom constantly stands sentry during the day as well as the night, and apprises those in the Fort of the approach of any party, whether friends or foes. It covers a large area, and is probably capable of containing a garrison of one thousand men. Within the walls are the shops and the residences of the officers, mechanics, and servants, and there is also connected with the establishment a horse mill, a distillery, and a tannery. Captain Sutter at first had difficulties with the Indians, but by the promptness and severity with which he has frequently chastised them, whether he acted against tribes or individuals, against Chiefs or subjects, has at length brought them to fear and respect him, and now they seldom molest his property or the men in his employ. The Indians cultivate and improve his farms, attend to his large herds of animals, make a portion of his trapping parties, and do all the drudgery about the Fort; hundreds of them are ready, also, to defend him against any emergency. The government of California was at first suspicious of him on account of the strength of his fortifications and the influence which he was acquiring over the Indians, but he has since been appointed an officer of Justice by them. It is,