Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/389



breaking out of war in the interior, Ben Wright, in charge of the several bands below Coos bay, hastened to make them acquainted with the order issued by Superintendent Palmer, with whom they had made treaties, that in order to prevent suspicions concerning their intentions, and consequent collisions with white men, they must remain upon their reservations and avoid every appearance of collusion with the Rogue-river bands. To those roving Indians from the interior whom he found on the coast he gave admonition, and ordered them back to their own reserve; otherwise to submit to arrest. They complied, although insolently, and the tribes in his sub-agency promised obedience and friendship. But on arriving at the mouth of the Coquille he found the settlers alarmed by appearances among these Indians. On conferring with them, however, they professed friendship, and ascribed their restlessness to the discovery of a camp of Rogue-river women and children in their vicinity, and to knowing that