company of about forty Cayuses, Walla Wallas, and a few
Spokanes, to go to California and exchange peltries and
horses for Spanish cattle. This was a courageous under
taking, as their route lay through the country of the
warlike Klamaths, Rogue Rivers, and Shastas. But the
expedition, led by Peu-peu-mox-mox, was well mounted
and armed, the chiefs attired in English costume, and
their followers in dressed skins, presenting a fine and formi
dable appearance to the wilder denizens of the southern
interior ; and they arrived safely at their destination with
only some slight skirmishing by the way.
The reception met with by the expedition was cordial, the Spaniards being quite willing to dispose of their numer ous herds at the good prices exacted of their customers. As for the native Oregonians, they found California much to their liking, and roamed about at pleasure until mis fortune overtook them in the following manner: Being on an excursion to procure elk and deer skins, they fell in with a company of native California bandits whom they fought, and from whom they captured twenty-two horses which had been stolen from their Spanish or American owners.
On returning with their booty to the settlements, some of the horses were claimed by the original owners, under the Spanish law that required animals sold to bear a trans fer mark. As these bore only the brand of their former owners, the Spaniards claimed them. The Oregonians, on the contrary, contended that while if any property were
with rank from April 3, 1844, to hold the said office in the manner specified in and by our said constitution and laws-
In testimony whereof we have caused our seal for military commissions to be hereunto affixed.
Witness, D. HILL, ESQ.,
J. GALE, ESQ., A. BEERS, ESQ.,
Executive committee of said territory, and commanders-in-chief of all the militia and volunteer companies of said territory.
[ L. s.] Dated at the Willamette Falls the third day of April, in the year of
our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty-four. Attest : O. JOHNS
