the agent Allen David, their ambition was not to fight, but to learn the arts of peace. Their advancement in civilization and conformity to treaty regulations was a source of pride with them, and of annoyance to Captain Jack, the more so that the Klamaths had assisted in arresting the Modocs guilty of aiding the hostile Shoshones with ammunition. But Jack was even more annoyed with Sconchin, whom he taunted with remaining on the reservation more for convenience than care for his people,[1] whom Jack was constantly endeavoring to entice away.
In 1870, having been left so long to follow his own devices, Jack made a formal claim to a tract of land, already settled upon, six miles square, and lying on both sides of the Oregon and California line, near the head of Tule Lake. Superintendent Meacham, not knowing how to compel Jack to bring his people upon the reserve, reported to the secretary of the interior, recommending that this tract as described should be allowed them as a reserve. A more unwise proposition could not have been made; for aside from the precedent established, there was the conflict with the settlers already in possession within these limits, the opposition of the neighboring farmers to having this degraded band in their vicinity, and the encouragement given to Jack, who was informed of the superintendent's action, bearing upon the future aspect of the case.
Previous to this Knapp went to Yreka to have an interview with Jack, whose importance increased with finding himself the object of so much solicitude, and who flatly refused to go with him to Camp Yainax, Sconchin's home, to meet the superintendent. During the summer of 1871 he frequently visited the reservation, defying the military authorities, and boasting that in Yreka he had friends who gave him
- ↑ W. V. Rhinehart, in Historical Correspondence, MS., agrees with Jack about this. But Sconchin was never detected in illicit intercourse with the enemy.
