Great Mortality Due To Small-Pox And Measles Among Indians Of Washington Territory

In a report, Special Indian Agent for the Washington Territory, W. B. Gosnell, wrote to Col. J.W. Nesmith, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon and Washington Territories, regarding the Skagit tribes' 22 deaths in the last 8 months. The health of the Puyallups had improved, the Nisqually were drinking whiskey and four indictments were pending against members of the band for the murder of whites. The death of a Snohomish was due to an accidental gunshot wound. A separate report by an unknown author states that tribes in the western district of Washington Territory decreased in population due to smallpox, measles, venereal diseases and the consequences of alcohol drinking such as sickness, accidents, fights, and murders. A report to J.F. Miller, Esq., Indian Agent, John Ostrander (no title) wrote about the Shasta Indians' beliefs in sorcery/witchcraft and his conclusion that the Indians were falsely reporting sickness in their camps to obtain medicines, rice, sugar, dried fruit and other rations. Shasta beliefs regarding shamanism include a requirement for healing or else the shaman may lose his/her life.