No. 81

I have the honor to report the capture of the last of the
Chilicoten Indians of note who took part in the massacres and
 insurrection of last year. Anaheim, the Chief of the west, or
Nacoontloon branch of the Tribe, had on his submission to Mr
Brew promised that he would endeavour during the winter to
 seize Ahan, a powerful chief who had taken a prominent part in
the attack on Macdonald's party and had with his own hand murdered
McDonald.

2. Ahan, short of food and constantly pursued during the
winter, determined on making his peace with me and was proceeding
down the Bella Coola River with several hundred dollars worth of
choice furs as compensation for the murders he had committed.
Anaheim sent word to Mr Ogilvy, the late Constable at Bella
 Coola, of the approach of Ahan to the Coast. Mr Moss with ten
Bella Coola Indians were despatched secretly to meet him. They
 surprised and captured Ahan and a relative of his, Sutas, who
had likewise been engaged in the several massacres. These Indians
are now in the gaol at New Westminster awaiting their trial.
Their apprehension makes the assertion of the Law complete over
every Indian who shed the blood of the White men during the outbreak
of 1864. You will see the difficulty of the undertaking we have
accomplished when I mention that the first prisoners captured were
tried in Cariboo. The last are now in prison in New Westminster,
a little short of 500 miles away. Over nearly the whole of the
intervening space had the pursuit to be carried on.

3. The evidence against Ahan is absolutely conclusive. Indeed
in spite of all warnings, he narrates the full particulars of his
murderous attack on the whites. He says he is a great Chief, can
 tell no lies, and is ready to die. Sutas too, will not conceal
the part he took in the slaughter of McDonald and others. He is
very young, of no position in the tribe and I sincerely trust that
I shall be able to extend mercy to him. There has been enough
life sacrificed already since the attack on the road party. I
fear however that the crimes of Ahan are too great for me to spare
his life.

4. The few friends who were in Company with Ahan and Sutas
when they were captured on the Bella Coola, had no evident complicity
in the massacres and were not interfered with. There has been
sufficient bloodshed. The punishment is abundant. From Ahan's
friends we hear, without surprise that the sufferings of the
Indians in the interior have been very great during the late
prolonged winter. Hunted by our Volunteers during the fruit &
fishing season, the first cold found them without food and many
have perished of starvation.