Modoc (from Móatokni,
'southerners'). A Lutuamian tribe, forming the southern division of that
stock, in south west Oregon. The Modoc language is practically the same as
the Klamath, the dialectic differences being extremely slight. This
linguistic identity would indicate that the local separation of the two
tribes must have been comparatively recent and has never been complete.
The former habitat of the Modoc included Little Klamath lake, Modoc lake,
Tule lake, Lost River valley, and Clear lake, and extended at times as far
east as Goose lake. The most important bands of the tribe were at Little
Klamath lake, Tule lake, and in the valley of Lost River. Frequent
conflicts with white immigrants, in which both sides were guilty of many
atrocities, have given the tribe an unfortunate reputation. In 1864 the
Modoc joined the Klamath in ceding their territory to the United States
and removed to Klamath reservation. They seem never to have been
contented, however, and made persistent efforts to return and occupy their
former lands on Lost River and its vicinity. In 1870 a prominent chief
named Kintpuash, commonly known to history as Captain Jack, led the more
turbulent portion of the tribe back to the California border and
obstinately refused to return to the reservation. The first attempt to
bring back the runaways by force brought on the Modoc war of 1872-73.
After some
struggles Kintpuash and his band retreated to the lava-beds on the
California frontier, and from January to April, 1873, successfully
resisted the attempts of the troops to dislodge them. The progress of the
war had been slow until April of that year, when two of the peace
commissioners, who had been sent to treat with the renegades, were
treacherously assassinated. In this act Kintpuash played the chief part.
The campaign was then pushed with vigor, the Modoc were finally dispersed
and captured, and Kintpuash and 5 other leaders were hanged at Ft Klamath
in Oct., 1873. The tribe was then divided, a part being sent to Indian
Territory and placed on the Quapaw reservation, where they had diminished
to 56 by 1905. The remainder are on Klamath reservation, where they are
apparently thriving, and numbered 223 in 1905.
The following were the Modoc settlements so far as
known:
