[From Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, pp. 28-31]

NEVADA.

            Superintendent Parker's annual report arrived in good season this year to furnish full information as to the condition of matters in Nevada, although he has labored under various disadvantages in performing the duties of his office, owing to the fact that the superintendency had been vacant for a considerable time previous to his assuming the position, and no records or papers were on file sufficient to advise him of what had been done.

            Both Superintendent Parker and Agent Campbell have kept this office well advised, through their monthly reports, of events occurring within their jurisdiction; and it is matter for great regret that the means at the disposal of the department for Nevada have been so small that it has been impracticable to carry into effect various good suggestions for the benefit of the Indians.

            From the superintendent's annual report we obtain the following facts and suggestions in reference to the tribes of Nevada : The Bannacks, numbering

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 29

about 1,500 in Nevada, so far as any location of their bands can be defined, range over a wide district north of latitude 41° north, and extending into eastern Oregon and Idaho. They had until late years been able to subsist themselves without much difficulty upon the game, fish, nuts and roots of the country; but their means of living have been much restricted since the establishment of routes of travel in various directions through their country, and by the settlements in some of the few localities really fertile and suitable for agriculture. Many of the Indians have been driven to hostilities, and forts have been erected in their country, and military expeditions engaged in hunting down their parties. Still many other bands of the same people have been peaceable throughout.

            The Shoshonees, part of the great nation which, under various names and sometimes associated with the Bannacks, extend their range into Utah and Idaho, are supposed to number about 2,500 in Nevada, occupying the northeastern part of the State.  Along the overland route they have become accustomed to the whites; many of them have learned the English language, and show some disposition to labor for a living. These Indians have usually received an annual supply of blankets and other necessaries at Ruby valley ; but the goods last forwarded arrived so late that the superintendent determined to hold them over till this fall, when they will be very welcome. The more southern portion of these Indians nearer the centre of the State are in a very destitute condition. Late exploring expeditions—a narrative of one of which by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Rev. Mr. White, accompanies the report—show that for the most part the country occupied by them is a barren desert, unfit for the habitation of man, and the Indians are in many cases in a starving condition. By the report before us it is evident that Superintendent Parker thinks the Indians resident in the Pahranagat mining country, in southeastern Nevada, (a part of the country recently taken from Utah and annexed to Nevada,) are Shoshonees, but it is probable, from other sources of information, that they are Pai Utes, a different people from the Pi-Utes hereafter referred to. The superintendent recommends that a reservation be set apart for these Indians of the southeast, whatever be their proper name, somewhere in the Pahranagat valley.

            Temporary provision has been made for them by the appointment of Mr. J. M. Guthrie as a special agent, the intention being to supply them from Utah with a moderate supply of goods and provisions, and thus prevent any disposition to make trouble with the miners. They properly belong to Nevada, but, so far as at present advised, the question of transportation and facility of mail communication will for some time make the existing arrangement the best.

            The Pi-Utes are noticed as belonging in the western and southwestern part of the State, the portion in which the mining settlements abound, and the account given of them is very favorable. Numbering some 4,200, they are represented as having derived real benefit from their connexion with the whites ; No explanation is given of this singular anomaly in Indian history, and no reason why this tribe should differ so greatly from the others around them ; but it is nevertheless said to be a fact, that the Pi-Utes are willing to labor, and earn a fair living by labor among the whites ; that they refuse to use intoxicating drinks, that they are docile and anxious to learn, and that they are chaste. With such a character, as might be expected, the tribe is increasing in numbers, and if Congress will but appropriate a reasonable amount of funds for the service in Nevada, we may reasonably expect to make something of these Indians.

            The Washoes, about 500 in number, living in the extreme west, are quite the reverse of the last-mentioned tribe in everything but their peaceable behavior, and are represented as rapidly diminishing in numbers from the effects of hard drinking and other vices.

            There are three reservations in Nevada, in the Pi-Ute country, one including Pyramid lake, another Walker lake, and a third set apart for timber for the first

30 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

named reserve. In regard to this timber reserve, the superintendent says that it includes about 20,000 acres of fine timber, and that the Pacific railroad " will claim the alternate sections," a claim of doubtful validity; but it is alleged that it is found very difficult to protect this timber, and the suggestion is made that it be sold, and the proceeds used for the Indians of the State ; and this course is recommended. A beginning has been made in cultivating the soil upon these reservations, and with some success ; but as agricultural operations in Nevada require irrigation for their permanent success, nothing can be done which shall tend to concentrate these Indians to the pursuit of self-sustaining industry until the means are provided for the purpose.

            Agent Campbell in his annual report makes such an estimate, and it is hoped that Congress will take the subject into consideration. While Nevada is by her rich mines pouring immense wealth into the lap of the nation, the Indian occupants of the country have never been treated with, and have no permanent provision made for their benefit ; while the annual appropriations for the service in that State are less than is annually expended for many small tribes in the east.

            In the month of June Agent Campbell reported the arrival of some one hundred and twenty Indians at Fort Churchill, in the northern part of Nevada, mostly Bannacks and Pai-Utes, destitute and suffering. They had been hostile, but voluntarily surrendered, and were sent to the Truckee River or Pyramid Lake reservation, and set at work at raising a supply of vegetables for themselves.

            Early in the year, certain whites repaired to the last-named reservation, and commenced settlements there. Upon their being notified by the superintendent to leave, and their refusal to obey the order, a small detachment of soldiers accompanied the superintendent to the reservation, and the intruders were compelled to leave it; since which no further difficulty of the kind has occurred.

            There is a very encouraging field for the education and christianizing of these Indians open, especially in the case of the Pi-Utes; and upon the request of this office the superintendent furnished an estimate of the amount of funds necessary for establishing a manual labor school, and supporting it for one year, which amount is stated at $11,500. This estimate, I think, was transmitted to Congress by your predecessor, but no action was taken thereon at the last session. It is hoped that early action upon this recommendation will enable this office to put the school in operation during the coming year. Believing that, including the establishment of this school, the sum of $60,000 can be judiciously expended for the permanent benefit of those Indians during the next year, that sum is recommended for Nevada.

UTAH.

            The annual reports from this superintendency having arrived at a late hour, I have been unable to give them such full notice as is desirable. Mr. Head, who succeeded Mr. Irish as superintendent early last spring, has performed his duties to the satisfaction of this office, and his report contains much interesting matter.

            The arrangements for concentrating the Utah Indians upon the Uintah Valley reservation, in the northeastern part of the Territory, have been pushed forward this year with considerable energy under the direction of the superintendent, and the immediate charge of Mr. Carter, who relieved Agent Kinney in the early summer; and there was a prospect of a fair crop upon the reservation. At one time the bands at this location threatened an outbreak of hostilities; but by a speedy visit to them, in the journey to accomplish which the party suffered great hardships in crossing the mountains, the Indians were quieted, restored the property which they had seized, and promised obedience.

            In accordance with the acts of Congress providing for the appraisal and sale

REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.       31

of the several reservations in Utah heretofore set apart, with their improvements, Governor Durkee and Superintendent Head were appointed appraisers, and have made their report, which has been transmitted to the department. The avails of the sale of these reservations are by law to be devoted to the Indian service in Utah, and they are needed for the purpose of providing for various improvements upon the Uintah Valley reservation.

            Early in the spring advices were received that Black Hawk, an influential chief of the San Pitch band of Utahs, had taken the field with an active band of followers, and had killed many of the settlers and driven off a large amount of valuable stock. In the conflicts which ensued some forty of the Indians were killed, but the chief was joined by wild spirits and outlaws from various bands, and thus recruited, renewed his raids upon the settlers.

            The Pai-Utes, referred to in the last annual report, as living in southwestern Utah, and formerly in charge of Special Agent Sale, now belong properly in Nevada, but, as has been stated under the head of the last-named superintendency, this special agency, now in charge of Mr. Guthrie, reports to the superintendent for Utah.

            By the annual report of Agent Mann, of the Fort Bridger agency, we are advised of the condition of the eastern band of Shoshones. Old " Washakee," their chief, is a firm friend of the whites, and his people behave well.

            Silver medals have been sent to Washakee and to "Konosh," head chief of one of the Utah bands, in recognition of their good service to the whites and. good influence over their own people.

__________

[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, pp. 77-78]

KLAMATH AGENCY.

            It is improper perhaps to style this place an agency. There are no agency buildings there, and no improvements of any sort, except of very small value and very temporary character. Sub-Agent Lindsey Applegate has Charge of the Klamath, Modoc and Yahooskin Snake tribes, with whom a treaty was negotiated in act 1864, and he has (without funds) located some farms at a point on the Middle Klamath lake, (sometimes known as Lake Toqua or Tok-qua,) fifteen miles below Fort Klamath, and made a beginning at farming. He reports the Indians zealous to enter into farming, and willing to work.

            None of the appropriations made by Congress for the benefit of these tribes have yet been remitted ; but when they are, I look for the founding of a prosperous Indian colony there. There are about two thousand of them, and I consider them as good raw material out of which to make civilized Indians as any on the continent.

            The Woll-pa-pe tribe of Snakes, with whom I made a treaty in 1865, came into the reservation, and remained there last winter ; but during the last spring and summer they all left the reservation, and are reported to have again joined the hostile band of Snakes.

            This movement on their part does not involve any loss to the government, nor at all give them protection in their predatory raids, for it was expressly stipulated in the treaty that they should remain upon the reservation, and that failing to do so, they should be treated as hostile. Nor were they to receive any benefit of appropriations, unless they did so remain. But it has been unfortunate that they refused to stay, because that tribe, when once established, would have been a nucleus around which all the other tribes of Snakes would soon have gathered, and thus they would have been an instrument of pacification for the whole of southern Oregon, Idaho, and northern Nevada.

            I yet am in doubt whether they have really joined the hostile tribes. My impression is that they have spent the summer in the region between Crooked river on the north, Harney lake on the east, Summer and Upper Klamath lakes on the south, and Mount Paulinee and Queah valley on the west. The tract of country included in these bounds has never been penetrated by white men, is nearly destitute of water and timber, but affords fine grass. This band of Indians have inhabited it heretofore, and, in my opinion, have done so this past summer.

INDIANS NOT LOCATED UPON AGENCIES.

            Most important among these, both in numbers and consequence, are the various bands of Snakes. Little is known of them except that they are always determinedly hostile. They are a nomadic people, sometimes appearing in Nevada, under the lead of Winnemucco, and treating with Governor Nye; sometimes in Utah, holding council with Brigham Young or fighting Colonel Connor; sometimes warring upon miners or soldiers in Owyhee and Boise; and often making raids upon the friendly Indians at Warm Springs, or the whites on the Cañon City road, but always having their hand against every man, and every man's hand against them.

            What disposition can ultimately be made of them, I do not undertake to say. Now, nothing is to be done but fight and exterminate them. Yet I am painfully conscious that extermination will cost the lives of ten whites for every Indian, and, besides, cost many millions of money.

            To attempt to treat with them now, is simple folly ; they cannot be even brought to a council, much less to a treaty.

            Their ultimate disposition is a matter that must be left to time to determine.

            Of their numbers I am not informed, and at various times have made different estimates. Roughly, I estimate them at five thousand. They may double that, or fall below it.

            The military forces located in that part of the country have been engaged, during the last year, in warring upon them with varying success, sometimes gaming an advantage, and oftener suffering a defeat; but their operations have really resulted in but little towards subduing the Indians.

            The number of troops has been grossly inadequate to the service to be performed, and they have labored under the disadvantages of unacquaintance with Indian warfare, ignorance of the geography of the country, and vast distance from points where necessary supplies can be obtained.

            The Indians scattered along the Columbia river, those on the upper branches of the North Umpqua, a small band on Clatsop plains, and the Nestuccas, Salmon Rivers, and Tillamooks,

OREGON SUPERINTENDENCY.   78

number in all not far from 1,200 souls. They are in immediate vicinity of white settlements, in fact intermingled with them, and most of them are as thoroughly debauched and degraded as they well can be.

            They are not parties to any treaty, and I do not think it necessary that any treaty should be made with them. Indeed, they are scattered over so vast a country that it would be impossible to gather them together for a treaty. But measures ought to be taken to collect them upon some of the reservations. The Nestuccas, Salmon Rivers, and Tillamooks (about 300 in all) ought especially to be taken under jurisdiction.

            The country they inhabit is fertile, has a good harbor, and is filling up with white settlers. They regard the Indians as nuisances, and have more than once asked me to remove them. I have had neither funds nor authority so to do. I recommend an appropriation of $2,000 for gathering together and establishing upon some reservation the Indians mentioned. The amount named would be sufficient, not only to remove them, but to afford them some assistance in opening farms, obtaining farming tools, &c.

* * * * * * *

[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, p. 79]

MILITARY FORCE AT AGENCIES.

            By recent action of the War Department all the troops stationed at Fort Haskins and Yam Hill, Siletz block-house, and Warm Springs block-house, have been withdrawn, and the posts abandoned.

            Thus the Coast reservation, on which are four thousand Indians, is without a single soldier to enforce police regulations, preserve order, or punish offences. This is not only unwise, but it is hazardous in the extreme. The agent is powerless to control the Indians, except by moral suasion, and this they oftentimes will not submit to. There is now no way of preventing them from leaving the reservation or obtaining whiskey, and a few drunken Indians may commit outrages which will bring on a war that will cost the lives of many whites and Indians both.

            There would be no question as to the result of such a war : the settlers of Willamette valley are strong enough to overpower the weaker Indians, but it is far better to avoid the outbreak altogether. This can be done by keeping a small force, say twenty-five men, at each of the posts, Fort Yam Hill and Siletz block-house, and it ought by all means to be done. I consider it unnecessary to garrison Fort Haskins if Siletz block-house is occupied. Warm Springs agency is situated in the edge of the hostile Snake county, and constantly liable to predatory raids from them. They have five different times visited that agency and stolen more or less stock and taken many lives. In 1859 they drove off 700 horses and about 100 cattle, killed a great number of friendly Indians, one white man, and had possession of the agency buildings for several days.

            The last time they appeared there was in 1864, when, although a small force, under Lieutenant Halloran, was stationed there, they got away with over two hundred horses. The lieutenant, with his command, promptly pursued them and recovered a part of the stolen property. The Cañon City road (from Dallas to Cañon City) passes within twenty miles of this agency. It has been the scene of constant depredations from the Snakes. Last year there was scarcely a week passed that there were not some depredations committed : packtrains, with their cargoes, stolen ; wagons and teams, with their freight, seized ; stock driven off; teamsters, packers, or travellers killed ; in fact, to pass over the road was to peril one's life. This year has witnessed a repetition of the scenes of last.

            I mention these facts to show the necessity for military protection there, and the difficulties we labor under for want of it.

* * * * * * *

[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, pp. 89-91]

OREGON SUPERINTENDENCY. 89

No. 15.

ASHLAND MILLS, OREGON,

August 6, 1866.

            SIR : I respectfully submit the following, my first annual report as United States Indian Sub-agent :

            I entered upon the discharge of my duties in the Klamath and Rogue River region about the 25th of September, 1865, under instructions requiring me to exercise supervision over the Klamath and Moadoc tribes, the several tribes of Snakes, and all stragglers lurking around the mountains of southern Oregon.

            On the 15th October ensuing I set out for the lake country, in company with the interpreter of the sub-agency, appointed agreeable to your instructions on the 12th of that month, to attempt to conclude a treaty of peace with Howlock, principal chief of a tribe of Snake Indians not treated with, who was then said to be in the vicinity of Sprague River valley, and anxious to enter into a treaty of amity with the United States.

            Having sent out a deputation of Yahooskin Snakes, together with Pauline, chief of Noll-pah-pe Snakes to see Howlock, they returned reporting that Howlock declared himself for a continuation of the war, and attempted to persuade Pauline to join with him. The prospects of concluding a treaty with Howlock were hence blasted, and after remaining some time on the reservation, examining into the state of feeling among the different tribes and inquiring into their condition, I returned to Ashland.

            Pauline appeared at that time desirous to carry out, on his part, the provisions of the treaty made with his tribe on August 12, 1865, and as a proof of his sincerity, offered to accompany, with his warriors, the military, if an invasion of Howlock's country should be made from Fort Klamath. Pauline, however, brought but few of his people on to the reservation.

            On December 18, I started for Fort Klamath to attend to the issuing of subsistence to the Snake Indians and to examine into the condition of the other tribes, and on arriving there I issued to Pauline such an amount of shorts and flour as I deemed would supply him and his people until spring. At that time I found the Klamath and Yahooskins generally quite well enough provided with dried fish, &c., to subsist them during the remainder of the winter, but to quiet their loud clamorings for flour, I made some moderate issues to the chiefs and, through them, to some of their subjects who seemed rather needy. I became convinced at this time of a growing disaffection among the Indians, on account of the tardiness of the government in fulfilling treaty stipulations, and I gave it as my opinion, in a communication addressed to your office, that something should be done by the government, as soon as possible, to inspire the Indians with proper confidence in it.

            In order to give the Indians some tangible evidence of the government's intention to fulfil its promises, as well as to ascertain the variety of garden vegetables and cereals that could be produced on the Klamath reservation, as far as possible, considering the limited amount of funds provided for colonization purposes, in obedience to your instructions, I commenced making arrangements towards the close of April last to proceed to the reservation and put in a crop there, calculating that early in May it would be possible to cross the Cascade mountains with a wagon.

            Having made necessary purchases and having employed a person to assist in driving the team and also in ploughing and planting, I left Ashland on May 1, and followed the old emigrant road without difficulty, except from fallen timber, as far as the emigrant crossing on the Klamath river, where I changed my course from almost due east and pursued as far as Sink river, in a northeasterly direction, a route sometimes followed by wagons on their way to the gold region of the Columbia. At Sink river I changed my course a little west of north through the mountains bordering Upper Klamath lake on the east, and after travelling through a pass in the mountains never before traversed by wagons, but decidedly practicable, on May 12 I arrived at the head of navigation on the lake, about eight miles south of Fort Klamath, four miles north of Williamson river, and twenty-five from Ashland, and at the point I decided to commence operations.

            From this place, which is called Ko-was-ta by the Indians, level, fertile plains extend off towards Fort Klamath, bordered on the east by splendid groves of timber and crossed by beautiful streams of water, clear as crystal. This location for an agency, in my estimation, could scarcely be excelled. Fine timber, stone and wild meadow lands abound ; the climate is far milder than that of Fort Klamath, but a few miles above, and it is near enough to that post and to the Indian village on Williamson river for any required purpose. Three miles above on Ko-was-ta or Crooked river there is as fine a mill site as I have ever seen, and from the rivulet just mentioned all the tillable land below could be easily irrigated if it should require it.

            Ploughing was commenced soon after arriving at Ko-was-ta, and by the 31st of May sixteen acres were put in, seven in wheat, oats, bearded and bald barley, seven in corn and beans, and two in turnips, carrots, peas, potatoes, artichokes and onions. By the assistance of the Indians, there was also built a good substantial log house, and the Indians en-

90        OREGON SUPERINTENDENCY.

closed the field, and altogether about a thousand acres of land, with a good brush and log fence. I made necessary arrangement and had put in at Williamson river, about the 1st of May, in a small enclosure, a number of varieties of garden vegetables, as also some wheat and oats.

            The Klamaths and Gahooskins, when they saw operations actually commenced, became reassured of the good intentions of the government, and I far exceeded my most sanguine expectations in regard to employing them in labor. They were ready and willing to assist as I should direct, and during the whole time of laboring on the reservation I kept a fatigue party of from ten to thirty-six at work, all they received in return being some shorts I issued to them while laboring and the prospect of better times in future. The season being far advanced, operations ceased for a time with the close of May.

            On the 18th of July I appointed, at a moderate salary for the time being, a person to reside on the agency farm to attend to the cultivation of the crop, to provide hay sufficient to subsist the department animals through the winter, and to transact such other duties there as may be calculated to promote the good being of the service. Through the representations of the farmer, I am able to state, that at present most of the crop is nourishing ; a part, however, put in on dry land is not doing very well. At Kowasta most of the corn, turnips, potatoes, barley, oats and wheat look well and promise an abundant yield, and at Williamson river the wheat and oats are waist-high and are heading out, but most of the vegetables at the latter place were put in rather too early and are not flourishing. I am very well satisfied that the climate and soil of Kowasta and of the bottoms on Williamson river are suited to the production of wheat, oats, barley, rye, carrots, cabbages, turnips, potatoes, artichokes and Indian corn, and from the appearance of things thus far, would give it as my opinion that all those things may be cultivated there with advantage.

            There are sufficient colonization funds or more than a sufficiency on hand to meet the expenses that would necessarily be incurred in putting in a respectable crop of grain on the reservation this fall, and I am of opinion that the interests of the service would be much promoted by employing so much of them as would be necessary for that purpose.

            There are at present no Snakes proper on the reservation, unless we except some prisoners in the custody of the military at Fort Klamath. Pauline left the reservation with his people some time in April last, and I am led to believe that he went away with hostile designs, and that there is now a union of all the Snakes proper for a more determined war. I hoped for a long time that Pauline was only absent in pursuance of a promise to use his influence to persuade Howlock and other hostile chieftains to forsake the war-path, but it seems sufficiently evident that he nor his people now harbor any feelings of amity towards the United States. The universal belief among the Klamaths and Yahooskins is that the Snakes are all for war. Their vigilance lest the Snakes invade their country to rob and plunder, the withdrawal of Pauline and his people from the reservation in a clandestine manner, the lurking of straggling bands of Snakes around its limits and the increase in number of the depredations in the Columbian regions, would seem sufficient to justify the military in capturing all the stragglers possible around the reservation, and Major W. V. Rinehart, commanding Fort Klamath, with the assistance of Klamaths and Yahooskins, has taken captive a number of Snakes. "The Klamaths and Yahooskins," Major Rinehart says, " are eager to vindicate their loyalty, and would willingly become our allies in an invasion of the Snake domain."

            The Moadoc Indians who withdrew from their country last year, through the influence, as I believe, of certain white persons, more intent on promoting their own pecuniary interests than the good-being of the Indians or the welfare of the country, have sent messengers to me at different times, to represent their readiness to do as I may desire them, and their willingness to come on to the reservation in the event of the ratification of the treaty made with them, the Klamaths and Yahooskins conjointly. They have returned to their country in and around Clear Lake valley, and are collecting roots and seeds for winter use.

            Of straggling Indians there are a few in southern Oregon. Thirteen Molalles are at Flounce Rock, on the head-waters of Rogue river ; a little band of the same tribe are on the Cascade range further north ; and I have just learned that there is a little band, I know not of what tribe, on south Umpqua river. If provision is made for the maintenance of these stragglers on the Klamath reservation, I apprehend no difficulty in removing them there. The Klamaths are anxious to assist in bringing stragglers on to the reservation, and I have already given some of them permission to bring some of their own people from Oregon City and the Dalles.

            Here let me represent the necessity of purchasing, if the funds provided for such purposes in this department are adequate, a considerable amount of shorts or flour, to issue to Indians while laboring on the Klamath reservation, and also to supply the destitute and the sick through the coming winter. I hope the treaty of October 15 will be ratified at an early day, so that more extensive measures may be adopted to improve the condition of the tribes included in that compact. By proper management they would very soon become an agricultural people, and under due and proper regulations, with their advancement in agricultural knowledge, their barbarous customs would fast disappear, and civilized habits take their place.

            I would here state that kindness and courtesy have characterized Major Rinehart, Captain

CALIFORNIA SUPERINTENDENCY. 91

McCall and Lieutenants Oatman and Pattens, stationed at Fort Klamath, during my intercourse with them, and I would express my thankfulness for their valuable assistance and many favors.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LINDSAY APPLEGATE,

United States Indian Sub-Agent.

Hon. J. W. P. HUNTINGTON,

            Superintendent Indian Affairs in Oregon.

__________

[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, pp. 113-131]

NEVADA SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 29.

SUPERINTENDENCY OF NEVADA,

Carson City, September 10, 1866.

            SIR: In obedience to the requirements of the department with which I am connected, I have the honor to submit my first annual report on the condition of Indian affairs within my superintendency.

            In entering upon the discharge of the duties of my office, I found everything in a very confused state. Governor Nye had ceased to be ex officio superintendent more than a year before, and Agent Lockhart had six mouths previously left this part of the country. No papers or records of importance had been transmitted to me, and I was compelled to collect

114      NEVADA SUPERINTENDENCY.

facts and rearrange the affairs of the office as best I could. The details of this work under such disadvantages have necessarily required patience and consumed time.

            The Indian tribes included in this superintendency are dispersed measurably over the whole State.

THE BANNOCKS.

            This tribe occupies most of that portion of Nevada north of the forty-first degree of north latitude, with the southeastern corner of Oregon and the southwestern corner of Idaho. Their country is diversified with mountains, valleys, and barren wastes. Frequently there are strips of fertile soil around the springs and along the margin of the small streams, which afford a supply of grass-seed and of other vegetable productions, upon which they subsist. They also obtain quantities of pine-nuts from the groves of the piñon, which in places cover the mountain sides. In regard to their food, however, they are not particular, and very often live upon the insects and reptiles which abound through the country. The few streams and small lakes afford a scanty supply of fish. The antelope, deer, and mountain sheep are found in places, but not in large numbers. The rabbit and large hare of the plains are more abundant. The burrowing marmot, the fox, the wild cat, and the cayote or prairie wolf, all exist to some extent in this region, and contribute to the food and clothing of these Indians. But since the discovery of the silver mines in northern Nevada, and especially since the excitement about the mineral wealth of Idaho, white men have steadily encroached upon the territory of this tribe. Roads have been made across their country, stations and settlements have been established at convenient watering places and wherever there were productive lands. Paradise valley, the most extensive fertile valley in their country, is now occupied and cultivated by white men, a number of whom have taken their families there and propose to be permanent residents.

            The Bannocks, numbering about fifteen hundred, are well supplied with horses and exist in roving bands, controlled by sub-chiefs. As white men have encroached upon their territory they have manifested a warlike disposition, have made repeated raids upon the newly formed settlements, destroyed trains along the highways and committed many depredations, for which the military authorities have severely punished them. Forts have been erected, outposts established, and such forces provided as were necessary to maintain peace. It is proper to state that many of these bands, into which the tribe is divided, have from the first preserved the most friendly relations and are under the influence of this superintendency. Less is known about the mental and moral characteristics of the Bannocks than about either of the other tribes in this State.

THE SHOSHONES.

            This tribe has a population of about two thousand five hundred, and occupies almost the whole eastern half of the State. The line separating them from the Pai-Utes on the east and south is not very clearly defined. Since the settlement of Pahranagat and the recent explorations of Governor Blasdel and party, it is ascertained that the Shoshone language is spoken mostly by all the bands of Indians in southeastern Nevada. A letter accompanying this report from Rev. A. F. White, state superintendent of public instruction, is the most authentic information received at this office in regard to the condition of this portion of the tribe. The statements of Mr. White have been fully confirmed, not only by those who were with him during the long and hazardous journey of which he speaks, but by the miners of Pahranagat, Silver Peak, and other places.

            About Austin and along the overland mail route, the Shoshones have, through constant contact with the whites for three or four years, become accustomed to their habits and in many instances learned to speak the English language. They have also made themselves useful in various capacities. Some of the women have become good washers, while the men cut and saw wood, cultivate gardens, and go on errands. They have made but little or no progress in morals. Like other savage tribes they incline to imitate the vices of the superior races rather than their virtues.

            The Shoshones exist in bands commanded by sub-chiefs. Along the south and eastern border of their territory these bands are often constituted of many renegades from neighboring tribes. Governor Blasdel's party often found individuals who could speak only a few words of the Shoshone language, and in one instance an entire family, including six men and two or three women, who could not speak it at all, who had probably wandered from some tribe in northern Arizona. These Indians are more destitute of the necessaries of life than any other under the care of this superintendency. Comparatively few of them have been enabled to provide themselves with clothing obtained from the whites. Government has as yet only furnished goods through this superintendency for that part of the tribe living in Ruby valley and its vicinity. The supply which was forwarded for distribution last spring arrived in this city so late that it was thought best to store them here until fall. In fact, I had no funds unappropriated to pay for their further transportation at that time. These goods will be forwarded and distributed towards the approach of winter, when they will be of the greatest service to the Indians.

            South of Ruby valley many white settlements are being formed, and the fertile lands of

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this degraded people are being taken from them, their grasses consumed, their groves of pine trees (piñon) destroyed, and the scanty supply of game is being killed or driven away by the invaders, whom the Indian has learned to regard as his natural enemies. The country increases in sterility towards the south until it becomes probably the most barren district on the American continent. The families and bands which dwell in this region are destitute of horses and other domestic animals. They live in the depths of poverty, and are emaciated from hunger. When they steal horses, mules, and cattle, it is to appease the cravings of appetite ; to keep themselves and their families from starvation. But these acts, with their utter want of moral Percéption, and their degraded and wretched condition, have given rise, to such a strong and general aversion to them that the miners almost universally demand their extermination. Acts of injustice, wrong, and cruelty are not unfrequent. The civil law cannot protect them at so great a distance. An existence maintained under such natural disadvantages must, of necessity, fade away before the encroachments of a superior race. I beg leave respectfully to recommend that all necessary measures be at once adopted by the department to select and establish a suitable reservation for the Shoshones somewhere in the vicinity of Pahranagat. Lands, with proper facilities for irrigation, adapted to agricultural and grazing purposes, might now be obtained.

THE PI-UTES.

            The territory occupied by this tribe is about one hundred miles broad, and is bounded on the north by the country of the Bannocks, on the east by that of the Shoshones, on the south by the State line between Nevada and California, and on the west by the territory of the Washoes. The population is estimated at about four thousand two hundred, including all classes. There are no Indians within this superintendency who have been so much benefited by their intercourse with the whites as the Pi-Utes. Situated immediately on the old emigrant road, at an early day they became acquainted with our habits and customs. Trading posts, stations, and settlements were established among them before the discovery of the rich deposits of silver ore east of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many of them learned the English language, and conducted a limited traffic with the emigrants and settlers.

            The Carson, Truckee, and Humboldt rivers, with the lakes into which these streams emptied, afforded an abundant supply of fish, accessible at all times. Along the margin of these rivers and bordering upon the lakes were extensive bodies of fertile land, producing annually quantities of grass-seed, and of such vegetables as completed the stock of food necessary to the wants of this people. Being thus better fed than the surrounding tribes, they were also much better developed, both physically and mentally. They made themselves serviceable in a variety of ways to the white man. Their willingness to work, and the efficiency and faithfulness with which they discharged the duties in which they were engaged, enabled them to find employment. Some of them earned both food and clothing for themselves and their families. Some of them became dissipated and fell victims to the vices which white men introduced. The great majority, however, resisted to some extent the temptations to which they were exposed. At times, through repeated provocations, they were impelled to take up arms against the whites. Still, upon the whole, they have been peaceable ; have yielded readily to the will of the government, and are now cheerfully obedient to its laws. They are usually teachable, kind, and industrious. Their habits of temperance are proverbial, and deserve special mention. It is not known that there is an inebriate in the tribe. It is rare to find an individual who will even taste intoxicating liquors in any form. They have witnessed the evil effects of intemperance in their early acquaintance with white men, and, with a full conviction of its fatal and destructive tendencies, they have determined to abide by the principles of total abstinence. Their habits of virtue are equally rigid. It is the testimony of their agents, and those who have had ample opportunity of knowing for years, that they are scrupulously chaste in all their intercourse. This is especially true of their women. To these habits and excellence of character may be attributed the fact that they are annually increasing in numbers, and that they are a strong, healthy, active people. Many of them are employed as laborers on the farms of white men in all seasons, but they are especially serviceable during the time of harvest and haymaking. The lessons of husbandry which they thus learn are not forgotten, and a disposition is often manifested to put them in practice on the lands reserved for their special benefit, but hitherto we have been unable, for want of means, to afford them much encouragement.

THE WASHOES.

            This is a small tribe of about five hundred Indians, living in the extreme western part of the State. They are usually a harmless people, with much less physical and mental development than the Pi-Utes, and more degraded morally. They are indolent, improvident, and much addicted to the vices and evil practices common in savage life. They manifest an almost uncontrollable appetite for intoxicating drinks. They are sensual and filthy, and are annually diminishing in numbers from the diseases contracted through their indulgences. A few have learned the English language, and will do light work for a reasonable compensation. They spend the winter months about the villages and habitations of white men, from whom they obtain tolerable supplies of food and clothing. The spring, summer, and

116      NEVADA SUPERINTENDENCY.   

autumn months are spent in fishing about Washoe and Tahoe lakes and the streams which flow through their country. They also gather grass-seed and pine-nuts, hunt rabbits, hares, and ducks.

            There is no suitable place for a reservation in the bounds of their territory, and, in view of their rapidly diminishing numbers and the diseases to which they are subjected, none is required.

RESERVATIONS.

            Within the bounds of this superintendency there are but three. One is a reservation made for the purpose of securing timber and lumber for the benefit of the Pi-Utes. This tract of land was well selected, properly surveyed, and lies within the territory of the Washoes. It is not adapted to the purposes of agriculture, and the Indians seldom even pass over it. It consists of about twenty thousand acres, or nearly one-fifth of the best timbered land in the State. The Pacific railroad passes through the centre, and that company will claim every alternate section.

            It is found, also, that it is exceedingly difficult to protect this timber. Men gradually encroach upon it, either wilfully or ignorantly, despite all the vigilance which can be used to prevent them. As the timber in other parts of the State is consumed, and as the railroad progresses, this difficulty will increase. It is a fact, also, that since the protection of the lands reserved for the Indians about Pyramid lake, a young and vigorous growth of timber has sprung up, which, in a few years at most, will afford a supply for all practical purposes ; so that the timber on the reservation above named will not be wanted, as was at first supposed.

            In view of all the circumstances and facts in the case, I respectfully recommend that this reservation be sold to the best possible advantage, and that the proceeds be applied to the common benefit of all the Indian tribes under the supervision of this superintendency, upon such conditions as the department may decide.

            The Truckee River reservation includes Pyramid lake and a portion of the adjacent country, and is well adapted to grazing and agricultural purposes. The soil is fresh and fertile, and the climate mild and healthful. Several acres of ground have been ploughed and were planted with potatoes and other vegetables in the proper season, and now are yielding a fair return. This experiment, made without cost to the government, I am happy to say has been a fine success, and at once proves the productiveness of the soil and the disposition of the Pi-Ute Indians to labor for their own support.

            From the accompanying reports of Agent Campbell and of Farmer Thomas, you will see that an attempt was also made to cultivate a portion of the Walker River reservation last spring. The particulars of this effort, with the results, are fully stated in the reports mentioned. This and the Truckee River reservation are very similar in many characteristics, although separated by the distance of seventy miles or more. They are each selected for the use and benefit of the Pi-Utes ; are alike situated many miles from any considerable body of fertile land which may hereafter be occupied by white men, and are surrounded by ranges of mountains and sandy plains. Each includes several thousand acres of good farming and grass land, which only needs irrigation and proper cultivation to produce abundantly every variety of cereals and vegetables. The facilities for irrigation are not surpassed. Never-failing streams, affording ample supplies of pure fresh water, from the snows of the Sierras, flow down and form lakes in the centre of each, of no inconsiderable size. Both streams and lakes abound in the finest trout and other fish, and are thus never-failing reservoirs of food upon which the Indian delights to live. Such are the provisions which a prudent forethought has wisely made for the future wants of these children of the desert.

            But the time is at hand when this people begin to regard these reservations as their homes and only sure hope for a support. Their country is rapidly passing from them. Every garden spot and tillable acre of land is now being sought out and occupied by white men. Their groves of piñon are disappearing before the strokes of his axe, their grass-seed is consumed by his herds, the antelope and mountain sheep are killed or driven away, and, although there is some compensation in the employment given in the harvest field and elsewhere, still the Indian must look for a reliable and permanent supply of his wants to the products of these lands sacredly set apart for him. But he has no skill in husbandry, and no implements of culture. He has shown himself ready and willing to labor, and already deeply feels his necessities, and looks with anxious expectation to that government upon which we have taught him to rely.

            I therefore earnestly recommend that such liberal provisions as the department may determine be made for the support of two good faithful practical farmers, and that they be placed upon these reservations, supplied with all necessary implements, seed, and whatever else may be necessary to enable them to begin the work of cultivation, by enclosing farms, breaking the soil, preparing ditches and canals for irrigation, so that at the proper time next spring they may sow and plant and instruct the Indians in the various departments of agriculture

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SCHOOLS.

            With the occupation and improvement of the reservations, as above indicated, there should be introduced a system of education founded upon the " manual labor" plan. Experience has shown that the children of savage tribes should be warmly clad and well fed upon good wholesome food. Then they should be taught to labor. Habits of patient industry should be formed and cultivated. They should be led to think by lessons concerning objects presented to their senses, and impressed by oral instruction. Books may be introduced by degrees, and thus the attention gained, the powers of the intellect aroused, and the elementary branches successfully studied. If this course should be pursued, under a firm and gentle form of moral government, I can scarcely doubt that the mental energies would be successfully elicited, the moral nature purified, and the whole character elevated. It is not maintained that under such instruction and discipline the rising generation would become highly cultivated or fully civilized. It is only hoped that the race might be improved; that the child, when grown, would be less a savage and more of a true man than he would have been otherwise ; that he might have a practical knowledge of agriculture ; be able to read and write ; be a good law-abiding citizen, and become virtuous and happy to the extent of his capacities.

            In view of these considerations, I have the honor to recommend that some provision be made for the establishment of a system of instruction founded upon the plan thus briefly set forth.

            Hoping that this brief review of the condition and wants of the Indians in this superintendency, and the recommendations I have made, may serve to awaken an abiding interest in their behalf, I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

H. G. PARKER,

Superintendent Indian Affairs, Nevada.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner, Washington, D. C.

__________

No. 30.

WALKER RIVER INDIAN RESERVE,

August 22, 1866.

            SIR: I have the honor to submit my first annual report as agent for Indians in the State of Nevada.

            Before entering into a detailed account of the condition of each tribe, there are matters of importance, affecting the general interests of the Indian service within this State, of which I deem it necessary to speak.

            By the changes recently made in the southern and eastern boundary of the State, fifteen hundred souls have been added to our Indian population, placing the total number at about ten thousand. These Indians are dispersed over the entire country, living in small bands or families wherever the natural productions of the earth are sufficient to sustain life. The general character of this country is that of the most sterile on the continent, being almost entirely devoid of game. The principal dependence of the Indians has always been the pine-nuts and grass-seed, though fish constitutes an item of importance. This character of country has forced the Indian to the adoption of habits of industry, economy, and foresight.

            If there are any treaty stipulations existing between any of the tribes and the United States, excepting with the western Shoshone bands, I have no knowledge of them. This condition of affairs may be regarded as favorable, providing the Indians receive equal consideration with those having such stipulations.

            Experience among them convinces me that they are better satisfied with unexpected favors than with those long and anxiously looked for.

            Considering the nature of this country, with the character of its white population, pioneer and progressive, it may be suggested that any scheme involving a removal of the Indians to a place of greater security from intrusion by the white man is impracticable, and here, at least, they must occupy the country in common. Such being the case, it becomes of the first importance, in order to preserve and civilize the former, and maintain peace between the two races, that the individuals of each race that commit crimes upon the other should receive sure and proper punishment. The Indians have been taught that their Great Father at Washington will redress their grievances, and punish the offenders ; but, from the manner in which justice has been dealt out to them in this State, they can now refer to many precedents which show that such is not the case. In no instance has a white ever been punished according to law for the murder of an Indian, or an Indian for the murder of a white.

            At present there are confined at Fort Churchill two Walker River Pi-Utes for the murder of Stuart and Rabe, in February, 1865. They were arrested in April following, by United

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States troops, upon the Walker reservation, and afterwards turned over to the authorities of Esmeralda county for trial. With tools furnished them they broke jail, returned to the reservation, and, with the assistance of a few relatives, killed the Indian who first informed of the murder. After much difficulty and delay they were recaptured.

            The effects of this affair have been injurious. It has encouraged those among the whites who favor extermination ; while, among the Indians, those who were anxious and willing that the offenders should be brought to justice now fear to take an active part against them.

            During the summer of 1865, four Bannock Indians who had been engaged in murdering and plundering were delivered by the military to the civil authorities of Humboldt county. The posse taking them in charge shot them down under the pretext of their trying to escape. While these Indians no doubt deserved their fate, yet, could they have received it through some form of trial, and in the presence of Indians, the example could not have been other wise than beneficial. These instances are cited for the purpose of showing you that we are without any form of justice to aid in the work of civilizing the Indians.

            Officers of the law defend their course by urging the impracticability of convicting an Indian under the laws of this State, and that the counties are unable to bear the expense, &c., all of which is in a great measure true.

            That policy is best to pursue towards Indians that holds them, so far as possible, individually (instead of tribally) accountable for their misdeeds, and unless some system of justice be established on our frontier that is both inexpensive and certain to punish those who are known to be guilty and are universally admitted to be so by their tribe, (as was the case with the two Indian prisoners referred to above.) no punishment will ever be inflicted, while, in time, an accumulation of wrongs will increase very much the chances of an Indian war, in which the many suffer for the acts of the few.

            The murder of Stuart and Rabe, according to the prisoners' own story, (told in their simple and ignorant way,) was committed solely for the purpose of plunder. The circumstantial evidence which is admissible in court against them, however, is extremely defective.

            The Indians, in whose territory mines have been found of sufficient richness to warrant the erection of quartz mills and the settlement of the country, have been in a great measure compensated for the destruction of their resources in the pay received from the whites for labor performed, and, in accommodating themselves to the new order of things, have shown great aptitude. The need, however, of assistance from the government for the purpose of cultivating the reserves which we have, and in the establishment and cultivation of others, is most urgent. This arises from the fact that it is impossible to foretell when or what number of the many embryo mining districts that are within this State may attract to their different localities a large population.

            There are three reservations within this State: the Walker, by road, sixty-five miles east ; the Pyramid, seventy-five north ; and the Timber reserve, forty northwest of Carson City. The abandonment of all that portion of the Pyramid reserve lying within ten miles of its southern boundary line includes the saw-mill site and the farm which Agent Lockhart essayed to improve. The improvements are worthless, but the Indians have sustained a loss of at least fifteen hundred acres of tillable land, which is now occupied by settlers.

            In order to give the department a more correct idea of the location of the several tribes within this State, I herewith transmit a map of Nevada, on which I have marked, in red ink, the names of tribes, their population, and the boundary lines of the respective districts over which they roam.

            The following estimates are made for the improvement of the Walker and Pyramid reserves, and also for the current and contingent expenses of this agency for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868. The prices given in the schedule are as they prevail at the present time at Carson City. Teams and supplies of all kinds can be purchased at least twenty-five per cent. cheaper in the fall than in the spring of the year.

            If the appropriations are made, farming operations should commence at the reservations by the first day of August, 1867. It might then be reasonably expected that at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, there would be upon each reserve three hundred acres of land under cultivation, and eight miles irrigating ditch completed.

            The following schedule of articles is requested for the Pyramid reserve :

            Salary of superintending farmer                                             $1,000 00

            Salary of assistant farmer                                                              800 00

            Cost of farm-house and necessary out-buildings                         2,500 00

            Cost of six thousand rations, at forty cents each                        2,900 00

            Cost of eighteen yoke of oxen, with yokes and chains               3,150 00

            Cost of blankets and clothing.                                                   1,500 00

            Cost of two ox wagons                                                                   400 00                  

            Cost of four ploughs and two harrows                                          300 00      

            Cost of shovels, spades, and hoes, one dozen each                          72 00                  

            Cost of harvesting and haying tools                                              145 00

            Cost of axes and grub hoes, one-half dozen each                            80 00      

            Cost of four thousand feet of lumber, for fluming                       160 00                  

            Cost of blacksmith and carpenter tools                                         250 00                  

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            Cost of five riding horses and two saddles                                   $600 00

            Cost of two shovel ploughs and corn cultivators                             50 00

            Cost of seed wheat and barley for two hundred and fifty acres of land.                                                                                                                                    1,000 00

            Cost of seed potatoes and garden seed                                          250 00

            Cost of four milch cows                                                                 200 00

            Cost of five hogs                                                                            100 00

                                                                                                             14,957 00

            For the Walker reserve, the same as above                              14,957 00

            Travelling expenses of agent and interpreter                             1,000 00

            Salary of interpreter                                                                      500 00

            Contingent expenses                                                                     586 00

            Total amount asked for                                                            32,000 00

                                                                                                            ==========

            The information herein given concerning the Shoshone and other tribes in the eastern, and the Bannocks of the northern part of the State, is, in consequence of an entire absence of funds since my taking charge of this agency, mainly derived from a former experience among them, and from other reliable sources.

WASHOES.

            Commencing at the western boundary of the State, we have first the Washoe tribe, numbering about five hundred, and occupying a tract of country one hundred miles long, north and south, by twenty-five in width. There is no reservation within their district except the timber reserve, which is not adapted to cultivation, nor arable land which is not occupied. There is, however, a large amount of waste country over which they can roam unmolested for all the future if they wish to gratify their propensities in that respect.

These Indians are a peaceable and inoffensive people, inclined to use intoxicating liquor, occasionally to excess, and practice the immoralities common to Indians generally. They are disinclined to labor, though in this respect a change for the better is gradually taking place. In food and clothing they are generally quite well supplied. Nothing can be done to better their condition or prospects without a large outlay of money. I would, however, recommend the usual issue of clothing each year, and, in ease of a severe winter, beef and flour in sufficient quantities to relieve their necessities.

PI-UTES.

            This tribe inhabits a country two hundred miles long by one hundred and twenty broad, lying parallel and east of that of the Washoes. They number about four thousand two hundred, and are divided into five distinct bands. South of Walker lake are the Mono Pi-Utes, numbering four hundred, and under Chief Waugh-adz-ah-bo. They are closely allied to the Walker River or Ocki Pi-Utes, numbering fifteen hundred, and located in the vicinity of Walker river and lake and Carson river and upper lake, under Chief Oderie and Sub-chiefs Joaquin and E-sah-dawh, or Young Cayote. At the lower Carson lake are the Toy Pi-Utes, numbering eight hundred, and under Chief Johnson. They affiliate with the Coo-er-ee and Sidocaw bands, the former of which is located in the vicinity of Pyramid lake, and numbers some seven hundred, under Chief Young Winnemucca. The latter is located in the vicinity of Humboldt lake and river, and numbers about eight hundred, under Chief Sue.

            The Mono and Octi bands should ultimately be settled upon the Walker and the Coo-er-ee, Toy and Sidocaw upon the Pyramid reserves. These reserves are well adapted for the purposes designed. Each contains an extensive fishery and some grazing country, with about three thousand acres of arable land, from which white neighbors are barred to a distance by intervening sand plains and mountains. The improvements now upon these reservations consist of a small plank house upon each, with the addition of an adobe stable at the Walker. These buildings are but temporary affairs and must soon be replaced by others which are larger and better suited to the requirements. On neither has any land ever been cultivated worthy of mention, there not having been either teams or tools for that purpose.

            During the past year the tribe has maintained the most friendly relations with the whites ; even the little troubles that were usually arising between them and the settlers have nearly ceased. They are extensively employed throughout the country as farm-hands, especially during the harvest season. For the purpose of securing employment they resort to the towns and mining camps in large numbers, and by their industrious habits and orderly behavior have gained praise and good will from our citizens. Their character, when compared with that of Indians generally, is distinguished by moral habits and a teachable nature. Usually they are well clad in good woollen goods ; and I will here take occasion to recommend that hereafter not more than three thousand dollars' worth of blankets and clothing be purchased annually for the Pi-Ute Indians, and that these be kept at the Walker and Pyramid reserves, and issued only to those Indians who may hereafter be engaged there in cultivating the soil.

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Indians not so engaged have ample opportunities for procuring a sufficiency. This would leave a cash balance that could be applied to purchasing teams, tools, &c., and at the same time exert a most beneficial effect upon the Indians. Two manual-labor schools upon each reserve would no doubt prove a success. The personal property of the tribe is worth about $12,000, consisting of four hundred ponies at $30 per head. This kind of property they are increasing very rapidly by purchasing from the whites. The amount to which they are benefited thereby, however, is questionable.

            I cannot close this report of these Indians without urging the necessity of an appropriation for the purpose of improving both the Walker and Pyramid reserves. The natural obstacles to be overcome in starting farming operations preclude the idea that the Indians could succeed without assistance. The first thing necessary to insure success is an irrigating canal, which should have a capacity equal to the carrying of fifteen hundred inches of water, which, when required, could be continued for miles.

BANNOCKS.

            North of and adjoining the Pi-Utes are the Bannocks. Formerly, these Indians were in the habit of visiting Pyramid lake, where I have met and talked with them. Judging from the nature of their country and from information received from military officers, I estimate the number of that portion of the tribe which inhabits this State at fifteen hundred. Since May, 1865, the larger portion of them have been acting in concert with the hostile Snake or Bannock Indians of southern Idaho. This combination has also been re-enforced by a large number of renegades from other tribes, and at present remain unsubdued, though from three to six companies of United States troops have been actively employed against them since the outbreak. In point of numbers they are formidable, and seem to be imbued with a spirit of dash and bravery quite unusual, while, being well mounted and armed, with the advantage of knowing the country perfectly, they are enabled to disperse and rally at given points with a rapidity that defies pursuit or a knowledge of their whereabouts.

SHOSHONES.

            To the east of the Pi-Utes are the Shoshones, numbering about twenty-five hundred. Their language is very different from that of either the Bannocks or Pi-Utes. The section which they inhabit is large in extent, but extremely barren in resources, and as the Indians are often reduced to the dire necessity of eating reptiles and other loathsome things, it is not surprising that when in such straits they should occasionally relieve their wants by killing cattle and prospecters' horses. In clothing they are poorly supplied, having but few opportunities of getting any except those given them by the government. During the past year their behavior has been excellent. They are willing laborers, and would no doubt gladly concentrate upon some suitable reserve, where, with assistance from the government in the shape of teams, tools, &c., they would soon be enabled to gain a much better living than they now enjoy, with but little or no greater labor. The reserve in Ruby valley, which was formerly intended for their use, is now occupied by settlers and the Overland Mail Company's farm. I would recommend that another be set apart for them upon the headwaters of the Humboldt river. From investigation it is found that the destitution that at times prevails in this and other tribes of the Great Basin is not the result of a partial settlement of the country which they occupy, but that suffering and scarcity at times forms a part of their history from time immemorial.

            To the east of the Shoshones are the Goships or Goshu-Utes, and to the southeast the Pai-Utes. The latter form no part of the great Pi-Ute tribe to the west of them. They inhabit the region that was ceded to this State by Congress during the last session, formerly a part of Utah and Arizona.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

FRANKLIN CAMPBELL,

United States Indian Agent.

Hon. H. G. PARKER,

            Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Carson City, Nevada.

__________

No. 31.

WALKER RIVER RESERVE,

August 28, 1866.

            SIR : In compliance with your instructions I have the honor to submit this my annual report as local agent and farmer for the Walker reserve.

            I took charge here the 1st of April last, and with the assistance of the interpreter, R. A. Washington, commenced clearing brush for a field of three or four acres.

            On the 20th of April I started in breaking the piece with three yoke of oxen which you

NEVADA SUPERINTENDENCY.    121

had hired for that purpose. After the ground was broken an irrigating ditch was opened which, for want of time and means, is only one thousand yards long.

            An acre of potatoes and one-half acre of corn, and a variety of other vegetables, were planted by the 15th of May. About this time the melting snow in the mountains had raised the river and filled the ditch. Everything would have soon been in fine growing condition but for the breaking of the embankment of the ditch at a point where it crossed a low slough. Before the breach could be repaired the river, in consequence of the cold weather, had receded to its low stage, and did not rise again until the middle of June. By that time two-thirds of the seed potatoes had become as dry as chips, and could never grow. The balance with everything else came up in the latter part of June and grew very finely. There will be about fifty bushels of potatoes, ten of corn, twenty of turnips, and a good supply of beets, onions, cabbages, watermelons, &c. The 1st of July I planted an acre and a half with turnips. The seed came up well, but was quickly devoured by the grasshoppers. I replanted them, but with the same result. These pests, which visit us occasionally, would be pretty thoroughly subdued by a general system of irrigation.

            I have cut and stacked fifteen tons of hay. The yield was very light, for the reason that the river remained at a low stage until a late period in the season.

            The Indians in the vicinity of this agency have been as peaceable as could be desired. They have manifested much interest in my first efforts at farming, and voluntarily offered to assist in any way they could, but having neither provisions to feed them nor tools for them to work with, I was obliged to decline their assistance. They seem to realize the importance of their soon becoming an agricultural people, and would no doubt, with proper management, make good farmers.

            The agricultural land upon this reserve will average about one-quarter of a mile wide and is twenty-four miles long, lying on either bank of the Walker river. Deducting the space occupied by the sloughs and the river bed, the arable land will amount to about three thousand acres. It is all more or less impregnated with salts and alkali, which will disappear, however, with each year's cultivation.

            The average fall in the river is about five feet to the mile, while the good land lies some six feet above the river bed. Therefore, in order to get water upon the surface at all seasons of the year, a ditch without a dam must be at least one mile long. Above the agency three miles a dam can be constructed from rocks which are close to the river bank. A ditch on each side of the river, from the dam down and past the agency as far as it could be taken without fluming past the bluffs which occur occasionally below, would irrigate about seven hundred acres of land.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. A. THOMAS, Farmer.

FRANKLIN CAMPBELL, Esq.,

            United States Indian Agent.

__________

No. 32.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Carson City, Nevada, May 10, 1866.

            SIR : On the 28th of March last I had the honor to address you a communication informing you that certain parties (four white men) had squatted upon the Truckee River reservation with a view to claim and hold for their own use and benefit certain tracts of desirable agricultural land, the same being part of said reservation, &c. On the 10th ultimo I caused a notice to be served upon each of them, requiring them to leave, and to desist from making further settlement and committing further trespass thereon. With the requirements of this notice they refused to comply, whereupon I made application to Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Hooker, commanding the district of Nevada, who promptly furnished me with eight soldiers, under the command of a lieutenant, for the purpose of ejecting them by force if necessary. I proceeded to the reservation, where I met the officer in command, who, with the soldiers, accompanied me to where the squatters were residing.

            On being informed of my intention to eject them by force in case they refused to move, and seeing that I had a sufficient number of United States soldiers to accomplish the object, they expressed their willingness to leave immediately, which they proceeded to do without further delay, promising they would not again make any attempt to claim or settle upon the lands within the limits of the reservation.

            I remain, sir, respectfully, your very obedient servant,           

H. G. PARKER,

Superintendent Indian Affairs, Nevada.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner, Washington, D. C.

122      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 33.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Carson City, Nevada, April 19, 1866.

            SIR : Agreeably to your instructions I have from time to time since their reception made calculations and estimates in relation to the cost of a building suitable for a school-house on one of the reservations in this State, of sufficient capacity to accommodate fifty pupils, including houses for the teachers, and boarding and lodging house for the scholars.

            Much time has necessarily been occupied in computing and ascertaining, from different sources the cost of material and construction, and the collecting of other important facts in relation to the matter. Taking it for granted that the school, if established, will, as set forth in your letter of instructions, be conducted on the manual-labor or industrial principles in connexion with book education, I have, after a careful investigation of the subject, based upon the experience and judgment of intelligent mechanics and builders here, arrived at the conclusion that to erect the buildings for dormitories, refectories, school-rooms, dwelling-house for teachers, and furnish the same, and fence a quantity of land sufficient for the purposes of the school, and furnish the requisite stock, tools, teams, seeds, &c., it will require an expenditure of eleven thousand five hundred dollars, ($11,500.)

            I am of the opinion, however, that if I could have time to personally superintend the construction of the work, it might be done for an amount somewhat less. This, though, would depend to some extent upon the quantity of labor which the Indians might be induced to perform.

            My experience is that the Indians will labor, if they can be led to understand that they are not to be made the victims of misdirected energy by laboring in vain. I have abundant evidence that many of them will make good farmers, in order to become which they only need to be encouraged.

            After the first expenses of such an undertaking were paid, I incline to the opinion that the school could easily be made self-sustaining. Blacksmiths, farmers, and teachers can be procured here for seventy-five dollars per month.

            I have the honor to be, sir, very truly, your obedient servant,           

H. G. PARKER,

Superintendent Indian Affairs, Nevada.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington City, D. C.

__________

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 34.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Great Salt Lake City, Utah, September 20, 1866.

            SIR : I have the honor to submit my annual report of the general condition of Indian affairs within the Utah superintendency for that portion of the year past during which I have been acting as superintendent. The Indian tribes within this superintendency are :

            1.         The eastern bands of Shoshones and the mixed bands of Bannocks and Shoshones. These bands all recognize Washakee as chief. They number about four thousand five hundred souls.

            2.         The northwestern bands of Shoshones. These Indians number about eighteen hundred. Pokatello, Black Beard, and San Pitz are the principal chiefs.

            3.         The western Shoshones. These Indians number about two thousand.

            4.         The Goships or Gosha-Utes. These Indians number about one thousand.

            5.         The Weber-Utes or Cum-umbahs. These Indians number about six hundred.

            6.         The Utahs. These Indians are now principally consolidated into two bands, one under the control of Tabby, who has succeeded to the chieftainship made virtually vacant by the old age and infirmity of Sow-i-et. This band is composed of the Tim-pa-nogs, the Uintas, and the San-pitches, and numbers about four thousand. The other Utahs are known as Pah-Vants, and are controlled by Ranosh, and number about fifteen hundred.

            7.         The Pah-Edes. These Indians number about six hundred. Their principal chief is Tut-sey-gub-bets.

            8.         The Pah-Utes. These Indians number about sixteen hundred.

THE EASTERN BANDS OF SHOSHONES.

            These Indians are under the special supervision of Agent Luther Mann, whose annual report is herewith transmitted. They are the most wealthy of any Indians in the Territory, owing to their hunting grounds embracing much territory still frequented by the buffalo. The robes taken by them on their hunting excursions form an article of traffic of considerable im- 

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.         123

portance, and enable them by the sale of their surplus skins to purchase ponies, ammunition, &c. During the year these Indians have been entirely friendly. Washakee, their chief, is the noblest Indian, both in act and appearance, that I have ever known. When young he spent much of his time for many years in company with the famous Kit Carson, then an adventurous trapper among the Rocky mountains. Carson and his companions had frequent skirmishes with hostile savages, and the familiarity which Washakee thus acquired with the arts of civilized warfare enabled him to rise to the chieftainship of his tribe. It is his boast that he has never shed the blood or stolen the property of a white man. The propriety of soon locating these Indians upon a suitable reservation is discussed at large in the report of Agent Mann, and his views are such as meet my entire approbation. The Wind River valley, which is the favorite hunting ground for these Indians, will be the most suitable locality, unless it shall be found to be rich in mines of gold and silver and springs of petroleum. Should this be the case, it would not perhaps be the policy of the government to prevent the development of its mineral resources by setting it apart as a reservation. Its location, too, is a considerable distance from the usual lines of travel, and would render the transportation of supplies, presents, &c., somewhat inconvenient and expensive. The miners are, however, already prospecting this valley, and the results of their researches will soon be known. The rapid development of the surrounding territory will soon render the isolation of the valley less complete, and should it not be valuable for mining an exploration of the same should be made, and the Shoshones permanently located thereon. These Indians receive an annuity of $10,000, according to the provisions of the treaty of July 2, 1863. This amount is usually sent in goods, and is ample to comfortably clothe the Indians in connexion with the proceeds of the sales of their surplus robes and furs.

NORTHWESTERN SHOSHONES.

            These Indians are very poor, their country affording but little game. They are peaceably disposed, and will probably become merged in the eastern bands within a few years, should Washakee live and retain his popularity and influence. A considerable number of these Indians, including the two chiefs Pokatello and Black Beard, have this season accompanied Washakee to the Wind River valley on his annual buffalo hunt. These Indians receive an annuity of $5,000 in goods by the provisions of the treaty of July 30, 1863. This is sufficient to clothe them comfortably, but it is necessary to furnish them, during the winter season especially, a considerable amount of provisions to keep them from starving. Neither these Indians nor the eastern bands have as yet displayed any inclination to agriculture, or an abandonment of their nomadic life.

WESTERN SHOSHONES.

            These Indians range throughout western Utah and eastern Nevada. They are extremely poor, their country being in great part a desert, and almost entirely destitute of game. These Indians are also the recipients of an annuity of $5,000. They are well disposed and friendly, no depredations of any kind having been brought to my notice during the past year. It is necessary to distribute a considerable amount of provisions yearly to these Indians to prevent starvation among them. Their only offences for many years have been in stealing occasionally an ox when in danger of actual starvation.

THE GOSHIPS.

            These Indians range between the Great Salt Lake and the land of the western Shoshones. Many of them are quite industrious, maintaining themselves in good part by herding stock, and other labor for the settlers. Their country is destitute of game, and it is necessary to furnish them with a considerable amount of provisions. They are the recipients of an annuity of $1,000, which is entirely insufficient to supply their wants. It should be at least $5,000. These Indians are entirely friendly.

THE WEBER-UTES.

            These Indians are the most worthless and indolent of any in the Territory. Their land is nearly all occupied by settlers, among whom they beg their maintenance. To-Tado, or Little Soldier, their principal chief, is a worthy and reliable Indian. All the band are well disposed. They are much opposed to leaving their present haunts to locate upon a reservation.

THE UTAHS.

            Sow-i-et, long the head chief of the Utahs, now claims to be 130 years of age. He is nearly blind, and exceedingly infirm. During the past year he has virtually abandoned all claims to the chieftainship, so far as concerns the supervision and immediate control of the Indians, and Tabby is now recognized as the leading chief. Sow-i-et is still much revered by his people, and his voice is and has always been in favor of peace. The Uintah-Utes occupy the country set apart in 1861 as a reservation for the Indian tribes of Utah. During

124      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

the past year nearly all the Tim-pa-nogs and San-pitches have removed to Uintah valley, and while preserving their organization in part, recognize Tabby as chief. The Tim-pa-nogs and San-pitches are much more disposed to agricultural pursuits than the Uintahs, and their influence in this respect will be advantageous. All the Utahs are now well disposed and desirous of peace, although some months since there was much danger of a general outbreak, as is more fully detailed in another portion of this report. The Pah-Vants are also favorably disposed to agricultural pursuits. Their Chief, Ranosh, is a most worthy and reliable man, and with his tribe will probably be removed to the Uintah Valley reservation during the coming year. Early in the spring I procured to be ploughed for these Indians, at Cora creek and Deseret, about twenty-five acres of land, and furnished to them seed grain, potatoes, and corn. They have taken the entire care of the crop, and have raised several hundred bushels of wheat, corn, and potatoes, which will greatly assist them during the coming winter. The country now occupied by the Pah -Vants is destitute of game, nearly all that portion not a desert being occupied by settlements, and it is necessary to furnish to them a considerable amount of provisions at all seasons of the year.

THE PAH-EDES.

            The country occupied by these Indians is almost a desert. They are disposed to follow agricultural pursuits, cultivating small tracts of corn and potatoes. They are the poorest Indians in the Territory, and it is necessary for them to be in great part supported by the government and the settlers. They will be located on a reservation without difficulty so soon as the advantages of that system can be practically demonstrated. They occupy nearly all the southern half of the Territory, and are all friendly.

THE PAH-UTES.

            These Indians range principally in the southwestern portion of Utah and the southeastern portion of Nevada. They closely resemble the Pah-Edes, with whom they constantly mingle and intermarry. They are equally destitute and in need of aid. Some trouble occurred between a small band of these Indians and a party of miners at Pahranagat valley, originating in some of the whites, under false pretences, dispossessing the Indians of a small valley where they had been accustomed to raise corn. The Indians stole several horses in retaliation. The miners pursued and killed four Indians, after which peace was again established. No whites were killed. With this exception the tribe has been friendly, and in this instance the fault was entirely that of the whites.

EDUCATION AND WEALTH.

            There are no schools of any kind yet established among the Indians in Utah. The wealth of the Indians consists almost entirely in horses, of which some bands have a considerable number. No accurate report can be made in respect to the number owned by the different bands, but from the best information I can obtain I should place it as follows :

                        Eastern bands of Shoshones                    500

                        Northwestern bands of Shoshones          100

                        Weber-Utes                                               50

                        Goships                                                     20

                        Utahs                                                       400

                                    Total number of horses           1, 070

                                                                                    =======

            The horses are all of the breed usually known as Mustangs, being very small, but capable of great endurance. Their average value would be probably about $30, making the wealth of the tribe in the Territory $32,100.

INDIAN HOSTILITIES.

            A small band of outlaws, under the command of a chief named Black Hawk, have been engaged in hostilities for nearly two years. Their number did not at first exceed fifty men, and in the various skirmishes which have taken place, nearly that number have been killed, but accessions have been continually had from among the more reckless Indians of the different bands, so that their number has increased to about sixty men. They have made raids upon several of the small and defenceless settlements in the southern portion of the Territory for the purpose of stealing cattle and horses, fighting when pursued by the settlers, who sought to recover their stock. During the present year they have made two such raids upon the settlements of Salina and Round valley, stealing in each instance nearly two hundred cattle and horses. I applied in April last to the officer in command of the United States forces at Camp Douglas, in this Territory, asking him to station one or two companies of soldiers in the southeastern portion of the Territory to protect the settlers. He was not able to do so, however, as he was expecting that all his command, being volunteers, would shortly

            UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.         125

be mustered out of service. The settlers raised some two hundred men from various parts of the Territory, who were stationed at the more exposed points, since which time no further depredations have been committed. I have made several trips to different parts of the Territory, accompanied by Indian guides, in the endeavor to have an interview with Black Hawk, but have been unable, as yet, to meet him. I have also sent several Indian runners to find and endeavor to induce him to meet me, and have recently received assurance that he was indisposed to further hostilities, and willing and anxious for peace. I expect to meet him at some point within the coming one or two months, and think no further trouble need be apprehended from him or his band.

            San Pitch, chief of the band of Indians known as San Pitches, was one of the signers of the treaty made during the summer of 1865, at Spanish Fork. He was, in March last, accused of having furnished Black Hawk with a quantity of ammunition, and was, with several of his principal men, arrested by the settlers on such charge. A guard was placed over the prisoners at Manti, in San Pete county. Their squaws, who were allowed to visit them, secreted knives about their persons and gave them to the Indians. San Pitch then attacked the guard, and in the fracas which ensued escaped, although he was so severely wounded that he died a few days after. He was a bad Indian, and, from investigations I have since made, I am satisfied that he had been for a long time furnishing Black Hawk with ammunition, and also advising him as to the most feasible points for stealing cattle. He was, however, a relative of Tabby, the chief of the Uintah Utahs, and his death caused great excitement throughout the tribe. The Uintahs were previously somewhat ill-disposed from the non-reception of their presents, and from the fact that almost no provisions had been furnished them during the winter. The winter was one of unusual severity, and they had nearly perished of starvation. Agent L. B. Rinney, in charge at the Uintah agency, was guilty of gross neglect of duty, and had expended the liberal appropriation made by the government in such a manner as to be of almost no benefit to the Indians. The Indians were greatly exasperated against him from his having made countless promises to them which were not fulfilled. The causes above named united in producing much ill-feeling among the Indians, who prepared for a general war. Large numbers were assembled in Uintah valley. The laborers at the Indian farm were much alarmed and left the reservation. Matters stood thus in March last, when I assumed the duties of superintendent. Agent Rinney was shortly after relieved, and I sent Thomas Carter, esq., to the reservation as special agent, with a few laborers, to commence work on the farm. I assured the Indians that as soon as it was possible to cross the mountains with teams I would visit them, and distribute an abundance of presents and provisions, and explain to them the intentions of the government.  In May I started accordingly, with four wagons loaded with goods and flour. Ex-Governor Brigham Young sent out at the same time some seventy beef cattle, as a present to the Indians. I reached the valley with much difficulty, owing to the high water and deep snow in the mountains. After remaining nearly two weeks, holding numerous councils with the Indians, everything was arranged on a basis mutually satisfactory. The Indians were convinced that all the promises on the part of the government would be kept, and have since conducted themselves with entire propriety.

            From the foregoing general statement of the present condition of our Indians, it will be seen that matters, so far as regards the preservation of the peace, are now upon an exceedingly satisfactory basis. The promptness and energy displayed on the part of the Indian department in forwarding the goods for the coming year by early mule trains, which reached this point early in September, will greatly promote the efficiency of the service. The goods for the coming year were purchased at much lower rates than have heretofore been paid, and although still insufficient for the needs of the service, except in cases before named, where specific treaty stipulations have been made with the different tribes, will go far toward making the Indians comfortable during the coming winter. There will still be a necessity for the distribution of a large amount of provisions during the winter, as the Indians are extremely poor, and, like other people, will steal before they will starve.

THE UINTAH AGENCY.

            Owing to the lack of funds, but little has been done during the present season toward preparing the Uintah valley to be the home for all the Utah tribes of Indians, as is contemplated by the various acts of Congress relative to the subject. Nothing had been previously done toward making a farm at the agency. Special Agent Carter has accomplished all that could have been done in the limited time and with the means available. Some twenty-five acres of land have been cleared from thick sage bushes, ploughed, enclosed with a substantial fence, and put into crops of wheat, corn, potatoes, turnips, carrots, &c. ; irrigation ditches have been constructed to water the whole, and the crops, except corn, are excellent. The valley is admirably adapted for both cultivation and grazing. The Indians have performed considerable labor at the farm, and shown great aptitude as herdsmen. It will doubtless be found more advantageous and economical to furnish them with stock, and to train them to its care and management, than to engage in extensive farming operations: A specific appropriation should be made for this agency for the coming year ; no provision whatever was made for the current year, and the expenses at the agency have been defrayed from the fund

126      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

for incidental expenses, which was before insufficient to meet the demand upon it. This fund should be almost entirely expended in the purchase of provisions to furnish the Indians during the winter, when they cannot support themselves, and are dependent, in a great measure, upon the bounty of the government and the settlers.

            My experience with Indians in this Territory has satisfied me that by judicious management no trouble will be had in maintaining with them the most peaceful relations. I have never been among any people who appreciate more highly any exhibition of kindness and good will. I have known no instance of difficulty between them and the whites in which the Indians were the aggressors. They realize fully the power of the government, and would at all times greatly prefer to remain at peace. In this, as in the other newer Territories, are numerous reckless and unprincipled adventurers, who, for purposes of traffic, will sometimes give the Indians whiskey, or will sometimes shoot an Indian from sheer wantonness, and thus cause the lives of innocent whites to be taken in retaliation for their acts. Fewer occurrences of this nature, however, transpire here than in any other Territory, owing to the fact that the people of this Territory are almost entirely engaged in agricultural pursuits. The most entire tranquillity can be preserved among the Indians in this Territory if they be treated by the government with kindness and liberality. A bale of blankets or a sack of flour will accomplish more than its weight in gold expended in prosecuting military operations against the Indians. It is, too, infinitely more in accordance with the spirit of our institutions and our professions of Christianity and civilization as a people to treat these poor and ignorant wards of the nation with a spirit of enlightened charity, than to put in practice the doctrine of military surveillance and extermination, which is worthy of the darkest ages of the race. Within a comparatively short period, with proper management, the Indians of this Territory can be made nearly self-supporting, and may look forward to a future of peace, comfort, and tranquillity, in entire subordination to law.

            I should be doing injustice to my own feelings did I fail to mention in this report the cordial co-operation I have at all times experienced from all the principal Mormons throughout the Territory. In the execution of my official duties I have been obliged often to ask their assistance and co-operation, and in no instance have I failed to receive the most cheerful and hearty aid.

            I transmit herewith an estimate for the necessary appropriations for the service during the coming year.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. H. HEAD,

Superintendent Indian Affairs.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner Indian Affairs.

__________

No. 35.

FORT BRIDGER AGENCY, September 15, 1866.

            SIR: In compliance with the regulations of the Indian department, I have the honor to submit the following report relative to the affairs of this agency :

            About the 20th of September, 1865, the season being far advanced and game scarce, the Shoshones immediately set out for their winter hunting grounds across the mountains, if possible to reach there before the snow fell.

            The whole tribe accompanied Chief Washakee thither, with the exception of five or ten lodges, who passed the winter on Green river, about fifty miles from here, where they subsisted on the small game there to be found, and making no demands upon me for assistance. The main portion of the tribe proceeded to the valleys of the Pawpawgee and Wind rivers, where they spent the winter hunting the buffalo, deer, elk, and mountain sheep. They procured dining the season upwards of one thousand buffalo robes and a few dressed skins of other named animals, a much larger collection than during any previous year. They also secured a good supply of dried meat. Although the past was the severest winter on record for the past ten years, the Indians of my agency never fared better nor looked so fat and healthy as they did on their arrival here this summer, proving conclusively that they had fared sumptuously every day. Such well-fed Indians could not be otherwise than healthy, so that the mortality among them has fallen far below the average.

            I did not have a favorable opportunity for taking the census of the tribe this year, but estimate the number of Shoshones at nineteen hundred. Aside from the natural increase by births, which has not fallen short of former years, there has been a considerable addition from neighboring tribes. About four hundred Bannocks, under a chief named Tahgay, (a very worthy Indian, and in whom I fully repose confidence,) who have been residing in the vicinity of Soda Springs and along the Snake river, passed over into the Wind River valley and located themselves adjacent to the Shoshones, with whom they are at peace. They also accompanied the Shoshones on their visit to this agency, and, from all that I can learn of them, I think they desire to be on the most friendly terms with the whites. I did not have any presents for them, and was informed that they had not received any from the Great

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.         127

Father in times past. The neglect, if any, must be owing to their being so far removed from any agency. I supplied them, however, with a few articles of food for their immediate wants out of my own pocket, and would recommend that such provision be made for them in future that they too may receive a share of the annuity goods with their neighbors, the Shoshones.

            These Bannocks will undoubtedly return to this agency once or twice during the year.

            The supply of presents for the Indians of this agency reached me in due time, was ample in quantity, and gave universal satisfaction.

            Shortly before the distribution I had the pleasure of meeting, in company with Superintendent Head, Washakee and his chiefs in council, on which occasion the superintendent made them a speech, and the best of good feeling prevailed. Washakee has lately received, under the pledge of friendship from the President, a fine large silver medal, bearing the image and superscription of the Great Father.

            There were present at the distribution about one hundred and fifty Utes from the Uintah agency, who came for the purpose of trading with their neighbors, the Shoshones. Some of my Indians were dilatory in coming in this season, but I did not distribute the goods until all, or nearly all, had arrived. The cause of this delay is the scarcity of game and the consequent difficulty in maintaining an independent sustenance at this post, for they have but little money to buy food with. I would here observe that the location of this agency is a bad one, and for this reason : the Indians are obliged to come a long way from their hunting grounds to receive their presents, and by the time they reach me their stock of provisions is well-nigh exhausted, and for them to maintain themselves in this vicinity without an abundance of game is an impossibility, and discourages some from coming at all. I would therefore recommend that a portion of their annuities be given them in money, to enable them to defray the expenses of subsistence during their visit at this agency.

            In this connexion I would again recommend the plan of locating this tribe upon a permanent reservation and establishing thereon an agency, and make such other arrangements as I have heretofore suggested for improving their condition.

            The valley of the Wind River mountains is the territory which the tribe have selected for their home, and this is the place where such a reservation should be set apart and an agency established.

            The country abounds in game, has a very mild climate, and possesses agricultural advantages which make it a great desideratum to the white man. Numerous oil springs have been discovered and located in the valley of the Pawpawgee, but this tribe are strongly opposed to any invasion of their territory by the whites.

            I greatly fear that these mineral and agricultural resources of the country will turn out to be a bone of contention between the whites and the reds, and would therefore urge that the tribe have a reservation staked out which may be held sacred to them, and not be encroached upon by the whites.

            Several of our citizens are looking toward the Wind River country with a view to its development, and I give you a few extracts from a letter written by one who passed the winter and a part of the spring in the valley. He says: "The air is pure, the water of the best, the climate mild and regular. The soil is not second in fertility to that of Illinois or Iowa, farming land enough to support a population of two hundred thousand persons, the climate well adapted to the growth of small grain and fruit, especially apples and vegetables. There is plenty of timber for building and fencing purposes. The scenery is most beautiful and picturesque. There are two oil springs in the valley, one of which pours forth one hundred barrels per day. There are good indications of stone-coal and iron, with numerous quarries of limestone suitable for building purposes. The foot-hills and valleys are covered, winter and summer, with a luxuriant growth of nutritious grass, making the finest grazing region west of the Missouri. The mountains give indications of mineral deposits. But little snow fell, and what did fall soon disappeared. Stock can be wintered without any feeding. Buffalo, and other game, abounds," &c., &c.

            As long as our Indian tribes are permitted an existence in the land, I contend that they should have a territory assigned them where they can procure a living, instead of being driven away to the poorest tracts of country, where a white man, with all of his superior knowledge, would fail to make a living. Washakee and his tribe deserve a permanent and exclusive reservation in the valley of the Wind river, and I pray you to let them have it at once. The subject demands serious attention, and I hope it will receive a proper consideration. The Indian must be reclaimed from his wild ways, or he will continue to be an expense to the country so long as he lives ; and no plan of rendering him a self-supporting and law-abiding citizen is so effectual as that one which civilizes, educates, and christianizes him, and this work cannot be done save on a reservation.

            The Shoshones have not been engaged in any warfare, offensive or defensive, during the past year with neighboring tribes, have been at peace among themselves, and, I am proud to say, continue faithful to their treaty stipulations.

            I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LUTHER MANN JR.,

United States Indian Agent.

Hon. F. H. HEAD,

            Superintendent Indians Affairs, Great Salt Lake City, U. T.

128      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 36.

OFFICE SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS, UTAH,

Great Salt Lake City, August 13, 1866.

            SIR: Washakee, the chief of the eastern bands of Shoshones, with some three hundred of his men, came in a few days since to make me a visit. He wears about his neck the medal which you sent him by Judge Carter, of Fort Bridger, and with which he is exceedingly pleased. The enclosed photograph was taken at the time of his visit, and is a very good likeness. He is by far the noblest-looking Indian I have ever seen, and his record is untarnished by a single mean action. In your last report you recommended that medals be given Washakee and Ranosh, chief of the Pah-Vants, who is equally deserving of such a testimonial. If possible, I beg you will send me a medal to be presented to Ranosh ; I shall visit his tribe in about six weeks, if the new goods arrive when I expect them, and would like to take it with me. It could be safely transmitted by mail.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. F. H. HEAD,

            Superintendent.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

__________

No. 37.

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY,

Great Salt Lake City, April 30, 1866.

            SIR: Black Hawk, a somewhat prominent chief of the Utah Indians, has been engaged for more than a year past in active hostilities against the settlements in the southern portion of this territory. His band consisted at first of but forty-four men, who were mostly outlaws and desperate characters from his own and other tribes. During the summer and autumn of 1865 he made several successful forays upon the weak and unprotected settlements in San Pete and Sevier counties ; killed in all thirty-two whites, and drove away to the mountains upwards of two thousand cattle and horses.

            Forty of his warriors were killed by the settlers in repelling his different attacks. His success in stealing, however, enabled him to feed abundantly and mount all Indians who joined him, and the prestige acquired by his raids was such that his numbers were constantly on the increase, despite his occasional losses of men. He spent the winter near where the Grand and Green rivers unite to form the Colorado. On the 20th instant he again commenced his depredations by making an attack upon Salina, a small settlement in Sevier county. He succeeded in driving to the mountains about two hundred cattle, killing two men who were guarding them, and compelling the abandonment of the settlement.

            His band, from what I consider entirely reliable information, now numbers one hundred warriors, one half of whom are Navajoes from New Mexico. I am very apprehensive that unless Black Hawk is severely chastised, an Indian war of considerable magnitude may be inaugurated. He has never yet met with a serious reverse, having always attacked small settlements or unprotected families. He has thus acquired a considerable reputation among the various Indian tribes, and I fear many of the more adventurous will join him from the bands now friendly. The ill-feeling engendered by the death of San Pitch, and by the nearly starving condition of the Indians on the Uintah reservation, concerning which I had the honor to address you on the 23d instant, will tend to promote this result.

            In view of these circumstances, and for the purpose of preventing accessions to the ranks of the hostile Indians, I have, after consultation with Governor Durkee, desired Colonel Potter, commanding the United States troops in this district, to send two or three companies of soldiers to that portion of the Territory to protect the settlements and repel further attacks. I have also sent Indian runners to have an interview with Black Hawk, and to urge him to meet me for the purpose of establishing a permanent peace. I have little hope, however, that he will do this, at least before he is defeated, with the loss of some portion of his warriors, as he has heretofore been boldly defiant, rejecting with scorn all overtures for peace. Colonel Potter has telegraphed to General Dodge for instructions in reference to my application. I should be much pleased to have an expression of your views as to the policy to be further pursued in this matter.

            Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

F. H. HEAD,

Superintendent.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington D. C.

UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.         129

No. 38.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, UTAH,

Great Salt Lake City, June 21, 1866.

            I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th May, approving my course thus far relative to the acts of the hostile Utah chief Black Hawk. Immediately, subsequent to my communication of April 30, I started for Corn creek, which is one of the nearest settlements to the scenes of Black Hawk's most recent depredations, and near which Kanosh, with many of his principal men, was encamped. Kanosh is chief of the Pah Vents, and is one of the most thoroughly reliable Indians in the Territory. I took with me some presents, which I distributed to the Pah Vents. I engaged as special interpreter, and sent two or three days in advance of myself, Mr. R. K. James, who was for several years the United States interpreter at Spanish Fork reservation, and whose influence with Black Hawk and his principal men, owing to his personal acquaintance with them for many years, I judged might be of value to me in procuring the desired interview. Mr. James carried a letter to Kanosh from me, asking him to furnish two or three Indians to accompany him to the mountains to find Black Hawk. Kanosh responded at once to my request, but the party returned after an absence of four days with the intelligence that Black Hawk, instead of being fifty miles distant, as I had been advised, was over four hundred miles away, in a southeast direction, having gone to endeavor to procure recruits from among the Elk Mountain Utes, the most powerful tribe in the Territory, who can bring into the field upwards of four thousand warriors. I thereupon sent several Indian runners out upon the trail which Black Hawk would take when he returned towards the settlement, asking him to name a place where he would meet me, and talk of peace. Kanosh also seconded my views, sending to Black Hawk, by the runners, strong recommendations that he meet me and make a permanent peace.

            Various rumors that I had heard from the Indians in Uinta valley, together with some facts communicated to me by Kanosh, made me extremely apprehensive that all the Utah Indians except Kanosh's tribe would join in a general war upon the settlers. The San Pitch Indians, and the various bands known under the general appellation of Goshen Indians, were greatly exasperated at the death of San Pitch, and had all left their usual haunts, and gone over the mountains to the Uinta valley. The Indians in that valley were much disaffected at the non-reception of their presents last fall, which was owing to their not having arrived here in season to be transported to the valley before winter set in. They were still more enraged at not having been fed during the winter, and the winter being an unusually severe one, many had nearly perished of starvation, and a great part of their animals had perished.

            The expenses of the saw-mill at the agency, of cutting hay, &c., had been so great that nothing was left of the appropriation to be expended for the benefit of the Indians. As I stated to Mr. Kinney, I consider the trouble which grew out of the starvation and nakedness of the Indians entirely attributable to Congress, which failed to make a sufficient appropriation. The appropriation made, although apparently a liberal one, was barely sufficient to satisfy the wants of Agent Kinney and his friends, and nothing at all was left for the Indians, who were somewhat foolishly annoyed at the seeming inequality of the division.

            The Indians were also greatly disappointed that nothing had been done towards cultivating the farm which had been promised them in the Uinta valley. They claimed that they had sold their farm at Spanish Fork and their claim to other lands to the government in consideration that a good farm be made for them at Uinta valley, but that no preparation had been made for fulfilling the promises on the part of the government. To quiet this source of disaffection, as well as because I considered it would be pecuniarily advantageous, I had sent, about the middle of April, four laborers to Uinta, under charge of Special Agent Thomas Carter, with instructions to clear up, plough, and put into wheat, corn, carrots, potatoes, &c., as much land as possible I might here state that Mr. Carter has accomplished much in the way of farming for the limited time and labor at his command, having cleared from the thick sage bushes, ploughed, fenced, and irrigated some twenty-five acres of land, the crops upon which are looking very well, and will, I think, more than repay the outlay upon the land.

            The Uinta valley is practically inaccessible from the 1st of December to the 1st of June, or thereabouts of each year, owing to the deep snow upon the mountain ranges which it is necessary to cross to enter the valley. I have sent word to the Indians by Special Agent Carter, who with the other laborers crossed the mountains on snow shoes, that as soon as the snow had melted sufficiently to permit the passage of wagons I would visit them, and make them liberal presents of clothing, food, &c., and urged them especially to wait and do nothing of an unfriendly nature until I had had an interview with them. Owing to their repeated disappointments relative to their presents, I did not deem it an object to visit them in person until I could carry with me their goods.

            While at Corn creek I learned that the Uinta Indians had at length commenced hostilities by a raid from Uinta valley upon Springfield, carrying away some 150 horses and mules, and also, two or three days later, by a similar raid upon Heber City, from which settlement they took nearly 100 cattle and horses. I, therefore, at once decided to visit the Uinta valley. Kanosh, at my request, directed three of his principal sub-chiefs to accompany me, and to do what lay in their power to prevent further trouble.

130      UTAH SUPERINTENDENCY.

            I returned to this city with the Indians, and, after a trip of four days northward to recover twenty-five horses stolen by the Weber Utes from Kanosh, set out for Uinta, carrying with me the principal part of the goods turned over to me by Superintendent Irish.

            I set out with the goods in wagons lightly loaded and drawn by four mules each, but on reaching Heber City found the trail over the mountains entirely impassable for miles by reason of high water and deep mud. I therefore transferred the goods to four wagons, each drawn by six oxen, and, after a delay of three or four days, owing to a severe storm, set out for Uinta by what is known as the Daniel's Cañon route. An idea had become prevalent among the Indians that the Mormons were designing to make war upon them, and to remove this impression Brigham Young sent to them as a present seventy head of beef-cattle. The people of Heber City, at the request of Brigham Young, also furnished gratuitously twenty-five men to assist in getting the wagons over the mountains. It was a most difficult and even perilous trip ; the water in the streams was very high, the mud, and in many places the snow was very deep, and we were continually interrupted by violent storms of snow, rain, and hail. The men and oxen, however, often laboring together, at length pulled the wagons through and over all obstacles, and we reached the valley.

            I was greatly indebted to the people at Heber City for their efficient co-operation, both in furnishing men, as before referred to, and in furnishing teams to transport the goods at an extremely moderate price.

            Interpreter James and the Indians sent by Kanosh reached the valley several days before me, and, finding the Indians had all started southward, followed and overtook them, notified them of my approach, and induced them to return. I spent eight days at the agency, holding numerous councils with the Indians. They were at first extremely surly and disaffected, but, being at length satisfied that the government had fulfilled all its promises and more ; that the delay in the reception of presents was unavoidable; that Mr. Kinney was no longer in the service, and that hereafter they would get all that was sent them from Washington, their views were entirely changed, and they expressed themselves unanimously in favor of peace. A part of the stolen property was returned, and the greater portion of the remainder, not already taken, will, I think, be restored to its owners. A liberal distribution of presents was made, and I left them in a very friendly mood. I was much pleased with the result of the conference, and am entirely confident that the Indians will remain friendly.

            The morning of my departure I was informed by Tabby, the head chief, that when he received notice of my arrival in the valley, himself and all his warriors were on their way to join the hostile Indians, in the southern portion of the Territory, in their war upon the settlements. He also informed me that Black Hawk, having secured a sufficient number of recruits among the Elk Mountain Utes to swell his force to three hundred warriors, was then setting out from the Elk Mountain country to attack the weaker settlements in San Pete county.

            I advised you, in my communication of the 30th April, that I had applied to the military authorities to send two or three companies of troops to protect the settlers in those portions of the Territory most exposed to Indian raids, and that Colonel Potter, commanding at this point, had telegraphed for instructions. A copy of the response to such communication is herewith enclosed.

            On reaching this city on my return from Uinta, I communicated the facts in my possession relative to Black Hawk to Governor Durkee. General Wells, one of the principal militia officers, after consulting with the governor, has raised two or three companies of militia, and proceeded to the threatened locality to protect the settlers from the expected attack.

            I have now several Indian runners in the mountains who will see Black Hawk and urge him to meet me for the purpose of making peace, and I shall within a few days proceed to San Pete county to endeavor to further that object.

            I have written you at length in regard to the present state of our Indian matters in accordance with the suggestions in your communication of the 30th ultimo, and when any further progress is made will advise you at once.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. H. HEAD, Superintendent.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner Indian Affairs.

__________

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS,

May 2, 1866.

            General Pope telegraphs that the Superintendent of Indian Affairs will have to depend for the present on the militia to compel the Indians to behave at Selina.

            By command of Major General Dodge.

SAMUEL E. MACKEY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

Colonel CARROLL H. POTTER,

            Commanding District of Utah.

 

NEW MEXICO SUPERINTENDENCY.       131

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, UTAH,

Great Salt Lake City, September 29, 1866.

            SIR: In your last annual report is a recommendation that the salaries of the various agents and superintendents be increased. The suggestion is an excellent one and will, I trust, be again urged upon the attention of Congress. An additional reason to those suggested in your report has occurred to me, to which I beg to call your attention. The Indians, far more than civilized people, are influenced by the personal views and wishes of those in whom they have confidence. An agent or superintendent who has been sufficiently long with his particular tribes to know personally the greater portion of the Indians, if he pursues with them an upright course, can acquire an influence over their actions almost without limit ; it is of the highest importance, therefore, not only that appointees be men of integrity, but they be retained as long as possible in their particular situations.

            A new officer, with the best intentions, will be months or even years in acquiring the personal influence necessary to the highest success in the discharge of his duties. As the service is at present organized an agent will often either by stealing endeavor to make his compensation sufficient, in which case he will have no influence over his Indians, who are sufficiently shrewd to detect such wrongs, or he will become dissatisfied with the service and retire; in either event the efficiency of the service is greatly impaired by the continued changes of agents.

            The salary of the superintendent should be doubled; that of agents increased to at least $2,500. This is a greater difference between the relative salaries than now exists, but for this there are sufficient reasons : the duties of a superintendent are much more onerous, his responsibilities are much greater. In my own case, in addition to the usual duties of a superintendent, I am required to perform the duties of an agent for more than two-thirds of the Indians in the Territory ; the principal reason, however, for the greater discrimination consists in the fact that agents are usually located upon reservations where laborers are employed and boarded, and where they board, with other employes of the department, free of expense, while superintendents must pay their own expenses of every character.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

F. H. HEAD, Superintendent.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

__________

[Annual Report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 1866, pp. 187-195]

IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 71.

BOISE CITY, I. T., March 1, 1866.

            SIR: In compliance with instructions of circular of July 17, 1865, in reference to making a full and explicit monthly report to your office of the condition of the tribes of Indians under my charge, I have the honor to report as follows, viz : The Nez Percé agency I have had no report from since my arrival. The condition of the roads has been such that little or no communication could be had with that agency. I intend to send Mr. McCall to make a thorough examination of that agency, and on his return will make a full and explicit report of its condition.

            Colonel Chapman, the agent for the Flatheads in Montana, (but in my superintendency,) left here on the 16th of January, and expected to reach the agency on the 1st of February, but the roads being in such a bad condition, he will not be able to reach there till the 15th or 18th.

            I have collected 115 Boise Shoshone Indians, and placed them under the charge of the military at Fort Boise, for the present. Numerous raids have been made by the Renegade Indians from northern Nevada and eastern Oregon on settlements in Owyhee county. Hundreds of head of stock have been driven off and some men have been wounded.

            The people are in a state of excitement over these raids. An expedition has been made by Captain Walker, commanding Fort Boise, against these hostile Indians. I enclose you his report in reference thereto. I am in hopes to be able to report more favorably upon the condition of the Indians in southern Idaho in my next.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

CALEB LYON, of Lyonsdale,

Governor and ex-officio Superintendent Indian Affairs.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs.

__________

HEADQUARTERS SUPERINTENDENT DISTRICT OF BOISE,

Fort Boise, I. T., March 1, 1866.

            CAPTAIN: I have the honor to transmit the following report of the operations of the men under my command, who left this post on the 12th instant, to find and chastise the hostile Indians in the Malheur and Owyhee counties. These Indians had become so bold, and their thefts so numerous, as to alarm the people to such an extent that, feeling no security for their stock across Snake river, it had all been driven to this side. Murders were also committed, and a party of citizens who attempted to recover some of their stolen stock were defeated and driven back.

            I left this post February 12th, with Lieutenant Thomas F. Tobey, of the 14th infantry, and thirty-four (34) enlisted men, and on the 14th crossed Snake river ; on the 15th was

188      IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.

joined by four (4) enlisted men from camp Lyons, I. T., with despatch from captain White, stating that Lieutenant Pepoon, who had been ordered to join me, would be unable so to do, as the Indians had made an attack, and committed murder twenty (20) miles from camp. Reached the Malheur and followed it up about twenty-five (25) miles, then marched from the river toward a cañon, said to be occupied by Indians, found the cañon deserted, but evidences of its having been occupied during the winter.

            On the 19th, proceeding again to the Malheur river, but found no fresh Indian signs ; the next day, 20th, camped at the forks of the Malheur, the scene of Lieutenant Hobark's fight; fresh signs of a small party, which soon disappeared.

            On the 21st left Malheur and proceeded in the direction of the Owyhee river.

            On the 23d, after marching easterly, toward Owyhee river seventeen miles, came upon an Indian village, about 4 p. m., on a dry creek, between Malheur and Owyhee rivers, killed eighteen (18) Indians and wounded two, (2, ) probably fatally, who succeeded in escaping, with one other, into a dense field of brush ; captured nineteen (19) horses and a few old rifles, some ten or fifteen pounds powder, about twenty pound ball, bullet moulds, and also rasps and files ; destroyed the lodges, with some 300 pounds jerked meat ; found in the lodges keys, butter, yeast powder, citizen's clothing, &c., showing evidences of a raid upon the settlements or an emigrant train. Also found a United States saddle blanket and a soldier's blouse. Left about sundown and encamped some three (3) miles beyond.

            I regret to report the loss of Corporal William Burke, company D, 2d battalion 14th infantry, killed ; a brave man and a good soldier. Musician Vrooman, of the same company, was wounded.

            The Indians fought with desperation, asking no quarter. The men are now at camp Lyon, refitting and recruiting their animals, preparatory to their return to this post. The trip was extremely hard on the animals, the country being so rough and rocky.

            I propose making another campaign in a few weeks, and think a few such lessons will bring the red men to terms.

            I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. H. WALKER,

Captain 14th Infantry, Commanding.

A. A. General, Department Columbia.

__________

No. 72.

BOISE CITY, I. T.

August 31, 1866.

            SIR: In accordance with your instructions of the 17th instant, I proceeded to the mouth of the Bruneau river, where I found about one hundred and twenty-five of the Bruneau band of Shoshones camped ; but it is proper for me to state that, after making diligent inquiry, I tried some persons who professed to talk Shoshone, and ascertaining they could only talk a few words, and becoming satisfied that Mr. S. E. McCanless was the only person hereabout who could talk Shoshone sufficiently to be of any use to me, I went by way of Jennings's ranch, on Castle creek, and procured his services at $8 per day, for himself and horse, and only kept him three days, one day going to Bruneau, one day there, and one day to return to Castle creek, forty-five miles. I found the Bruneaus very peaceably disposed toward the whites, and they expressed themselves as being particularly anxious to be settled on a reservation, and I learn, from settlers on Castle and Sinker creeks, that they are very good to work in fields and at putting up hay; indeed, I have never known Indians who knew nothing of farming express so much anxiety for a farm and implements to work it with. About four miles from the mouth of the Bruneau it opens out and forms a valley of from eighteen to twenty miles in length, and the arable land on each side of the stream is from one hundred yards to half a mile in width, and then runs off from half a mile to a mile in sage-brush and plains, to the sage-brush barren hills. There are small willows growing all along on each side of the stream, and about six miles from the lower end of the valley I begun to find patches of willow trees, of half to a dozen in a place, and from a quarter to half a mile apart, from the size of my arm to a foot in diameter. But they are scarce and grow short and scrubby, but few, if any, being fit for building and fencing purposes and not in sufficient quantity for fuel.

            I learned from Colonel Sinclair and other officers, also from my interpreter, all of whom had been over the country on scouting expeditions, that all of the arable land in the valley of the Bruneau overflowed each year, and the present year most of it was submerged as late as the first of July. I also learned from the same parties that there is plenty of fir timber about sixty miles above the valley, in the mountains, on the Bruneau, but the river flows through a cañon where the banks are a perfect precipice of from twenty to forty feet in height, for about forty miles, and but few places in all that distance, say about six miles, where the river is approachable in high water ; and in low water, as at present, it is not more than six inches to a foot in depth on the ripples, which are very numerous, as it is a swift stream ;

IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.       189

it is also a very crooked stream, so I think that floating timber down it would be impracticable.

            I also learned the facts of the overflow and about the cañon and timber from the Indians, and saw myself evidences of the late flooding of the arable land ; also saw where the river comes out of the cañon. There is a small creek puts into the Bruneau from the west that has considerable quantities of arable lands, I think probably two or three hundred acres, but it is also subject to overflows, besides being narrow and having no timber, and at this season of the year it is dry for at least ten miles from its mouth.

            The arable lands that I have spoken of are fine stock lands, producing abundance of luxurious grass. The military are now engaged in building a post at the mouth of the Bruneau, and are hauling all the timber necessary from this place, a distance of ninety-five miles, as the nearest and most feasible to get at.

            There is timber about eight or ten miles from the head of Castle Creek valley, but it would have to be hauled from forty-five to fifty miles to get it to the Bruneau valley. There is a valley on both forks of Castle creek of about the same length as the one on the Bruneau, and containing about one-third to one-half as much arable lands. But I doubt very much if there is sufficient water in either or both forks for irrigation, and the same trouble exists about timber, except it would only have to be hauled from ten to twenty miles.

            I am of the opinion, after a careful examination and inquiry, that neither the Bruneau nor Castle creek are at all suitable for a reservation, and that better places can be found on the Malad, Shoshone, or Payette ; at least it strikes me as desirable that those streams be examined above here before any steps are taken on the Bruneau.

            The Bruneau band embraces about four hundred souls, and they are perfectly willing to be removed wherever the government may deem best. Permit me to remark here that the Boise and Kammas bands might also be removed without trouble to the Malad, or in the neighborhood of Fort Hall on the Shoshone, and, with the Shoshones already in that section, form a huge reservation and be much better managed, as well as be more economical than to have small bands of the same tribe located on different reservations.

            I made inquires of all the Bruneaus that I saw about the other Indians in southern Idaho. They knew nothing of them, being more afraid of the Py-Utes and the few outlawed Bannock and Bruneau Shoshones with them than even the whites are.

            Major Marshall is now out towards Stevens's mountains with a detachment of United States troops after them, and has thirteen Bruneau Indians as a pioneer corps and guides, and more offered to go if their families were fed during their absence.

            The Indians were extremely anxious to know of me (as indeed the Boise band has from time to time) if the government were going to help them with blankets and provisions this winter, as they asserted their hunting grounds were appropriated by the farmers, herders, and miners, and if they went out to hunt they were liable to get killed, all of which I knew to be a fact, but I told them I did not know. I had no authority to promise anything, and that they must go to work and catch as many salmon (which have just commenced running) as possible and dry them, and gather all the roots and seeds possible and cache them for winter.

            The Bruneaus that I saw (and I learn they are all in the same situation) are the poorest lot of Indians I ever saw. They have no furs or skins of any kind, a very little clothing, and no blankets except a very few of the poorest and coarsest quality furnished them by Governor Lyon last spring.

            And from the fact that so many depredations have been committed on the whites by the Py-Utes and outlawed Shoshones herein before mentioned, teamsters, packers, herders, ranchers, and miners all over the country have become exasperated, and through fear, and in some cases I fear from mere wantoness, shoot Indians at sight. As a consequence the Indians do not roam over the country and hunt and trap so as to supply themselves with clothing and food as they did previous to the settlement of the country by the whites.

            As a consequence they are reduced to remaining in considerable parties, and that immediate along the streams, and depending entirely on fishing for a living, and should the salmon be scarce, (as there is every prospect they will be,) unless the government assist those Indians with clothing, bedding, and provisions, they certainly must freeze and starve to death during the coming winter.

            The same will apply to a considerable extent to the Boise band of Shoshones, who are also in a very destitute condition, and I learn that the Kammas band is also in the same situation. The Bruneau and Boise bands are so intermarried that they are in fact all one people and are closely connected by blood, visiting each other as frequently as they dare to pass over the country, or as often as they can get a pass from some one that they may show to such whites as they may chance to meet in travelling.

            I have the honor of herewith transmitting account of expenses of my trip.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. C. HOUGH,

Special Indian Agent, Idaho Territory.

His Excellency D. W. BALLARD,

            Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Idaho Territory.

190      IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.

No. 73.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, BOISE CITY, I. T., September 4, 1866.

            SIR : I have the honor to submit my first annual report of the condition of the superintendency of Idaho.

            Arriving here on the 14th of June last, I found that my predecessor, ex-Governor Lyon, of Lyonsdale, had left for San Francisco on the 21st of April preceding. I regret his failure to turn over to me the papers and funds belonging to the superintendency in the manner contemplated by the department, as from this failure the interests of the superintendency have materially suffered and my position been rendered most embarrassing. Being thus destitute of funds, as well as papers that should be in this office, my principal means of obtaining information concerning the various tribes of the Idaho. Indians has been by correspondence with parties who have travelled among them. From these considerations as well as the fact that I have so recently entered upon the duties of my office, I shall not be able to make so full and complete a report as I could have desired, or, as would seem to be required of me, in order that you might be fully advised of the condition and requirements of this superintendency for the coming year.

            The Territory of Idaho is situated between the 42d and 49th parallels of north latitude, and the 110th and 117th west longitude, being triangular in shape, and embracing an area of not less than 100,000 square miles. The surface of the country, for the most part, abounds in dry and barren sage plains, rough and rugged mountains, interspersed with here and there an occasional fertile valley and grassy mountain side. Hence, the natural resources for Indian subsistence are very limited, being almost exclusively confined to roots, fish, and crickets. A great portion of the country being thus uninhabitable by either whites or Indians, will serve as an explanation why the tribes of Idaho are divided into so many bands, and why these bands have their locations so remote from each other. The nomadic habits of those living in the southern portion of our Territory, added to their remote distances from each other, render it very difficult to obtain reliable information concerning them.

            Since entering upon the duties of my office I have availed myself of every reliable means to obtain information in relation to those bands of Snakes or Shoshones inhabiting the southeastern portion of Idaho, embracing Fort Hall and those regions of country traversed by the headwaters of Snake river. The information I have obtained is imperfect and unsatisfactory. Their estimated numbers, by individuals who have travelled in their country and spent some time among them, is so various and conflicting that I do not consider myself warranted in an attempt to even approximate their number. The reliable facts obtained may he summed up as follows :

            There are in the regions last indicated various roving bands, whose principal subsistence is upon the fish obtained from Snake river and its tributaries, roots, and crickets. Some of them are ostensibly on peaceable terms with the whites, but from the fact that scarcely a year passes without depredations being committed upon the emigrants passing through their country, I am inclined to the opinion that, on favorable opportunities for plunder, they are treacherous and not to be trusted. The southwest portion of Idaho, including the Owyhee country and the regions of the Malheur, are infested with a roving band of hostile Pi-Utes and outlawed Shoshones, numbering, from the best information, some 300 warriors. These Indians have been the source of much trouble to the white settlers, and will continue to be until thoroughly subdued by the military. During the present summer they have massacred no less than 100 Chinamen and a number of whites, besides driving off large quantities of stock belonging to the packers, teamsters, and white settlers.

            In addition to the Indians already mentioned, inhabiting the central and southern portion of Idaho, may be included the Boise Shoshones and Bruneau Shoshones. The former, consisting of a band numbering some 200 souls, have lived for some time past in the vicinity of Boise city, and obtained a precarious subsistence by fishing, digging roots, gathering crickets, and performing menial service for white settlers. Their fear of the hostile Pi-Utes, and the fear of being mistaken for hostile Indians and killed by the whites, keeps them confined principally to one locality. Their lodges, two miles above this city, are constructed of bushes, and are totally unsuited to protect them from the cold of a rigorous winter. From reasons already given, they have been afraid to visit their kammas grounds, as usual, during the present summer. Their stock of roots, consequently, is quite meagre. Their subsistence for the coming winter will depend principally upon the few salmon they may be able to take from the Boise river. They are in the most destitute condition in regard to all the necessaries of life, shelter, food, and clothing, and unless something shall be done by the department for their relief, their situation during the coming winter will be a most pitiable one.

            The condition of the Bruneau Shoshones, a band of some 400 souls, living on the Bruneau, river, some one hundred miles distant from here, is very similar to the condition of the band just described. The two bands speak a common language, and are on friendly terms with each other, and have a mutual desire to be combined and located together on a reservation, and to be instructed in the arts of civilized life. On my arrival here I was informed, unofficially, that ex-Governor Lyon had entered into some sort of treaty with the Bruneau Sho- 

IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.       191

shones which contemplated the location of a reservation near the mouth of the Bruneau river, though there is no evidence of such transaction in this office. I am informed from various sources that a reservation could not be judiciously located on the Bruneau. This information is confirmed by the report of Special Agent George C. Hough, herewith transmitted, and to which you are respectfully referred for a more detailed account of the Bruneau band.

            From the enfeebled condition of the tribal authority of the Indians of southern Idaho, it is deemed inexpedient to attempt the formation of treaty stipulations with them. The policy of entering into treaty with large and powerful tribes where they have an active and vigorous tribal authority recognized among them, is doubtless a wise and judicious policy, but even in such cases it is supposed that the treaty is designed more for effect upon the Indians than to compel the government to do justice to them.  Believing that the government does not require the bonds of treaty regulations as an inducement to do justice to the weak and scattered bands of southern Idaho, and further, believing that a treaty with one band would have no effect upon another band, it is recommended as the most practical, humane, and economical course to pursue, that the government proceed at once to locate on some suitable situation in southern Idaho a reservation of proper dimensions, including, if possible, a good fishery, kammas grounds, grazing grounds, tillable lands, timber, &c. The reservation being located, the Boise and Bruneau Shoshones could at once be removed to it and put under training, and as other bands should be subdued, they could be brought in and combined with those already on the reservation. The government, in the mean time, recognizing, as a test of friendship on the part of the subdued bands, a willingness to settle and remain on the reservation. A military force, sufficient to protect the Indians from bad white men, would also be sufficient to retain the Indians in their bounds. Could this have been done for the Boise and Bruneau Indians this year, and had they been furnished with the usual assistance provided for other reservations, of farmer, blacksmith, farming implements, &c., they would doubtless have been able, next year, to produce a liberal share of their own support. It is further recommended that the department afford the Boise and Bruneau Indians some relief during the coming winter in the way of clothing and provisions; and should the suggestion to locate them on a reservation meet with favor, it is recommended that the location be made and the Indians removed to it before winter, if possible.

            The immense wealth of the Pacific coast has had the effect to people our shores with a vast population in advance of the extinguishment of what is called "the Indian title." Idaho is not an exception to other States and Territories west of the Rocky mountains, and all the unhappy consequences resulting from a promiscuous intermingling of whites with the Indians have been painfully experienced in our Territory. The mountains of Idaho, abounding as they do in many rich deposits of precious metals, some of them, perhaps, the richest known to the world, will still continue to invite an increasing population to our Territory. These deposits of mineral wealth not being confined to any particular locality, but abounding in both northern and southern Idaho, some of them almost fabulous in richness, will continue to present in the future, as now, the most profitable fields of labor for the active and industrious miner and tradesman, and as profitable investments for the capitalist as can be found in any other part of our Union. Hence, we may reasonably calculate the already unhappy condition of affairs will but increase in an equal ratio with the increase of the white population until all the Indians of our Territory are separated from the whites and taken under the fostering care of the government.

            The Indians of southern Idaho are fast fading away, and as we occupy their root grounds, converting them into fields and pastures, we must either protect them or leave them to the destroying elements now surrounding them, the result of which cannot be doubtful. A humane magnanimity dictates their protection and speedy separation from those evils to which they are exposed by intermingling with white men.

            Prominent among the tribes of northern Idaho stand the Nez-Percés, a majority of whom boast that they have ever been the faithful friend of the white man. But few over half of the entire tribes of the Nez-Percés are under treaty. The fidelity of those under treaty, even under the most discouraging circumstances, must commend itself to the favorable consideration of the department. The influx of the white population into their country has subjected them to all the evils arising from an association with bad white men, and as might well be expected, the effect upon the Indians has been most unhappy. The non-payment of their annuities has had its natural effect upon the minds of some of those under treaty ; but their confiding head chief (Lawyer) remains unmoved, and on all occasions is found the faithful apologist for any failure of the government. Could this tribe have been kept aloof from the contaminating vices of bad white men, and had it been in the power of the government promptly to comply with the stipulations of the treaty of 1855, there can be no doubt but that their condition at this time would have been a most prosperous one, and that the whole of the Nez-Percés nation would by this time have been willing to come under treaty and settle on the reservation with those already there. Our remote distance from Washington, the great length of time required for the passage of communications to and from the department, in connection with the unsettled condition of the country, are doubtless good reasons why the payment of their annuities has been delayed. But could the annuities now due them be promptly paid, and the new treaty stipulations be promptly met, it would have a fine effect, not only upon those under treaty, but also upon those who are still opposed to

192      IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.

a settlement on the reservation. I regret my inability to lay before you, from my own knowledge, a definite statement of the condition of the remaining tribes of northern Idaho. In accordance with instructions received at this office from the department, dated June 13, 1866, I opened a correspondence with Superintendent Waterman, of Washington Territory, and the governor of Montana, touching the practicability of collecting the tribes in the northeast of Washington Territory and northern Idaho on the Flathead reservation. A copy of their several replies is herewith transmitted. Confiding in the judgment and integrity of Agent O'Neill, of the Nez-Percés agency, I also corresponded with him on the same subject soon after, and through him ascertained the following facts : That on the 5th ultimo he, in company with Mr. Whitman, attended by an Indian guide, set out from Lewistown (a village some ten miles from the Nez-Percés agency) on a tour of investigation through the tribes of northern Idaho. He gives it as his opinion that it would be unwise to attempt to locate either the Spokanes or the Coeur d'Alenes upon the Flathead reservation ; that neither band could agree with the Flatheads. Spokane Gary, referred to in Agent Chapman's letter, is not understood to be the acknowledged chief of the tribe. He is so considered by the whites on account of his ability to talk English and read a little, but is not the equal of his brother in power and influence over the tribe. The distance from the Coeur d'Alene country to the Flatheads is 170 miles ; from the Spokanes to the Flatheads, 220 miles. These Indians would not be willing to remove from their own country and unite with the Flatheads. There is in the bounds of their own country, at the head of the Latch or Hangman's creek, a fine location for a reservation, on which might be collected all the tribes of northern Idaho, including the Spokanes, Pend d'Oreilles, Coeur d'Alenes, and Kootenays. The location referred to is a beautiful valley some twenty miles in length, and comprises in that length fine farming lands, kammas grounds, grazing grounds, good location for saw-mill, with fine quality of timber adjoining, and is accessible from Lewistown and other points below, from Snake river, by good wagon roads. The combined number of the Coeur d'Alenes and Spokanes amounts to from seven hundred to eight hundred souls. Father Misplie, a Catholic priest, who has spent many years among the Indians of northern Idaho, informs me that the Pend d'Oreilles and Kootenays together number about eighteen hundred souls.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

DAVID W. BALLARD,

Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Idaho Territory.

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

            Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C.

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No. 74.

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT INDIAN AFFAIRS,

Olympia, Washington Territory, July 27, 1866.

            SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of July 12, referring to the correspondence of Agent Chapman with reference to the removal of certain tribes of Indians and consolidating them with the Flatheads on their reservation.

            I have communicated a copy of the letter of Mr. Chapman, transmitted to this office by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, to the agent now in charge of the Colville and Spokane Indians, Mr. George A. Paige, and have requested a report from him on the subject. Mr. Paige will in due time ascertain the minds of the Indians in question and will report it with all the facts bearing on the question.

            This office will then correspond with the department and report its views on the subject.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. H. WATERMAN,

Superintendent Indian Affairs, Washington Territory.

His Excellency D. W. BALLARD,

            Governor and ex-officio Superintendent Indian Affairs for Idaho.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICE, TERRITORY OF MONTANA,

Virginia City, August 7, 1866.

            SIR: In answer to your communication of the 12th ultimo, I am instructed to say that Acting Governor Meagher has written to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs "that it is not advisable to transfer the Indians in question to the Flathead reservation, and that he considers Colonel Chapman has quite enough on his hands to take charge of those he has already."

            He would write to you himself were it not for his having to start immediately for the Flathead agency.

            I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. H. BARRET,

Montana Territory.

His Excellency D. W. BALLARD,

            Governor, &c., Idaho Territory.

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No. 75.

OFFICE NEZ PERCÉS INDIAN AGENCY,

Lapwai, July 20, 1866.

            SIR: I have the honor herewith to transmit my annual report for the year ending June 30, 1866. Since my last report I can confidently say there has been a vast improvement in the farms and farming operations of these Indians ; their farms have been enlarged and more attention is paid to fencing than formerly. Throughout the nation there has been an increase of about seven hundred acres more put in cultivation, with a corresponding increase in crops. Last year some few of the Indians had considerable flour to sell, which they disposed of in the mining towns. This season there will probably be twenty thousand pounds of flour sold by them. Their sale of potatoes, green corn, squashes, melons, tomatoes, &c., in the different mining camps, in the course of the season, amounts to a large sum. Their crops of wheat will be fully one-third larger this season than ever before.

            Some few of them who have cows sell milk to miners and others. Ha-harts-tuesta, or Captain Billy, the chief on Salmon river, being the largest owner of cattle, having some five hundred head, during the winter season supplies the miners in his neighborhood with beef, killing regularly once a week and disposing of it at the rate of five pounds for a dollar ; but with all these improvements in farms and farming I am sorry to say the young men of the nation have but little to do with it ; the chiefs, as a general thing work pretty well, the women however doing the most of the farming work ; the young men thinking it a disgrace to work, and their chiefs not telling them to the contrary.

            The increase of whiskey drinking and drunkenness among the young men is alarming. To try to punish the miserable whiskey sellers is a farce. We have no United States commissioners upon the reservation, nor have we had for over a year, and no United States district judge nearer than Walla Walla, Washington Territory, ninety-five miles distant from the agency. For the last year we have had stationed at Fort Lapwai a company of infantry with no riding animals or saddles. It has been useless to undertake to arrest the whiskey sellers who were any distance from the agency or fort. Captain Waters, commanding the post, was willing to do all he could to assist me, but with the means at his disposal it was only at points near the two places.

            The order for the mustering out of all volunteers leaves the post vacant. I fear trouble ; not from the Indians if sober, but from the sale of whiskey to them. The presence of soldiers upon the reservation had a good effect, and until the post is again re-garrisoned deviltry of all sorts will go on unrestrained.

            Complaint was made to me last week of the robbing of a pack train, on Cammas prairie, of three ten gallon kegs of whiskey by Indians, and, again, near Pearce City, of some four or five Indians entering a miner's cabin, and with pistols drawn compelling the occupants to furnish them whiskey.

            It is a common occurrence for some of the worst of the young men to stop Chinamen whereever they meet them, and compel them to give them gold dust, clothing, &c. In the towns of Lewiston, Oro Fino, and Pearce City, the inhabitants are becoming alarmed and public meetings have been held. By request of the citizens I attended one of their meetings in Lewiston last week, and told them that if they would try and stop the selling of whiskey to suspicious whites and take care of them I would try to look out for the Indians.

            William Davidson, the sheriff of Shoshone county, (upon the reservation,) informed me Saturday of his having two Salmon river Indians in jail in Oro Fino for entering a miner's cabin and pointing their pistols at the miners, compelled them to give them liquor. He says the Indians are getting very bold, and tell the miners that I have no soldiers to send after them, and they intend to do as they please for a little while. He wanted to know what they should do. I told him that before proceeding to extremities, should such things occur again, to send an express to me, when I would go up with the interpreter and see what could be done.

            Oro Fino is on the reservation, about ninety miles from the agency.

            I hope we shall soon have a company of cavalry here, or I fear we shall have the same troubles you are experiencing in the Owyhee country.

            With the three or four thousand whites and Chinamen mining within the bounds of the reservation, and the same number of Indians, who consider these miners as interlopers, who are taking their farms and their gold from them, unless we have soldiers there is bound to be collision between them.

            Last November Red Heart, Eagle from the Light, and White Bird, came in on the reservation from Montana Territory, where they have been since the treaty council of 1863. They are the leading chiefs on the non-treaty side. In March last Eagle from the Light made a visit to this office, the first ever made by him. He came asking for assistance to remove some whiskey sellers in his country, eighty miles distant from the agency. I felt anxious to grant him assistance, as up to this time they had never acknowledged an agent here ; but owing to the fact of there being no riding animals or saddles at the fort was unable to do so. Somewhat later in the spring I heard that these same people again contemplated returning to Montana. I sent them word that they must not leave their homes ;

194      IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.

that they were Nez Percés, and this was their country ; that if they went there again their young men might get mixed up with the raids of the Blackfeet and would bring their chiefs in trouble. In June I had a visit from Red Heart, with some fifty of his warriors. Red Heart is the acknowledged head chief of the non-treaty bands represented by the sub-chiefs Eagle from the Light, White Bird, Quil-quil-she-ne-ne, Joseph Big-Thunder, Te-cool-cool-hoot-soot, and some smaller chiefs; they number altogether about one thousand souls.

            It was the first visit ever made to the agency, since it was established, by Red Heart. At the time of the treaty council, in 1863, he was, with his people, with the Crows. They made a beautiful display as they came towards the agency. Red Heart and his wife riding ahead, after them one of their medicine men—the one who acted as leader—a captain, followed by the warriors riding some ten or twelve abreast, with drums beating, muskets firing, and singing. Their horses were beautifully caparisoned; that of Red Heart having the skin of the head of a buffalo, with horns attached, fitting very nicely the bead of his horse. They were on their way to the "Tot-Whinna" camp ground, some twenty-five miles north of us.

            The old fellow did not seem disposed to say much, merely expressing a desire that Mr. Whitman, the interpreter, and myself would accompany them to Lewiston, as the citizens might not know what the turnout meant. On our arrival in Lewiston I told them they had better cross the river and camp. I gave them a sack of flour and some beef. In about a week they returned ; Red Heart, and some four or five of his leading men only, stopping at the agency for a talk ; he said he had seen us for the first time and it might be for the last, as he was getting old and might never see us again ; he was much pleased with his reception ; that in the early spring, when they were talking of again going to Montana, it was not with any evil intent ; he did not want the whites to think him unfriendly, but that it was on account of the trouble and distraction among their own people ; they, the chiefs, did not all think alike. I told him I did not think it right for him, Eagle from the Light, and White Bird to be living in the mountains; their reservation was large enough to give them all farms and grazing for their animals ; that he ought to tell his young men to go to farming, to put in crops, and live like the rest of their own people; that probably soon you would, if you had time, see all of their people and tell them what was for their good, and show them how to get along with each other. I think his visit will be productive of good among his people.

            One great cause of the disagreement and split among this people is the non-payment of their annuities. The non-treaty side throw it up to the other side that now they have sold their country and have got nothing but promises which are being received from year to year, that their annuities will never be here. They use it too with such good effect that every day their side is increasing in strength. Many of the young men, and some of the old ones of the Lawyer side, say it is true, and that they had rather be with the non-treaty side and not expect anything than to remain with the Lawyer side and have, every few days, these promises repeated to them. Too much praise cannot be awarded Lawyer, the head chief of the nation, for his endeavors to keep peace between his people and the whites, and to account to them for the want of good faith on the part of the government. They have due them, since the Indian war of 1855 and 1856, $4,665 for horses furnished the government. Many of their warriors in that war gave our troops their personal services without charge. There is also due some of their people $1,185 50 for work done on the stone church. They were promised their pay as soon as the walls were completed. There are four instalments of $10,000 each of annuities due them.

            Lawyer's salary as head chief is not paid promptly. There is now due him the fourth quarter of 1863 and first and second quarters of 1864 ; the third and fourth quarters of 1865 were not paid until December, 1865, owing to the absence from the Territory of our superintendent of Indian affairs ; there is now nearly one month of the third quarter of 1866 gone and he has received no pay for the first and second quarters of 1866. I know that to procure the common necessaries of life his pay for the first quarter of 1865 (he being compelled to dispose of his vouchers when legal tenders were worth only forty-five cents and fifty cents) did not net him but about $50, his pay being $125 per quarter ; yet, with all these things staring him in the face, his faith in the government is as strong as ever, and not him alone, but such chiefs as Ute-sin-male-e cum, Spotted Eagle, Captain John, Three Feathers, We-as-cus, Whis-tas-ket, Wep-ta-ta-wand and others. It is up-hill work for an agent to manage his Indians well when he refers them to certain treaty stipulations reserved as their part, when they can retort by saying that but few of the stipulations on the part of the government are kept. In March last Governor Lyon sent word to this people that he would be here in June to hold a council with them, and would at the same time have a payment of annuities made them. The non-arrival of the goods has disappointed many of them.

            Not being regularly supplied with funds for the current expenses of the agency occasions us much difficulty ; the employes become much dissatisfied and disheartened, and it also makes a vast difference in the economical management of affairs ; during this year, now commencing the third quarter, I have had no funds at my disposal. Our grist-mill needs repairs before the grinding of the new crop commences, which it will be impossible to do, owing to some of the materials required, which cannot be purchased on credit. As far as

IDAHO SUPERINTENDENCY.       195

possible, with the means at hand, the work at the agency has gone on well. More lumber than ever has been sawed in the same length of time ; our fences and buildings have been improved ; we have now, under a good substantial four-beard-high fence, eighty acres of land ; in the repair of our fences this spring, over 10,000 feet of lumber was used.

            An addition to the house occupied by myself, 18x24 feet, containing dining-room and kitchen for employes, with cellar underneath, has been built ; a building 12x24 feet, for lodging places for Indians coming to the mill ; a good strong bridge across the Lapwai, above the mills, one hundred feet in length by twelve feet wide, the main span forty feet long, twelve feet above the bed of the creek, using in the construction of it three thousand feet sawed lumber for flooring, and four hundred feet hewn timber for frame work, part of that procured for roof of stone church. The dwellings of the employes have also all been comfortably improved. There will also be used, in the erection of a grainery and corn-crib, now under way, three thousand feet of lumber. I would, should we receive funds soon enough, like to put up a barn and sheds, and another building for an office, and convert the present office into a dwelling, it being entirely unsuited for office purposes.

            One log and one frame house have been erected for the Indian chiefs We-as-cus and Sim-sle-poos, opposite Lewiston; another one is partly finished. It is difficult to make them understand that to have houses erected for them they must furnish the logs, which will be sawed at the mill, when the carpenter will build their houses for them; they seem to think that materials of all kinds must be furnished them.

            Accompanying this you will see report of superintendent of farming, miller, sawyer, carpenter, wagon and plough makers, and blacksmith, also statistics of farming. You will also find copies of letters forwarded to Commissioner Dole last October, which will explain why no statistics of education are forwarded. There has been no census of the tribe taken since last year; the whole number of souls is, as given in statistics of education in last annual report—males, 1,200; females, 1,630; total, 2,830; with individual property, on the 1st of July, 1866, of about fifteen thousand dollars.

            Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAMES O'NEILL,

United States Indian Agent, I. T.

His Excellency D. W. BALLARD,

            Gov. & Supt. of Ind. Affairs, Boise City, Idaho.

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No. 76.

NEZ PERCÉS INDIAN AGENCY,

June 30, 1866.

            DEAR SIR : I have the honor herewith to submit a brief report of the farming operations at this agency, and among the Indians, during the past fiscal year :

            The year 1865 was, owing to severe drought, ravages by crickets, and our inefficient fences, very unfavorable ; prospects, however, seem much brighter for the present year. We were able in the spring to procure lumber enough to so improve our fences as to render our crops entirely secure from cattle and horses. We used in fencing, say one hundred posts and something over ten thousand feet of boards.

            Anticipating in the spring the usual drought, we ploughed in nearly all our crops, nearly eighty acres; this seems generally to have had a very good result. The season so far has been very favorable ; there was an abundance of rain during the spring, and however dry the weather may be hereafter, I think most of the crops will mature without irrigation. The crickets seem very plentiful now, but there is so much green herbage everywhere for them they will probably not do near the damage to crops they would otherwise. We shall probably raise from twenty-five to one hundred per cent. more from the same land than we did last year. The Indians throughout the reservation will probably raise at least twenty per cent. more grain than usual.

            As our fences are now thoroughly improved, we have on this agency farm but one great want remaining—a barn, which I trust you will succeed in building during the last of this, or first of next year.

            Our cattle, though exposed to all the severity of the weather, and with little to eat but grass in the open range, with one or two exceptions, came through the winter in moderate condition. The oxen rendered average service in the working season, and there was a fair increase from the cows.

            We succeeded during the high water in saving wood sufficient, I think, for the whole agency.

            Very respectfully, yours,

J. O'NEILL,

United States Indian Agent.

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