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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 9 information will be obtained in regard to them. An interesting report, the first ever received from an age.nt of the Department in charge, re- ; specting the Moquis Pueblos, residing in the eastern part of the Territory, is among the documents herewith. Few reports ha?.e reached this office of difficulties between Indians I themselves. The Sioux of Dakota, however, seemto be most the bez-gereut. Since these Indians have ceased their war with the whites, they 8 gratify their thirst for blood by raiding upon weak neighboring tribes, and no argument can induce them to abandon the practice; they will reply thereto, '&I tis no business of the white man what the Indians do among themselves, so long as they do not disturb or kill the whites." What would be the best course to pursue to remedy this evil, whether to arrest and punish the offenders; to withhold annuities and benefits due them from the Government, or to induce the contending parties to enter into a solemn compact to preserve the peace, is a question of gra.re consideration for the Depastment. Some treaties of friendship and good will, made between different tribe? have been strictly ob-served, while others have been shamefully disregarded. It is to be hoped that one entered into by several bands of the Sioux with the Arickarees, Gros Ventres, and Mandaus last August, will be faithfully kept, and that the declaratiou of peace and purpose of just dealings, each with the other, therein made and prepared, may be truly lasting and productive of good. It is worthy of notice that while the greater number of tribes still adhere to the customs and manner of life of their fa.thers, others, under the practical workings of that civilization to which their minds have bee11 directed by the efforts of the Government and the philanthropist, are giving e~~uouraginevgi dence of the practicability of their elevation to the dignit,y of citizenship, and that they will sustain creditably that re-lation whe,ne.ver they shall assume it. In the States of Michigan, Wis-consin, Minnesota, and Kansas? are those who have already abandoned their tribal organization, and taken upon themselves the rights and resnonsibilities of citizens; and there are others ~ r e ~ a r efodr the eha;nge. Another indication of progress in this direGtio'n is that many are asking for the survey of their reservation, where it is held in oom-mou, and for allotments ill severalty, of tracts of eighty or more acres to each, and in some cases t.he work of sur re~i l lgis being effected with this object in view. The policy of giving to ever1 Iudian a home that hecan call his own is a wise onc,as itinduc?~a s t ~ n gin centive tohim to labor and make every effort in his power t'o better his condition. By the adoption, generally, of this plan 011 the part of the Government, the Indians would be more rapidly advanced in civilization tha,n they would if the policy of allowing them to hold their land in common were con-tinued. The progress of the Indians during the past year in education, in agricultural, and general industrial pursuit,s, is not very marked, yet there is reason to believe that it has been steady. There has been an I - creased willingness to enga.ge in the cultiratiou of the soil, and a desire to have schools established among those destitute of them; nod, for these reasons, additio~~asls ista~lcea nd facilities to carry on farming operations and schools should be f~lruished to those who have been to some extent heretofore provider1 for. The superintendents and agents of this Bureau have generally dis-charged their duties and managed the interests committed to their trust vith satisfaction to the Departmen:. Of those belonging to the "Society of Friends," I may confidentl~s ay, that their course and pol- |
