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Show -I-*z . . , .- >~ . . , c . . ~\ ' REPORT OF AGENT f~ COLORADO. 227 The Southern Ute tribe' is divided into three bands, as follows: Mowhen, 266; Capotss; 181, Weeminuchees, 531. The Southern Ute Reservation consists of a strip of land lying in the s o n t h w ~ t corner of the State of Colorado, extending 110 miles from east to west, bounded on the south by New Mexico. and 15 mile8 from north to south, bounded on the wast by Utah. The agency is h a t e d on the Rio de 10s Pinos, about 34 milea from the eastern boundary, 76 from the western, and nearly equidistant from thenorthernand southern boundaries of the reservation. The Moache and Capota bands reside almost exclusively in the eastern, and the Weeminuchees, with few exceptionq in the western portion. The mgority of the Indian farmers belong to the Moache and Capots, bands, and the prino~palf arming operations are carried on in the valley of the Las Pinos, in the vicinity of the agenor. The condition of these Indians may, in general terms, be described as semicivilized. They live, for the most part, in tents, the location of which is changed from time to time, to afford ohange of pasture far their horses, aheep, and goats. All of them are at least partially clothed in the drens of the white mm, though the majority of ~e men adhere to the blanket in addition. Their disposition is ganerally indolent, but not seriously inolining to vioiousneas. Quite a, number, however, show a considerable inolination to industryand the ac-quisition of property, as well es a desire for mare knowledge of farming methods. In this respect some progress ia observable, also in theirdi8position ta pay the debts which thevmav oontrsot. and their increased reoard for the services of the vhvsioian I . . add d i ! u u ~ . h id~ep endt.n,,c on r l l r i r own mslli'riur. ntrn. (;aml~liog uppunr* ru bu Ie;a prc,\-.~l'nr rloa~! itmurrlg, aucl druukon~len.i ia ram. Tbnv :ulea, seem rn 1," cirille " 8 , rLtir e ~ r v ~ ~ ~ odr%~rt:l:ensl. tmne having oc,.n~rredt o rnv knokledge during thgpre&niseason. - The year has been bmen of notable events. With the exception of the killin in ,~il<chla st, of Frsnoia Carter, a medioine man, by Nannioe, the father of a s i 8 ohild (who, it seema, aceused Carter of preotioing 'lbad medicine" on him, and who anb~eqnentlyd ied), the behavior of the tribe, in freedom from turmoi1,wonld com-pare favorably with that of an equd number of the superior race. The minter opened mild, with gradual increase in severity and depth of Snow, cpl-minatinm in a storm which began onFebruary20, and eontinuedfor five days, oeaslng with et?east 3 feet of snow on the grouncI in the eastern part of the reservation. Another snow storm, socompanied *ith high winh, began on Maroh 5, and continued for about 2 days, preventing stock from grazing, and leaving the range oovered to auoh a depth and wlth such a snow crust that the wwuekensd stock, bath of Indian horses and beef and stock cattle, unable to obtain food or even to travel through it, perished in great numbers. The horses of the Indians on tho western part of the reserve came through the winter in oomparatively goodcondition. Their flocks of sheep andgoats were mostly driven to that re ion for the winter, and the loss from thommas oomparstivelylight. The weekly degvery by eontractor of beef cattle for subsistence, Instituted at the be inning of the fiscal yow 1892, mill be a 8oUToe of great saving. fn regard to the condition of agriculttlre aman these Indianq I renrst to say that of those who farmed laat pear not all could be infuoed to resume operotions this sea-son, consequently the area of land cultivetnd is samervhat less thm last year. But while the area of oultivsted land has diminished, oonsiderabls hay and pastare land has been inclosed by now fenoe and 8, larger and better hap crop than ever before has bean protested and seoured. Those who have adhered to their farms hwe shown improvemsnt over lest yoar in dili.gencs and attention to their crops. The enlarging and repair of the irrigstlng ditohss, giving them a plentiful supply of water, acted as a stimulant. In faot, I am of opinion that the fear of a scarolty of water had a deterrent effect upon soma of tboso who did not frarm, as the repairs were not made until after crops were in. No school has been maintained, aniug to tho lack of'a. suitablebuildingfor domi-tory andrefaetorypurpoaes. No dspendenoe can be placed an any attenda,nce st s day school. The children must be kept at or in the vicinity of the sohaol in order to insure its success. No attempt at missionary work seems ever to have been made here. It has not been deemed advisable to establish a court of Indian offenses ss yet. The industries of the Indians consist, besides farming, of stock-raisin&, dressing of skins for the manufacture of moooaiins, lsgqings, belts, purses, and sim~lara rticlas, and of bead work med for their arnamontation. Cattle arepossessed by s few, sheep andgoats bymany, and horses bymost. They manufaoture very little for sale aside from the articles above mentioned. In my opinion it would ha nselesa at the present time to attempt to induce them to accept land in severalty, for some ears of patient effort will be required to cause them to appreciate the advantages ojsnoh a step. |
