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Show I . REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDTAN AFFAIRS. 17 resourcefulness and tact, and whatever credit the experiment reflects upon its management belongs fairly to him. Five years ago the Crow Indians were living in communities or camps, several hundred in a camp; the Government was issuing rations to them, and their time could be spent exclusively in amuse-ment without the logical sequel of starvation. They were content 'with this mode of living a ~ wdis ht no change. In the summer of 1902 1,000 Indians were stricken from the ration rolls and a new order of things began. Many of the Indians had recently been allotted lands, and these were now induced to ,go upon their allot-ments and begin an actual struggle for self-support. The first season little progress was made. The frequent dance took the Indian from his home; his garden and grain were neglected, and failed of course; and as he manifested no intere~itn improving his property, the outlook for ever doing .anything with him along the line of home-building was very discouraging. The dance was always as-sociated with horse racing and gambling, gift and adoption cere-monies; and a number of other customs that tended to degrade and pauperize him. In the spring of 1904 each farming district was visited, and the Indians were notified that a convention would be held for the pur-pose of organizing an agricultural society. At preliminary meetings an outline description of the old-fashioned down-east country fair was given them, and the wish exprest that the Crows could have somethinglike it. Most of them thought well of the idea of a fair, but showed little interest in the agricultural part of it. Dancing and horse racing were to their minds the really important features. At the meetings, however, these subjects were' talked over, and it was decided to stop dancing during the farming months, in compensa-tion for which there was to be at the end of the season a week of sports and friendly competition. A program was arranged accord. ingly, with all prizes and premiums to be paid in cash and no betting or other gambling permitted. In the latter part of October, 1904, the fair was held. Nota speci-men of farm products, poultry, or larger live stock was exhibited; the whole thing was given over to dancing and horse racing. Anadniis-sion fee was charged and the.money used for paying race purses and ' putting the grounds in order. No gambling of any kind was in-dulged in during the fair. At its close a general call was issued for a meeting to organize for the next year's fair. Meanwhile a pro-gram had been worked out, so that the Indians would understand what was expected of them for 1905. At the meeting, moreover, the following offices were created and filled: One president; 5 vice-presidents, 1 from each district; 25 committeemen, 5 &om each dis- |