OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 43 eighth to near the ninetyninth meridian of west longitude. There can be no question, I think, that the arrangement will be equally for the advantace of the Government and of the Indians. Legislation to carry iuto efl;.: the pro~isiouso f the agreement will be rrc&~tneudc(la t thh apprnact~it~segs viou of Cougress. Slrould tl~iraj rljust~n(<ooft thr qnrs-tiou, so (81. as the Ampnhws ore rfiucrrr~ed, nlrrt the HII~I.O\.RI of COII-jiresn, sryarare negotiatibus !rill he eurered iuto nirh rl~eC 'llr~-ennes, \\it11 a view to ohtainiue their rel inu~~i shmorf~ ~rht e ~r..st.rvatiou of l aG, a1181t heir locatio~c;~6 some vaca;lt tr;it:t within the same gtuernl se1:tion of tho Iudinn Territory. A considerable uumber of the Arapahoes are already engaged in agriculture, though at a disadvantage, and when the question of their reservation shall have been settled, it is confidently believed that snb-stantiallv the whole bodv of this tribe will turn their attention to the cultivatj'bn of the soil. 'rwo schools are conducted for their benefit at the agency, having an attendance of 35 scholars. Of the Cheyennes confederaied with-the Arapahoes, the reports are less favorabie as to progress made in industry, or disposition to improve their condition. Ufitil 1867 both these tribes, in common with the Kiowas and Com-anches, were engaged in hostilities against tho whitesettlers in Western Eans a~b, ut since the treaty made with them in that year tbey have, with the exception of one small band or the Oheyeunes, remained friendly, and have committed no depredations. The disposition of the Arapahoes is especially commendable. No breach of peace whatever can be charged upon them, and their influence is uniformly exerted to dissuade neighboring tribes from depredating on the whites. It is the intention of the Department at the opening of the next agricultural season to afford the Arapahoes substantial assistance in the form of stock and agrict~ltural implements, and by breaking up land, should the question of their reservation be finally settled. Under the treaty of October 28, 1867, the Cheyennes and Arapahoes have limited annuities, &c., (twenty-five installments still due,) as fol-lows: For beneficial objects, $20,000, and for clothing $14?500. Pro-vision is also made for the employment of a physician, teacher, carpen-ter, fkrmer, blacksmith, miller, and engineer, at a cost to the Govern-ment of $7.700. These Indians are now ~ubsisted mainlo at the ex- ~~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ " pense if the' Government: Wiclbitas, &c.-The Wichitas and other affiliated bands of Eeechies, Wacoes, Ton~ocwoesC, addoes, Ionies, and Delawares number 1,250, divided approiimately as follows: Wichitas, 299 ; Keechiefi, 126; Wa,. coes, 140 ;, Tofroccaroes, 127 ; Caddoes, 392 ; Ionies, 85 ; Delawares, 81. These Indlans, fragments of once important tribes originally belonging in Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, and the Indian Territory, were all, ex-cepting the Wichitas and Delawares, removed by the Government from Texas, in 1859, to the "leased d i s t r i ~ tt,h~e n belonging to the Choctaws and Chickasaws, where thgy have since resided, at a point on the Wa-shita Eiver near old Fort Cobb. They have no treaty relations with the Government, uor have they any defined reservation. They have always, or, at least, for many years, been friendly to the whites, althougl~ in close and constant conttlot with the Kiowas and Comanches. A few of them, chiefly Caddoes and Delawares, are engaged in agriculttire, and are disposed to be industrious. Of the other Indians a.t this agcucy, some cultivate small patches in corn and vegetables, the work being done mainly by women, but the most are content to live upon the Gov-ernment. The Caddoes rank among the best Indians of the continent, and set an exampleto the other bands aaliated with them worthy of |