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Show REPORT OF TEE ACTING COMMISSIONER. 17 The Wyandotts are few in number, and can scarcely be regarded as a tribe. Some became citizens under the provisions of the treaty of 1855, and others declined to change their relation in that respect. Their situation is a peculiar one, from which they can, it is thought, only be relieved by appropriate legis-lation of Congress. They desire to sell their lands and remove to the Indian country, and I am of the opinion that it will be best for their interest and for the people of Kansas that an aprangement be effected to this end. This will however he accomplished should the treaty of February last, made with the Senecas and Shawnees and other tribes, be ratified, as it provides a home for them on a tract of 20,000 acres, ceded by the first article of that treaty, beinga part of the Seneca reservation. , Saca and Foxes of the Mississi$pi.-The statistics of population show a decrease in the number of this tribe, as is the case with most of the tribes who live by the chase. They are averse to a change of habits, to education, and agricultural pursuits. An exception may he found in Keokuk, the principal chief, and a few others, who have farms and encourage the schools established amo~lgth em. Last year the I' Kindergarten" system of instruction was author-ized to be introduced, but it does not appear to have heeu brought into use for want of certain requisites. I question whether sufficient interest has been given to the matter and proper efforts made to give it a fair test. The .Chil,pewa and Christian Indiana form a small band of eighty-four souls, hold lands in severalty, have comfortable homes, and are prospering. They have a goad school and are not diaposed to leave their present abode. Included in the agency for the above-named trihes are the Ottawas, formerly in charge of Special Agent Hutchinson. By the ~perationo f their treaty of 1862 they ceased, since July last, to he a tribe, and have become citizens. They are in great trouble, and desire the ratification of the treaty made by them con-jointly with other Kansas tribes last winter, a stipulation of which gives them choice of citizenship or to remain in their tribal relations, and provides for the removal from Kansas of such as do not become citizens. That treaty has not yet been acted upon by t.he Senate. Kafflsas or Knws.-An improvident and wild though peaceably disposed tribe, the same now as they were many years ago. What has been done for lhem in the way of building houses upon their reserve, opening a school, and assisting them to learn how to cultivate the soil, has failed, in a great measure, to produce any marked changein them fortbe better. They now see that their source of support-the chase-will before long avail them little or nothing. Until their dependence on that shall have been abandoned there can be little hope of any decided improvement on their present condition. Once about the richest Indians in Kausas they are now perhaps the poorest and most unpromising. Kickapoos.-Those ou the reserve number 262. Some of these were formerly Pottawatomies, who, years sioce, becomingdissatiefied wit11 their own people, pur-chasedrights amongthis tribe. The great majority of theKickapoos wentoff south during the late war, many as far.as Mexico. During the past year some have returned, and those now in Mesco are anxious to get back again. Though unsettled in view of the question of their removal from Kansas, the trihe gen-erally has prospered, and those who expect to remain as citizens are much interested in the education of their children. Miamies, Peorias, Piankesha&s, Kaskasias and Weas.-These people all hold lands in severalty. In point of intelligence and improvement they ranked with the trihes most advanced in civilization, but, owing to their vices learned &om the whites, and to the use of spirituons liquors by many of them, their numbers have been much reduced; especially is this the case of the Miamies. Should the treatyarrangements entered into with these Indiana during the past spring be approved and carried into effect, some of them willno doubt assume the relation ot citizens, while others will remove to the Indian I-Vol. ii-2 |