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Show 160 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. very great to persevere in a work of this sort, arid it is believed that the efforts will be blessed if continued. The society is endeavoring to encourage a tendency, which is being manifested among the leading men in these tribes, to settle down on homes of their own, its endeavors being materially aided by means of funds placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Interior by Congress. Some of the leading chiefs of wild tribes have settled down, and are now engaged in following the ways of the white man, plant-ing corn, & c., and express themselves much gratified with the experiment. As an instance, the case of Big Mouth, one of the most noted warriors of the Arapahoes, may be taken. He avoids any reference to his former life, and looks forward to the time when he can settle down and live as a Christian man should live. The Cheyennes and Arapahoes, tribes that some years ago gave the Government considerable trouble, frequently murdering and robbing white settlers, have, for the last two years, been exceedingly quiet, with the exception of some of their young men who have gone off and joined the Kiowas in raiding into Texas. They remain quietly on their reserva-tion, their children attend school, and the leading men of the tribe manifest a dispo-sition to remain peaceable. Despite the predictions of the military, and others who were supposed to know, that there would certainly be a war with these Indians, through the blessings of an overruling Providence, and through the efforts made by the President of the United States, the board of Indian commissioners, and the religious denominations co- operating with them, the tribes have been peaceable and quiet, and in a condition of transition toward a better life. Among the Kiowas the old habit of raiding into Texas prevails to some extent, oc-casioned by causes entirely beyond the control of the society at present. These Indi-ans were driven out of Texas and away from their homes ( where they were engaged in stock- raising and doing well) by filibusters who wanted their lands, and they now raid into Texas, stealing horses and mules, as they say they have a right to some rent for their land. They are greatly demoralized by Mexican traders, who come to them, with contraband goods ammunition, fire- arms, and whisky, and sell to the Indians in exchange for the mules, horses, and cattle they have stolen. The Mexicans have a hatred for the Texans, and they encourage the Indians in their depredations. For the past few months, however, the tribe has been peaceable. Three of their chiefs, who confessed to the agent that they had been engaged in a murderous raid into Texas, were arrested and sent to Texas for trial. One of them was killed on the way, while attempting to take the life of his guard. The others were tried and sentenced to be executed, but upon the recommendation of prominent citizens of Texas, together with the indorsement of General Sherman, the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. The men who now have control of the Kiowas are disposed to be quiet, and say they have no disposition to give the Government any further trouble ; and it is thought by Superintendent Hoag, who has charge of these Indians, that it would be a wise measure for some of the chiefs of this tribe, be, as the Cheyenne and Arapaho were, invited to Washington, to confer with the President and Secretary of the Interior and board of Indian commissioners, in relation to their affairs. It is probable that some of the members of these tribes do now go out on these raids, but they are those who never subject themselves to the control of the Government, who never come in for any rations, and who are perfectly independent of the Government. If there have been any depredations by the Kiowas since the arrest of their chiefs, it has been only by in-dividuals who have gone out and joined these wandering bands of Comanches. The conjunction of the military post at Fort Sill with the agency at the same place is a very unfortunate combination. The Indians come into the agency sometimes single bands, frequently more to obtain their rations, and are thus brought in con-tact with the troops. All who are familiar with intercourse of soldiers and Indians know something of the terribly demoralizing influence which the former exerts over the latter. It is a subject for serious consideration as to how the two can be supported. The Government has gone to great expense in establishing fortifications there, and it is not likely that the War Department would be willing to remove them. And yet, to a man who is not a military man, it seems to be a very unsuitable point for a military post. The object of the presence of soldiers is to prevent the Indians from raiding into Texas, and yet the fort is thirty miles from the boundary line, north of it. The sol-diers are without power to interfere with Indians on their reservations, and, conse-quently, the military are of no use if they remain where they are. The removal of the agency to some other point would be attended with heavy expense, the Govern-ment having already erected agency buildings, school- houses, & c. But it is believed that if the Indians could be moved further north, and thus not only be separated from the military but taken away from the Texas border, great good would result. The question of securing the Indian Territory to the Indians exclusively is one of great importance. White men have gone into that Territory during the last twelve months. The military have been ordered to remove them, but have not yet done so. If the Territory is opened to settlement by the whites, the policy of congregating the Indians there with a view to their civilization will prove futile. The class of white men that precede true civilization are worse than Indians, being land- grabbers, who |
