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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 181 John S. Armstrong, Abiqniu agency New Mexico; Mr. John B. Monteith, Lapwai agency, Idaho. 2. Iii general, the annual report of the board will be sent to yon, containing detailed information in reply to most of the questions in your circular. The report for the year ending last May 1, you have already received ; the report for the year ending next May 1, will be forwarded to you as soon as published. It will contain fuller information, on some points than we now possess. But I may note a few things here. ( 1.) The work of education, & c., in the Choctaw agency, is in the hands of the Southern Pres-byterian Board. There are schools, but the returns of scholars are not known here. ( 2.) Our board has schools among the Senecas, Lake Superior Chippewas, and Creeks, all under agents not nominated by it. See returns of scholars in the last annual re-port above referred to, except in the case of the Lake Superior Chippewas, where two more teachers have been sent out, a day- school of about thirty scholars has been kept for some months, and a boarding- school of six girls and eleven boys has been conducted for the last two mouths, the number of scholars to be increased soon to twenty- five. ( 3.) In the tribes for which agents were nominated, a day- school has been kept among the Navajoes, and a small boarding- school of six boys has been recently opened; both of those schools, it is hoped, will soon be enlarged. A boarding- school of six boys and as many girls has been formed among the Seminoles. Returns have not yet been re-ceived of the schools among the Nez Perces ; two gentlemen and their wives have been sent to these Indians, whose duties will lead them to act as teachers no less than as missionaries. In the Uintah Valley, Abiquiu, Cimarron, Mescalero Apache, Southern. Apache, and- Moqui ageuaies, little progress can yet be reported in the work of educa-tion. Some of the Indians in these agencies are not yet placed on reservations ; all but two of these bands are in a somewhat unsettled state, and in all these agencies suit-able buildings for school purposes have not yet been provided. In several cases the agents themselves, perhaps in all cases, have given instruction to the Indians and. their children, to some extent. All the agents have the education of the Indians much at heart. 3. Several causes have led to delay in carrying the plans of the board into full effect : the distance of the New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah Indians from the States, and the difficulty and great expense of reaching them ; the fact that almost everything had to be begun without previous preparation ; the serious sacrifices and privations to be en-dured by families who may be called to go out to teach these tribes ; but, nevertheless, the board is confident that the benevolent people on whom it relies for support will enable it to use vigorous and successful efforts for the benefit of these Indians. 4. Nothing has occurred to weaken the faith of the board in the humane policy of the Government toward the Indians, understanding by this policy its seeking to pre-serve peace with these tribes, to place them on reservations, to deal justly by them, to place upright men over them as agents, to promote their education and training in the ways of civilized life ; the results of such policy will surely be good. I may add that I am confident of being sustained by the board and by all our Christian people, when I express the opinion that the board of Indian commissioners, and the Indian agents appointed on the nomination of responsible and benevolent associations, are two things full of good to the Indians. The action and influence of these gentlemen, in their sev-eral posts of duty, will go far to correct the great evils of the past, and to secure to the Indians, in time to come, the benefits of religion and education, and thereby of the best civilization. Our Government and our nation in'// f/ o on in this policy toward the Indians, and our churches will continue to seek their highest good. Well, therefore, may we expect to see great changes for the better. Yours, very truly, JOHN C. LOWRIE, Secretary. Mr. VINCENT COLYER, Secretary, $- c. Official lint of the Indian agencies, name* of ar/ cnts, nam- es of tribes, and the religious denomi-nation* by - whom the agents have been nominated, in the United States. Agents' names. |