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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 109 nished by themselves, the employe's superintending their erection. They are generally small, but sufficient for ' Hie wants of their occupants. Each of them has a small plat of land fenced in and cultivated by its owner. Many of them have good herds of horses and cattle, which are rapidly increasing. Quite a large number are without houses, who still live in matting tents, move from place to place at will, and have adopted none of the dress or hab-its of civilization. Those who own the houses dress as white men, and attend church and Sunday- school with more or less regularity. A few of them are professing Christians. Only two or three could speak English, and only one, a harness- maker, had been taught to do mechanical work. The school has been a comparative failure, both as to numbers and results. Some of the children read quite fluently without understanding what they read, and have been instructed somewhat in spelling, arithmetic, geography, and writing. It is at present under the charge of Jacob Thomas, an educated Indian. Arrangements are being made to convert it into an industrial boarding- school for boys and girls, which I believe cannot fail to succeed if fairly managed. The anxiety of the Indians for the education of their children, is shown by the fact that they furnish the lumber and common labor for the additional building; and by their speeches in council. The agency buildings are moderately well suited for their purpo. se> but need repairs and additions. The subject will be again referred to. The school- house is used as a chapel. The service at which I was present was conducted by Captain John Smith, the agent, and was well attended by the Indians. The number in attendance at the council was not large, owing to the fact that most of the Indians . were absent at their fisher-ies. On these expeditious they take their families with them. The fish are dried or salted on the spot, and packed in barrels sunk in the ground, where they remain until required for use during the winter. Although left in this way for mouths, on the banks of the river sev-enty- five miles from their homes, and brought away at intervals, no Indian is ever known to interfere with the stores of another. The Indians present at the council were generally well dressed, and displayed considerable intelligence. Their speeches were sensible. They indicate the causes which operate against the advancement of the tribe, and will be found to be interesting. A full report of the council is herewith submitted. CONCLUSION. A much smaller number of white men would find it difficult to sustain themselves by cultivating the soil of the Warm Spring reservation, and certainly the Indians never can subsist themselves there without resorting to fishing, hunting, and gathering roots and ber-ries. Of these resources, in addition to their anti- civiiizing effect, it must be said that they are rapidly diminishing; and without them the Indians must again become dependent on the Government for food, or become wanderers among the white settlements. There is an abundance of good tillable land on the Yakama and Umatilla reservations for the Indians of the Warm Spring reservation, and it is believed that the consent of all the parties could be had to their removal. Their removal to these reservations is, therefore, earnestly recommended. The consent of the Yakama and Umatilla Indians could be obtained, and the respective agents, accompanied by a chief from each tribe, might hold a conference, at the Warm Spring agency, with Captain Smith and his Indians, and devise the best and most economical mode of making the removal, should it be decided on. Should the removal not be accomplished the agency buildings should at once be repaired, the saw- mill should be removed to a suitable place eight miles nearer to the timber, a manual- labor school should be established, and the boarding of the children provided for. The boundaries of the reservation, about which there is much controversy, should be de-fined. As the Indians will be unable to subsist without it, their right to fish at the Dalles should be restored to them. It is guaranteed to them in the treaty, but they were induced to relinquish, by a former superintendent, for the sum of $ 2,500. They say they did not so understand it. The only access to the fishery is over a piece of ground or rock now claimed by a white man, who charged $( iO for the right of passage for the present season. This should be purchased. Other details will probably be suggested by the agent in his annual report. While at the agency I examined the accounts, and fouud some irregularities in the dis-bursements ; but the agent expressed an earnest desire to conform to the regulations of the Department. A record of the council will be found appended to this report, ( see appendix.) YAKAMA RESERVATION. I left the Warm Spring agency on the morning of the 26th, and arriving at Dalles City on the following evening, found it necessary to remain there a day or two to rest the horses and repair the wagon. Starting on the morning of the 28th I arrived at Simcoe or Yakama agency, sixty- five miles north of Dalles, on the Yakama reservation, in Washington Ter-ritory, Saturday evening. July 29. The Yakama reservation is in extent about fifty by sixty miles. It was set apart by |