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Show 116 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. only now being done. From their speeches on this and other subjects connected with their interests, it will be seen that they are possessed of much intelligence and good sense. While they contend that they have never been treated justly, or with any care for their true interests, by those who have had charge of them, they say they have been themselves " asleep," and have " just waked up." Rapid as has been tbeir march on the way to civilization, there is reason to believe that, under the new Christian policy, it will be greatly accelerated. They should be induced at once to abandon their tribal relations and adopt simple municipal laws, and be admitted to all the rights of citizenship. The moral condition of the Grande Ronde Indians does not correspond with their state ot advancement in other respects. They have a church, which some of them attend on Sunday morning ; but many of them are gamblers, polygamists, believers in sorcery, whisky- drinkers, and adherents to their heathen customs. They do not hesitate occasionally to murder a " Temanamus doctor," who they suppose has bewitched some sick or departed friend. Of such offenses no cognizance is taken by the laws, and the crime of their commission is not theirs, but our own. We tacitly teach them that their barbarous customs are right, by fail ing to impose upon them the restraints of civilized laws. The agency buildings are much dilapidated, and should be repaired. I found among the employe's on the reservation but one man who professed to be a Christian, the doctor, and but one white woman on the reservation, his estimable wife. A new agent has since been appointed, and it is hoped that he will have no other than Christian em-ploye's and married men. Leaving Portland on the evening of the 16th to return home, and stopping several days in San Francisco, two days at Cheyenne, and two days at Lawrence, to obtain information in regard to Indian affairs at the several points named, I reached Pittsburgh on the 10th of October. At Chicago, having stopped over Sunday and to confer with Mr. Farwell, our baggage was burned in the great fire. With the exception of the minutes of the council, all the papers accumulated on the trip, and my private memoranda made at the reservation, were lost. The minutes of the council are submitted and will be found to be of much interest, show-ing as they do the Indian's opinion of their past and present condition as stated by them-selves. From the superintendent of Indian affairs in Oregon, Washington, and California, and from all the agents, & c., and employe's of the reservations visited, I received every desired facility within their power to give, and many kindnesses. To them and to the commanders of the military districts in which I visited, and to General John E. Smith at Fort Laramie, and other officers of the Army, I desire to express my thanks for their many courtesies and attention. To Thos. K. Cree, esq., who accompanied me as clerk, I am indebted for the most effect-ive services and aid. The advantage of such visits, both to the service and to the Indians, can hardly be over-estimated, and they should be frequent rather than exceptional. The absence of some sys-tem of inspection, both of superintendencies and agencies, has been a chief defect in the administration of Indian affairs. I do not believe it possible that the business of the Indian Department can be satisfactorily conducted without the aid of such inspections. The substitution ot inspectors for the per-manent superintendents would in many cases be an improvement. I trust that an effective and satisfactory system may be recommended by the board, and meet with the approbation of Congress during the approaching session FELIX R. BRUNOT. PITTSBURGH, November 20, 1871. APPENDIX A d, No. 1. WARM SPRING RESERVATION. MINUTES OF A COUNCIL HELD AT WARM SPRING RESERVATION, OREGON TERRITORY, BT COMMISSIONER FELIX R. BRUNOT. WARM SPRING AGENCY, July 24, 187J. This agency, under the charge of Captain John Smith, agent, is located in Oregon, sev-enty- five miles south of Dalles, on the Columbia River. It is occupied by the Wascoe, Tenino. and Warm Spring tribes of Indians. Left Dalles on Friday, July 21, and reached the agency on Saturday evening. Attended church service Sunday, conducted by the agent, Captain John Smith, Mr. Brunot, Mr. Cree, and others taking part in the meeting. Found the Indians much discouraged on account of the repeated failure of their crops, |