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Show REPORT OF THE BOARD OF INDIAN COMMISSIONERS. 147 dian affairs in that State. Citizens of the United States on the Pacific coast, as well as east of the Rocky Mountains, entertain the idea, and practice it most fearfully, that Indians have no rights that they are bound to respect. The Government must, in some way, work a rad-ical change in this theory, and compel white men to respect the rights of red men as well as black ones. One step in this direction can be made by subjecting them to United States laws when it is practicable, and provide some way for civilized Indians to become citizens when they desire to, without isolating themselves from their tribes, where their influence could be utilized to induce others to follow them. Some mark of honor should be given to all such individual cases as an inducement to all to adopt the habits of white men. As touching this, I append herewith a letter from the Rev. Thos. S. Williamson, an old missionary among the Indians, marked A b, No. 31. In this Christian nation there should be moral strength enough to compel, at least, the ex-ercise of strict justice as between these heathen wards of the Government and her own citizens. The relations of agents to superintendents in their duties, as the work is now organized, have suggested to my mind that much good would result to the service if the agent was made responsible directly to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the superintendent's duties were so changed as to make him an inspector, acting under special directions from the Com-missioner, by and with the advice of the board of special Indian commissioners. In that case no one of these inspectors or superintendents should be permanently employed in any one locality. In the making of purchases for the Indian Department in California, the superintendent advertises for bids for all articles required. I was there at the opening of the bids. In dry- goods only two firms sent in samples. The qualities and prices were, in the main, quite as favorable as eastern purchases. The qualities of goods at Hoopa and Round Valleys were very far from that standard. The prices paid were not known to the agent. Some of the articles were so poor that the poorest Indian would not take them. It is essential that everything the Government furnishes shoiild be the most serviceable of its kind, as a matter of economy, and therefore I would recommend, where it is practicable, that purchases be made of well- known manufacturers, and that superintendents be relieved entirely from this duty. I cannot see why the Government should not make a contract by the year with the manufacturer of any kind of goods needed, to be delivered at the lowe- st cash price on date of the order. An inspector would then know the quality of goods he should find at any agency he should visit. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN V. FARWELL. APPENDIX A e, No. 28. HOOPA VALLEY INDIAN RESERVATION, CALIFORNIA, July 20, 1871. SIR : Pursuant to your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report on the physical and sanitary condition of the Indians on this reservation. Hoopa Valley is situated in the northern part of this State, and is one of the most health-ful localities on the Pacific coast. It is seven miles in length by an average of two miles in breadth. The Indians live in rancherias or villages scattered along the banks of the Trinity River the entire length of the valley. Each of these raucherias is designated by a particular name, and they are entirely s- parate and distinct from each other, and, in some instances, hold no intercourse. Feuds that have existed for generations between them still prevail ; but within the last few years there has been a manifest disposition on the part of the more intel-ligent ones to effect a more amicable adjustment of their difficulties. The custom of killing each other for some trivial offense has become obsolete with the Hoopa Indians, but is still practiced by the Klamaths, a powerful tribe outside of the reservation, about forty miles distant. A large number of those on the reservation are becoming aroused to a realizing sense of their degradation, and frequently express desires for an improvement in their condition. To use their own expression, they want to live " all same's white man." In their efforts in this direction, they receive the hearty support of the superintendent and the agent, who encourage and assist them to the full extent of their authority. The sanitary condition of the Indians is miserable, though gradually improving. At least seventy- five per cent, are afflicted with some sort of malady. If we could have better facilities for treating them I am confident that this percentage would be greatly reduced nearly to the standard of the whites. Many of the older ones still adhere to their ancient customs, and persist in employing their own doctors to treat their disorders. Their method of treatment is quite too disgusting to describe here. They are afflicted with one disease in particular that baffles the skill of their most experienced medicine- men, and as this is a modern innovation, and introduced by their more civilized white brother, they very naturally expect |
