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Show INDIAN AFFAIRS. 79 SANITARY. here has been during the year but little sickness among the Indians of this agency : h the exception of small- pox, which raged to some extent. There were some fif- : i Indians died with this disease. Tln- re have been twenty- four deaths and seven ihs during the year. • CIVILIZATION*. 1\> an unprejudiced mind here can be but one conclusion. While these Indians live irely in tent.*, tepes. and brush houses, and move from one part of the reservation another, they are fast adopting the customs of the whites in manner of dress. I 3 consider their present location well adapted for their advancement in this direc- • i. They are surrounded by white settlers, with whom they are constantly thrown contact, which has a good effect. INDIAN* rOLICE. The police at this aircncy consist of t wo officers and eighteen privates. They are not efficient as is desired. However, they are getting to bcof some service to the agent. . several occasions they have brought in horses belonging to white settlers and rned them over, so that the owner could get his stock without trouble. AGENCY BUILDINGS. The buildings at this agency are very poor; they consist of two old log buildings, lieh are unsafe for the protection of supplies, & c , and are insufficient for the ac-mniodation and comfort of the agent and his employe's. surrxiEs. , The supplies furnished this agency last year were not in quantity sufficient for the mber of Indians who receive rations at this agency, and as theappropriation for * present year is largely deficient from that of last, it is hard to tell what the result U be. Owing to the fact that game is very scarce on the reservation, it is natural suppose that they will subsist on the sheep furnished them by the Government as ig as the same will last. Ainclose herewith statistical report. Very respectfully, ._ WARREN PATTEN, United States Indian Agent."-> The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. A . - * CHEYENNE RIVER AGENCY, DAKOTA, August 15, 1883. > IR: In compliance with instructions contained in circular from Indian Office dated ; h July, l& St, I have the honor to submit the following as my first annual report the condition of the Indian service at this agency relating to the Sioux Indians, tnposed of the Blackfeet, Sans Arc. Miuneconjou, and Two Kettle bands. I assumed charge of this agency on t h e 2* M day of September, 1682, since which t i m el ve endeavored to perform my duties in accordance with such instructions as I have ceived. If I have failed in any of them, I trust such failure mav be attributed to y inexperience rather than to inattention to my duties. LOCATION. The agency is located on the west bank of the Missouri River, about 8 miles below e mouth of the Big Cheyenne. The buildings stand upon about as unfertile a piece gumbo" laud as can be found along the river. Above us there is much better : id and better locations for agency buildings, and in my opinion they should be oved at as early a date as possible. The Indians of this agency are remarkably peaceable and quiet. There are among em, as there are among any other people, bad characters: but the proportion is no : « - ater, in fact I believe I am safe in saying t h a t it is less, than in the same number whites. W hen I meet a bad Indian 1 treat him as such until he makes up his miud at it is better and more profitable to be " good," and this he generally acknowl- ••? es. I do not speak egotistically wheu I say I think they have confidence m me. » very seldom necessary for me to repeat an order or a request. Tliey arc not only • - Hag out they seem anxious to obey all orders given them, especiallv such as come reel lrom the •• Great Father."' As au instance I will relate the following: In the •'.**, p f { n ot* J r m e Permission was given quite a number of the Indians to go on a oaio hunt ( a number sufficient to attend to all their crops were to remain at home.) A |
