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Show 167 now and then by exaggerated rumors of war among the more warlike tribes north and south of us. The year has been one of marked progress to these Indians in quieting the feeling of envy and jealousy which has always existed between the two tribes at this agency. The White River and Uintah Utes have intermarried more during the past year than ever before in the history of the tribes. This tends to make them one people. Some of the differences between these tribes may not be out of place here. The Uintahs branched off from the great Ute nation and settled by themselves in this valley many years ago. The Uintahs are an agricultural people, depending very little upon the chase. The habits and customs of the Uintah Indians are more nearly like those of the tribes north of them. The language of the Uintahs is, I apprehend, the pure Ute language, it having undergone little or no change since they settled here. On the other hand the White Rivers have never taken kindly to agriculture. The chief cause of the Meeker massacre was because Mr. Meeker tried to compel them to work. They have never been contented to settle down in one place. Their habits are more like their southern neighbors. Their language is different in many respects from that of the Uintahs, it being strongly tinctured with Spanish. You can well imagine the jealoqsy and envy that would naturally arise in the breasts of the Uintahs by bringing these 550 White River Utes among the Uintahs and locating them upon lands which the Uintahs had always claimed, and which they were always taught was theirs. To widen the breach between them, the Uintahs were compelled to stand peacefully by and see the White River Utes, whose hands were reeking with the blood of Agent Meeker, his family and his employes, receive a large cash annuity, when they were brought here in 1882, and they receive nothing. This was a bitter draught for them, an-1 tended to widen the breach between them; am, then a large herd of beef cattle belonging to the White River Utes was brought here at the same time, which was issued to them in abundance, while the Uintahs |