OCR Text |
Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER. 7 does not esceed one-halfof what it did four years ago. They formerly resided on the north side of the Platte river, and on the west side of the Loup fork of that stream. A few years ago they were represented to be in a Hourishiig condition ; but the Sioux came down upon and mur-dered many of them, burned their houses, stole their horses and other stock, and the survivors were corn elled to retreat to the south side of the Platte, and have thenceforwar 1 been unwilling to return to their former homes. The Indians of this aaenc?-, like all others, indulge in the use of intoxicating liquor when they can obtain it; and unfortu-nately the two tribes iirst named are, from the location of their villages, never free from the temptation. The Half-breeds, located between the Great and Little Nemaha rivers, and numbering, including ?heir families, about sixty souls, have made some considerable advance in civilization. The Iomays have many advantages, but they have not prolitably availed themselves of them. Indolence and vice predominate. This < tribe numbered at their last payment, according to the pay roll, four hundred and ninety-seven ; by the census recently taken, they number only four hundred and thirty-seven. Their location has no doubt a very unfavorable influence on them, and although they promise a refor-mation in their habits, a change of residence is perhaps indispensable. The Sacs and Foxes of Missouri reside upon the same tract of land with the Ioways. Their condition, however, is rather better ; but the remarks in relation to the Ioways are, to a considerabie extent, applica-ble to the Sacs and Foxes. The Kickapoos are more advanced than any other tribe in the Great Kemaha agency. They are represented as making some progress in , agriculfure. A few have comfortable houses, with domestic animals about them. The TVyandotts, Shawnees, and Delawares are embraced in the Kanzas aeencv. A number in each of these tribes are educated. intelli- - ~ genr men: habing good cl\vellings, 2nd surroilndrd with the os~iicl om-filrts and conrenier~ccso t'civilizcdlilc. Various religious deuominations hnve missions in this nr.clicv.a~~sdo me ofthe Indians arc, nrofeisorsot'the 1 Christian religion; buymadj ofthem are habitual drunkhds. The Wy-andotts have in operation a system of common schools and a code of kdws for their own government. The Pottawatomie Indians are not, as a general thing, improving. They have a large money annuity, the corrupting effects of which are dearly visible. Thegovernment has provided no habitation for an agent in their country; and leftto themselves without the necessF oversight, with many avenues by which whisky can be, and constontlJ- is, intro-duced among them, they indulge in the gee use of it. Dissipation pre-vails, and many of the principal mcn are, it is believed, destitute of int~gitJ-, and are used to subserve the purposes of the avaricious, des~gning and heartless, who seek, and but too often obtain, the cou-trol ofthem for the promotion of their own sinister views. A few ofthe bands are to a considerable extent cnltivatinp the soil; and there are some good nlen inthe nation who appear to have availed themselves of the benefits of the missionary efforts among the Pottawatomies. The Kanzas Indians with the Pottawatomles cons'itute one agency. |