OCR Text |
Show 10 REPOBT OF THE ally lose their present sense of degradation and their disposition to lawlessness, and soon become a better people. If so situated, it is believed that their brethren in Florida would be induced peaceably to emigrate and join them, as it is understood that one of their prin-cipal objections to doing so now is the inferior and subordinate position to the Creeks in which they would be placed. The southern superintendency embraces within the Neosho agency, also the small bands of Quapaws, the Senecas, the Senecas and Shaw-nees, and the tribe of Osage Indians, all of whom, except the latter, are agriculturists, and are gradually improving in their condition and circumstances. The drought of the last and during a portion of the present year, though materially diminishing their resources and comforts, has fortunately resulted in no aotual suffering among them. The Osages still continue their erratic and unsettled mode of life, trafficking, stealing from and warring with the tribes of the plains and other Indians. They are suffering from the evil of having too large an extent of country, which naturally disinclines them to concentrate and settle down to industrial pursuits. Their title should be ex-tinguished to all except a small portion of their country ; which they should be placed under stringent treaty obligations to remain upon and cultivate. During the latter part of the last winter, the small pox suddenly broke out amongst them and proved fatal to some four hnn-dred of their number. A physician was immediately employed, who energetically commenced the work of vaccination, and thus checked the disease. The supervising agent reports an encouraging degree of success as attending the commencement of the colouieation of the Indians of Texas, on the reservations granted by that State for the purpose. A majority of five different bands have located on one of the reserva-tions, and have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner. Vol-untarily abstaining from the use of ardent spirits, there has not been a gallon sold on the reservation, nor a case of drunkenness amongst them ; nor have they, so far as lmown, been guilty of a single depre-dation upon any of our citizens. They are pleased with their new mode of life, and have displayed so much interest and industry in the agricultural operations commenced for their benefit, as to justify the conclusion that in a year or two more they will be disposed and able to maintain themselves, with but little assistance from the gov ernment. There is every prospect that in a short time the remainder of these bands will all join their brethren on the reservation. From a communication recently received from Agent R. S. Neigh-bors, to which your attention was heretofore called, it appears that the depredations and murders which have been committed within the State of Texas by Indians, and which induced t.hat State to muster into service a military force, under Captain Callahan, for its protec-tion, were committed by Lipans and Seminoles, who are organized on the west side of the &io Grande. Upon a visit of the agent to the Rio Grande, he states that he was informed by the Mexican authori-ties that their government had appointed agents for those Indians |