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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAh' AFFAIRS. 45 The Chippewas and Munsees are a small tribe, numbering only SO persons, occupying their lands in severalty upon a small reservation, and are quietand industrious. owning property to the amount of about $10,000. They have a good school, and are favorably situated in every respect. The largest portion of the extensive reservation of the Sacs and Foxes has been sold at nuhlic sale, tbe funds realized beine. however. swallowed un in the paymentpf certificates of indebtedness of the ~ndyinst,h e tribe having withdrawn to a diminished reservation, which, however, still neatly exceeds their necessi-ties, if they can he induced to turn their attention more to agriculture. The Chippewas and Munsees, having a small portion of land outside of their allotments, and more than they need, have expressed a desire tbat it shall be sold for their benefit. Steps have been taken to appraise this laud, amounting to 1,428 acres, preparatory to a public sale. Osage River agency; Miamies, Kmkaakias, Peorias, Weas, a ~ Pdia nkes-haws.- Tbeae Indians, under the charge of Agent Colton, are considerably ad-vanced in civilization, andlive upon land held in severalty. The Bfiamies number only 127, andownpropertyaveraging about $120 to each individual, apart from the land valuation. But a small portion of their land is under cultivation, the amount being stated at fifteen acres for each family, but the people maintain themselves comfortably. The agent represents that the progress of improve-ment 4as been slower than usual, on account of the distnrbedcoudition of affair8 upon the border during the war. ' TheMiamies pay great attention to the edu-cation of their children, and contribute largely of their own means for their maintenance at good schools, and they desire to be allowed to set apart still more of their funds for the purpose. They have some trouble resulting from trespasses of unauthorized persons upon their snrplns land, and are desirous to effect a sale of it. A question of much importance to the Miamies is undergoing investigation, having reference to an alleged wrong done to them bythe setting apart of some 14,000 acres of land and $15,000 in money for certain Miamies of Indiana, the Kansas Miamies alleging fraud in the list of persons, &c. The Peorias and other tribes confederated with them number 236 in all, and own personal property to the average value of $140 per each individual, and cultivate an average of 20 acres to each family. The Indians of this agency have raised this year nearly 40,000 bushels of corn, and own 600 horses, 750 head of cattle, and 1,100 hogs. A great defect in the treaty made with these Indiansis tbat the lands allotted to individuals, when patented to them, were patented for whole families in the name of the heads of those families; and as the restriction upon alienation of land only applied to one-half of the amount patented, the reault has been that the share of the children has been sold by the fathers in many cases. As a fur-ther consequence, orphan children, who were placed in families here and there for enumeration and allotment, lose their proper and just share of land. In re-gard to the orphan children, the case has a worse aspect, for in most eases the fsmilies with wbom they are placed care only for them so far as to get their annuities. The agent has suggested, and, to the credit of the leading men of ; the tribe, they desire, tbat measures shall be taken to have these orphan chil-dren placed under legally appointed guardians, who shall, under proper bonds, take charge of them and see that they are properly educated and maintained till of age, when their accumulated annuities would give them a fair start in life. This whole subject has been referred to the superintendent for investigation and report as to the practical method of bringing about the desired reform. Kansan, m Kaws.-This tribe, under charge of Agent Farnsworth, numbers 631 persons, showing a decrease of 70 since last year. The agent ascribes the gradual decay of the tribe to thepernicious habit of intermarriage of relatives, and to dissipation. The. people are well disposed towards the whites, friendly |