OCR Text |
Show safety for the large amount of government property at that point, as well as the crop judt gathered, the subject has recently beer. represented to the department. The Indiaus now at Crow creek are portiotts of some of the bands treated with in 18G5, who remained in that neighborhood all winter, being kept from absolute starvation only by the issue to them of such scanty supplies as could he spared ffom the stores at Fort Sully, and from the agency. It is much to tbe credit of the Indians that, in spite of their manifold sufferings, scarcely a case of stealing occurred among them, they being determined to keep their faith pledged to the government. As spring advanced, and the deep snows melted, most of them departed for the hunt; but parts of the Two Kettles and Lower Yanctonuais bands have remained at this point, willing to undertake the experiment of plauling a crop. I t was recommended by Governor Edmunda that the Lower Brulds should also be colonized at this place and the agency buildings and acoommo-datious be made available for all threeof the bands named; but, on referring the matters to Agent Hauson, he reports that theBrulds insist upon the lucatiou at the mouth of White river, necured to them by their treaty. The agent reports fair success in raising corn and vegetables. A clirious illustration of the uncertainty of buman affairs occurs here. The departmmnt had just abandoned this location as a home for the Winnehagoes and Suntee Sioux, upon absolute conviction of its unfitness for ngricullture, derived from proofs of the failure of cropti for succer;sive years, the descriptions given by persol~sf amiliar witli the country, and the reports of the northwestern treaty commission,aud of Special Agent Reed; and yet, Agent Hanson clearly recom-melids this same reservation as a proper place whereupon to initiate his wild Sioux of the plains in the mysteries of farming, beiieving that he can succecd at Crow creek as wcll a s a t auy other place iu that country. Eveuts this year seem to justify Mr. Hanson's opiniun; while anotht:r year, with less rain, may vindicate the bad reontation of tlie dace as farmine lands. The Indians, how-vvel., i v t : ~di~z l~nwd'~rnr y it, a~lcln n the buildings :re nt lnnlnol hgr ,111 the oprl.1- r,rjta% .I all :ag'~ltri~l .i i P I O P O - C ~ 10 puI in opl!rnli~nh t.r~.,e xpc.lilllt.utully, tlllt tia an of tl~ti ncury uf 111c r s u [rib i invzitio~~w~ld~ icltc o~lt~mplnc(1.d1 1eil.( 111- ~(~IIT~:I.IRillC cIn>ltIi\ ..lting th*: ~<, idl ,~ pplying~ ht:I I C C ~ C S R Im. ~e an* t ; ti~,(: PUT-pCsr T I LW 11w gt 11e:nl f u t ~u~fl t he l l ~ d i u us trvice in tire l't.rritory, ulttil e;ltinmres GOBI I,,. li~id bvrure C ,n-l.asn and f11nli.i obr.~i~ed. As to the Lower Uroli*, r *:la seems no alternative t i a strict fulfilment of the treaty, and measures will be tilken to do so at the mouth of White river. Of the othcr bands of Sioux treated with, we only know of idisposition shown to cultivate the soil by one of the Sans Arc chiefs, who has asked that a little land may be broken for him near the mouth of the Cheyenne river; but it is something gained when any of these wild tribes are willing to make the experi-mcnt, and n wi:l be the endeavor of this office to give them all possible aid and encouragement in this important beginning of a radical change iu their customs. Pasi;iug beyond the Sioux country, we reach the agency at Fort Berthold,.of which, and the Indianslocated thereabouts, we kuow nothing from the agent, hut something from the treaty commission. The Ar;ickarees, Cros Ventres, and lIand;~x~asre a very friendly and peaceable people, and. industrious to a suffi-cient extent t,o raise annually large quantities of corn for their.subsisteuce. &Loreover, they desire to improve, and ask for schools io which their children may he tauglit; and these advantages will be secured to them if the late treaty wit,h them shall he ratified. I have, uudtr this heading, refrained from any notice of theimportant treaties with the Illdims of Dakota, as that subiect has been particularly referred to in t-h e oreliminarv Dart of this reoort. Jlrasure, hir:, been t&en co reward, with medals and money, ~ c v r rc~hi~efls who wcr,. reporred by thr co~nmidsivn havinc rejcucd whiten <rum captivity and restorehthem to-their friends. - |