OCR Text |
Show is simply impossible, and there is danger that, without the exercise of great prudence and forbearance on tho part of the State authorities further and greater difficulties may arlse. The "Otter Tail" Pillagers, to whom the difficulties referred to are principally due, have t.he right to a home on the White Earth reservation; they removed to it in 1871, but as they werenot provided with the means of opening farms, nor with subsistence during the timenecessary to raise a crop, they returned to their former haunts. They are now warned off from their grounds at Otter Tail by the State autborities. The larger portion of the Pillagers,. together with the Winuebagoshish band, about fifteen hundred in number, live around Leech Lake; their general reputation for turbulence and worthlessness of cllaraoter 1s well known and of long standing ; still, there are those who seem milliug and ready to work if assisted by the Cmvernment. ~ p e ustm ith, in charge, sags that thrir country is barren, with ouly, here ant1 tlirre., -p atches suex~~t ibolfe till~~gc-accessibolnel y b j rnuoo o.r~ n~ tf~iam. boat. In this coui~ection.a nd advert in^ to ti% ~unrders ~ ~ corutnitte~l1 1st ~ P~~ I rI ~ ~ C PitS i,s but j n ~ to notice tKat 1111 I ~ L K I ~ ' S S I I ~ S ~ ici Millll~irot:)i,n the region of tllc. 111diir1r1r serratiuns, is not. c o t ~ f i ~ ~ ~ d t.o I-u-( liar~s. 'Cl~ea ~ ~ ~ r rolfe tisy o It~~liiilaosf the ;)tter Tail I'illa~rrdf or the offense of camping on a white man's ground is reported, w&le two others, who had been arrested at White Earth on suspicion of com-olioitv in a murder. and lodeed in iail for trial, mere taken therefrom r l yH ;lob rind I I I I ~ ~ S. ocb o n d l ~ e tO III btit lia\.e n l,rs~~ieioucsfk ct upon t11c I u t l i ; ~lu~iu~d , and tell11 to arouse a xl~i ro~f tr evengo atid retali. aiion. Jfississippi bands.-These Indinms reside in different localities. Most of them are on their reservation at White Earth; others areat Nille Lac. Gull Lake. and some at White Oak Point reservations. U ~ o n the first-iamed reserkatiou operations have been quite extensive i n t l ~ e of school-buildings, dwelling-houses, shops, and mills, and in breaking ground. At one time during the past summer there was a, prospect of an abondant yield from 300 acres somn in cereals, hut, un-fortunately, the grasshoppers swept away the entire crop, aud a second crop of buckwheat and turnips proved a failure. The Indians on this reservation are well-behaved and inclined to be industrious. Many of them are engaged in tilling the soil, while others are learning the me-chanical arts; .and they may, as a, body, be said to be making coosider-able progress in the-purauits of civilized life. About one-half of the Indians at Gull Lake have been removed to WhiteEarth; the remainder are opposed to removal, and will, iu their present feeling, rather forfeit their annuities than change their location. The 3Iillc Lac Ohippewas, who coutinne to occupy the lands ceded by them in 1863, with reserva-tion of the right to live thereon during good behavior, are iudix1)osed to leave their old home for the new one designed for them on the White Earth reservation. Only about twenty-five have thus far been induced to remove. Their present reservation is rich in pine lands, the envy of lumber dealers, and there is a strong pressureon all sides for their early removal. They shonld have help from the Government, mhether they remain or remore, and this could be afforded to a sufficient extent by the sale for their benefit of the timber upon the la.nds now occupiecl by them. Probably the Government could provide for them in no better way. Tile White Oak Point Cl~ippewas were formerly known as Sandy Lake Indians. They rere remover1 in 1867 from Sandy Lake and IKab-bit Lake to white Oak Point, on the Mississippi, uear the eastern part |