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Show 26 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. But there will be anew order of things. I hare studied their n e e a carefull.r., a nd have made s network of ditohes, lakes, ponds, canals, eto., all over this reservation, which, with care and a small outlay from time to time, can be kept in oonataut and good repair, thus furnishing them o never-failing souroe of wnte;and graas for the subsistence of their flocks. To the waterworks already established should be added, in the most arid districts. artesian wells. Thus will the Indians legally hold their permanent grazing grounds, for there pill he sufficient water and forage for all, and being permanently located, they can afford to build themselves better hogans, and s bet; order of living wiil follow. With inorewe of pasturage and water they can inorease their Bocks and herds which will increase their prosperity j and with the extension of their present grazing grounds, their tribal and clan relations will be improved and trust among them be astab-lished, and thrift and oompetenoe promoted. These Indians are qniok, shrawd, and intelligent and learn to copy civilized improvements mpidly. Since the advent of the trader they have lemed many things new if not always profitable. The first month I wss on the reservstion, a very dignified delegation consisting of the 20 moat prominent ohieftains of the tribe who called s oonnoil to ask me how many years it would be before beginning operations. They explained that they didn't want their lands drnined ; that the Great Father at Washington wodd compel them to farm and they didn't want to do it. Uesidee, they nrgued, if they did get their lands in goad onltureble condition, other Indian tribes would swoop down upon them and take their landa, or the ever-sdrsnoing, enamaching white man would oome in and drive them farther on to the westweid. It took time and work to demonstrate to them the benefits to be derived from irrigation. Aa s.year.hns passed swey, and they have reosived the benefits I assured ' them would accrue, they are well pleased. * * " In accordance with my instnlc-tiom. I have em~l o r e dIn diana on thin work wherever possible, and, to their credit. theymake ffs bitter laborers than the motley white h e 6 o f t h i b~a ker land. wi th a g-o ad sretem of irrig.at ion in full -p ro-g ress here there is not a necessity for much aid ill other direotions for these Indians. for thev are fairlv DrOsDerOUR. They excel " A - a8 ~ilversmithasn d in-the arts of pottery, blanket, nnd basket weaving, el1 of which are sources of revenue. There is q l d and silver on the reserration, but it is care-full" v suarded bv them. Thev have n. revenue from vool and mntton. They are self- - sustaining. They are not fsstidious about their food; they prefer superliltively a meat to vegeta1,le diet. 'They eat everything, even to dead horse, exoept beas meat and fish. Thev have a su~erstition among them that the devil incarnate dwells in bruin and not one of them could he induoed to kill a bear unless it wea a life-or-death conflict. The Indians keep fires hnrning on the crest of the mountains all the night to keep the mountain lions and bears from attacking their flooka and herds in the valleys. * * * Superintendent Vincent has been called upon for his plans as to further work on the reservation. It is now thought that it would be wise to use a portion at least of remaining funds available for irriga-tion and water supply on that reservation in boring some artesian wells? where they will be most useful to the Indians for stock and domestic purposes; but that question will not be finally determined until further plans and full iuforn~ation as to the same shall have been submitted. Port Hall Reservation, Idaho.-Under authority granted by the Depart-ment November 20,1894, Superintendent Graves was directed Novem-ber 24,1894, to proceed to the Port Hall Reservation, for the purpose, |