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Show 2 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. A great diversity of crafts and industries are the outgrowth of ad-vmced civilization and in turn become necessary to it. Without acquir-ing skill and dexterity in a large variety of pursuits the Indian will not hold his own among the complications of civilization in which he is rapidly becoming involved. A race without inherited aptitude for agriculture is at a disadvantage, and must take hold not only of that but of mauy other occupations, as individual taste and ability, native or acquired, shall direct. In glancing over reports of agents in recent years, particnlarly those which accompany this report, it is euconrag-ing to notein how many diiTerent waysIndians are coming to esrn their own livelihood. Among the sources of self-support may be named hauling goods for Government and other parties, sale of grain and other farm produce raised by themselves (one enterprising Indian recently obtained the calltract for furnishing corn far two Government schools), cutting hay, working on irrigating. ditches, raising and sale of beef cattle, logging, cuttingof cord wood, diggingof gingaeng root, sheep shearing, labor-ing as ranchmen, carrying hod, labor in construction of railroa,ds in Arizona, etc. To this may be added sale of fish, berries, wild rice, maple sugar, and lately, in Wisconsin, frogs' legs. Also there is perhaps too considerable as well as too easy a source of revenue from the leasing of land. On several reservationrr, through the efforts of Miss Sibyl Carter, the making of "realn pillow lace has been taught Indian women, who have shown.themselves to be apt learners, dexterous workers, and tasteful designers. Another industry, noteworthy because unique, has been introduced on the Flathead Reservation, andwas reported to this office as follows: When the Flsthesd Indisus were preparing to go on their aonaal hunt some thirteen Sears ago. Agent l<on:m suggented to one of the Indians that he bring some buffaloes across themountains to the Flathead Xenervstion. The Indinu aoted upon the agent's suggestion, and upon his return from the hunt brought with him three buffalo calves. The Indian herded the buffaloes with his oattle for several yeare and then sold them to Charles Allsrd md Michael Pablo, who have siuce herded them with thcir stock. About two yearn ago Allard and Pahlo purchased about 60 bend of buffaloes from s party in Kansas. They have now about 150 head of bo5aloes ranging upon the res-ervation. The buffaloes have been bred to Gnllowiqv cattle, with f&ir results. The advantage derived by thus breeding them to oattle is in the fur or hair* which, it is olaimed, is much longer sud of a much finer texture than that of the pure boffaloes. Michael Pablo is a, hslHbreed Blackfoot. When quite young his fether died, and Michael, being thrown on his own resources, came to the Flathead Reservation. At the age of 16 he was appointed official interpreter at this agency, and by rigid eeon-omy savedmoney enough from his s ~ l a r yto purohaae a few head of cows. He then m~r r iedt,o ok up a ranch, %udb y hard work and frugality has accnmulated s lmge drove of oattle. Pahlo also ships oattle to Chioago, and derives a comfortableincome from their sale.. The income of the Indians from their native manufactures, such as headwork, gloves, moccasins, pottery, pipea, baskets, and blankets, is still considerable, but is probably diminishing. |