| OCR Text |
Show -2- under the provisions of the act, but through clear explanations of the law and painstaking arguments he succeeded in bringing them to understand that tha Reservation i3 going to be opened as provided in the act; that its survey will soon he commenoed and when completed allotments will oe made to them, after which the residue will be opened to settlement, except the tract of two hundred and fifty thousand acres situated south of Strawberry River, which is to be reserved for their common use for grazing purposes. He states that they held out strenuously against accepting thi3 statement as a fact, bat were finally brought to understand it fully and clearly, and now accept it, at least passively,with as good grace as is reasonable to expeetj also that those of the Indians who signed the ac» ceptanee did so to show their good will, and many others v/ould doubtless have signed had there been anything to be gained oy their doing so« He expresses the opinion, judging from the courteous manner in which the Indians treated him, and the confidence they have in Captain Mercer, that they will all acquiesce gracefully and meet the wishes of the Department in the |
