of the several reservations in Utah heretofore set apart, with their improvements, Governor Durkee and Superintendent Head were appointed appraisers, and have made their report, which has been transmitted to the department. The avails of the sale of these reservations are by law to be devoted to the Indian service in Utah, and they are needed for the purpose of providing for various improvements upon the Uintah Valley reservation.

Early in the spring advices were received that Black Hawk, an influential chief of the San Pitch band of Utahs, had taken the field with an active band of followers, and had killed many of the settlers and driven off a large amount of valuable stock. In the conflicts which ensued some forty of the Indians were killed, but the chief was joined by wild spirits and outlaws from various bands, and thus recruited, renewed his raids upon the settlers.

The Pai-Utes, referred to in the last annual report, as living in southwestern Utah, and formerly in charge of Special Agent Sale, now belong properly in Nevada, but, as has been stated under the head of the last-named superintendency, this special agency, now in charge of Mr. Guthrie, reports to the superintendent for Utah.

By the annual report of Agent Mann, of the Fort Bridger agency, we are advised of the condition of the eastern band of Shoshones. Old "Washakee," their chief, is a firm friend of the whites, and his people behave well.

Silver medals have been sent to Washakee and to "Konosh," head chief of one of the Utah bands, in recognition of their good service to the whites and good influence over their own people.

NEW MEXICO.

If we are not able as yet to report the condition of Indian affairs in New Mexico as an entirely satisfactory one, it is not for lack of knowledge of the tribes which inhabit different portions of that Territory; the very full and exhaustive report of Mr. J. K. Graves, who was in New Mexico at the time of the last annual report of this office, having been made early in this year. Its great length precludes the possibility of inserting it in full among the accompanying papers, but an abstract is therein presented, in order that it may be referred to, if necessary, for an accurate understanding of the matter, when Congress shall, as it is hoped may be the case, take up the subject with the purpose of providing such means as may be necessary to do justice to a Territory whose loyal people have suffered, and are suffering much from Indian depredations, and who are knocking loudly at the door of Congress for relief.

A few words may profitably be devoted here to the conclusions reached by Mr. Graves upon the different points considered in his report. The Bosque Redondo and the Navajoes thereon, he found to be an engrossing theme of discussion among the people, so much so that parties were organized upon the issue, "Bosque" or "anti-Bosque"—that is, whether the Navajoes should or should not be kept upon that reservation. Mr. Graves is clearly of the opinion that the policy of General Carleton has had an excellent effect; that the Navajoes are doing well upon the reservation; and that it is best that the government should, once for all, put an end to the quarrels among the people upon this subject, by deciding that the Indians shall be retained at that reservation, and by providing the necessary appropriations for taking them into the charge of the civil authori ties. As they are now, there is a divided jurisdiction, the Indians being prisoners of war, and sustained, as to all supplies beyond what they raise themselves, by rations issued by the military authorities; while they also have a regularly appointed agent, and an annual distribution of supplies in clothing, &c., of $100,000 appropriated by Congress. Such a state of things should not continue. Either they should be supported and educated in self-supporting industry by the military alone, or they should be turned over to the civil authorities. The division of jurisdiction makes trouble constantly. Mr. Graves pre

sents estimates of the amounts necessary for the care of these Indians for one year by the civil authorities, and, though small in comparison with the average cost to the War Department for the past two years, yet they seem very large in comparison with the amount authorized by Congress to be expended for any of the other tribes under the care of the government. But there is this to be said, that after this large expenditure shall have been made for a single year the amount annually necessary is expected to decrease in a very rapid ratio.

The Pueblos, as Mr. Graves states, and as we are very well prepared to believe from our previous accounts of that interesting people, are scarcely to be considered Indians, and but for their residence upon specific reservations, patented to their bands in confirmation of ancient Spanish grants, and their continued tribal organization, they might be considered a part of the ordinary popu lation of the country. They need very little help from the government. Occa sionally, as has been the case during the last year, on account of unusual overflow of streams, or for the contrary cause, their crops fail, and they need assistance, but generally they provide by their own industry for their physical wants. What they do need, and what humanity demands, is assistance, to a limited extent, in improved agricultural implements, and above all the establishment of schools among them. This want it is hoped that Congress will give the department the means of supplying.

As to the Utahs, living in the northwestern part of the Territory, the true policy, as urged by Mr. Graves, is to remove them to Colorado, in alliance with the Tabequache Utes, upon a common reservation. He thinks that the reservation set apart for the latter band is sufficient for the purpose, and this office concurs with him in that idea; but it seems doubtful whether the suggestion can readily be carried into practical effect, for these Utahs of New Mexico, the Capote and Wannemuche bands, of the Abiquiu agency, and Mohuache Utes of the Cimarron agency, are not favorable to such removal. The former dislike

the idea of giving up their roving life, while the latter have become attached to the Jicarilla Apaches, and seem inclined to remain and share their lot. If these Indians are not to be removed, Mr. Graves thinks that their agency should be established at Tierra Amarilla, and that at Abiquiu dispensed with.

As to the Apaches, four tribes of whom, the Jicarilla, Mimbres, Mescaleros, and Gila Apaches, have heretofore claimed as their country the eastern half and southwestern quarter of the Territory, Mr. Graves thinks that the reservation heretofore set apart for the Gila Apaches, in the southwest, near the Arizona line, is sufficient for all of the bands named, and that by proper inducements held out to them in the way of liberal provisions for their comfort and for tilling the soil to advantage, they might all be induced to remove to it. No positive opinion upon this point has been expressed by the present superintendent, who succeeded Mr. Delgado last spring; but as he has made recommendations looking towards the selection of a reservation for the Mescalero Apaches in the eastern part of New Mexico, near Fort Stanton, it may be presumed that he deems it impracticable to remove the eastern tribes across the mountains.

The Mescalero Apaches occupy a position of peculiar interest, for some five hundred of them were upon the Bosque Redondo reservation, (originally set apart for them.) and faithfully tilling the soil, with ample success, when the Navajoes were removed to that place. Being at feud with the Navajoes, and outnumbered by them, they gradually left the reservation, until, at last accounts, not more than a dozen were left, and thus the fruits of two or three years' labor in reclaiming them from their savage life has been lost.

Upon the subject of Indian depredations Mr. Graves presents many interesting facts and statements, showing the great losses sustained by the people from the Indians, and for which they claim recompense by Congress. He recom mends that a commission be authorized by Congress to investigate and report upon those alleged losses, with a view to payment by Congress.

On the subject of peonage the qualified slavery still prevalent in New Mexico, authorized by its laws, and encouraged and practiced by its people, officials of government, and natives of the United States as well as those who have been "to the manner born," Mr. Graves's statements, with the evidence presented therewith, are such as to leave no doubt of the duty of Congress to take the matter in hand, and deal with it effectually. This office has done all that lay in its power, by promulgating the order of the President forbidding the practice, and all the other departments of the government issued like directions to the officers responsible to them; but, in spite of all this, it is clear that the practice still continues. to a greater or less extent.

In December and January there were complaints of murders having been committed by some of the Utahs; but, upon investigation, it was found that the tribe could not justly be held as hostile, the outrage having been committed by outlaws from their number, whom they disowned. In July many of these Indians were near Tierra Amarilla in a condition of great destitution. The superintendent visited them and relieved their immediate wants, and promised to furnish them monthly supplies-a promise which this office was compelled to repudiate, for the simple reason that the funds appropriated by Congress will not suffice for the purpose.

A late communication from the superintendent states that among the new regiments to be raised in the west, under authority of Congress, one is authorized for New Mexico, which will be half cavalry and half infantry, and which will probably be sufficient to quell any rising disaffection among the tribes. We also learn that Manuelita, the Navajo chief, who has hitherto refused to surrender, but continued a desultory warfare with the small band of warriors remaining with him, has surrendered to the military at Fort Wingate, being fairly starved into submission.

The great want of the superintendency is funds sufficient to pay the existing indebtedness of the Territory, much of which has occurrred in a manner and under circumstances which make it almost impossible to blame the officers of the government for contracting it; and then a reasonably liberal annual appropriation for the expenses of the service. If reservations are decided upon, a present outlay to establish the Indians upon them must be made, which will necessarily increase the appropriation, but in any event the amount now appropriated for New Mexico is far too small.

The annual reports of the superintendent and several agents arrived too late to be published in full, but extracts from them are given in the accompanying papers. The want of funds, above referred to, has constantly hampered the department in the management of Indian affairs, and the result has been very unfortunate in inducing tribes heretofore disposed to peace to hostile acts of plunder for the sake of subsistence, which this office had not the means to provide for them. It is very unpleasant to be obliged to reply unfavorably to the appeals from the officers in special charge of the Indians, where they urge that aid to a large amount monthly must be furnished to certain tribes to prevent them from stealing their necessary subsistence from the settlers; but such has been the case with regard to New Mexico, for the simple reason that Congress. has failed to make the needed appropriations for the service. Under such circumstances, the military authorities have felt compelled to issue rations to the Indians referred to.

The superintendent submits estimates of the amount which he deems necessary for the use of the service in new Mexico, and his report, with the other papers presented herewith, will furnish the means of deciding upon the proper policy to be observed.

1

COLORADO.

No annual report from this superintendency has been received, but from our files of correspondence we have to report that the condition of affairs is very unsatisfactory.*

There are two agencies, one for the Grand River band of Utes, with the headquarters at Denver, and the other for the Tabequache Utes, in the southern part of the Territory, the latter being under treaty stipulations. The Grand River bands have been in a state of discontent for some time, and have been visited by the superintendent, Governor Cummings, who has reported by telegraph that he has effected a satisfactory arrangement with them, but the mails have not yet brought on the details of that arrangement.

The governor has also recently visited the Tabequache Utes, finding them restless, and some of the bands threatening trouble on account of the failure of their goods to come to hand; but this office was advised by telegram that the governor left them quiet. Almost immediately upon the receipt of this despatch came another, with advices from Fort Garland, in the southeastern part of Colorado, stating that some of the Utes had broken out into open hostility. The Indians alluded to, so far as we are advised, are a part of the Mohuache and Tabenoche Utes, properly belonging in New Mexico, but it was apprehended that the Tabequaches might become involved. The superintendent intended to distribute the goods to the latter at once, they having fortunately arrived.

DAKOTA.

A change in superintendents very recently made in this very important district is probably the reason why we have not received the usual careful summary of events and recommendations from the governor and superintendent ex officio. This is much to be regretted, as the late governor, honorable Newton Edmunds, has not only been in charge during the occurrence of highly important events among the various tribes of Dakota, but has been one of the commissioners appointed by the President to treat with the Sioux and the other tribes residing in the northern part of the Territory. Possibly annual reports may yet be received from the superintendent and agents; and if so, they will be inserted among the accompanying documents. Meantime, however, I proceed with a summary of events, derived from the various and voluminous correspondence of the year, relating to Dakota and its Indian population, which greatly exceeds in numbers that of the whites.

The tribes of Dakota are the Yanctons and Poncas, in the southeast, having reservations on the Missouri and between that river and the Niobrara, the various bands of Dakotas or Sioux, hitherto claiming the country on both sides of the Missouri for a long distance towards its great bend to the westward, and the Arickarees, Gros Ventres of the plains, and Mandans, confederated and resident in the neighborhood of Fort Berthold. A portion of the extensive range of the Crows lies in that district of country south of Montana, which is temporarily attached to Dakota; while the remains of the Santee Sioux, formerly in Minnesota, and who fled to the north after the outbreak in 1862, are also in Dakota, or in the British dominions directly north of and near the boundary line. The Winnebagoes, who were for some time located at Crow creek, near old Fort Randall, have been entirely removed, and provided with new homes upon lands purchased from the Omahas; and that part of the Santee Sioux who accompanied the Winnebagoes to Crow creek have also been removed, and furnished with a new reservation near Niobrara, in Nebraska. A very full statement of matters relating

*The Superintendent's annual report arrived at a later day, and is printed among the accompanying documents.

to these last-mentioned Indians will be found under the head of the northern superintendency, under whose charge they now are.

In regard to the Yanctons, it may be said that, for various reasons, to some extent arising from remarks which this office felt called upon to make last year, in referring to the condition in which they were found by the agent who took charge of them May 1, 1865, and also their condition as seen by the treaty commissioners and committee of Congress who visited them, they have received a great deal of attention during the year, to such an extent that, upon a resolution of the House of Representatives, special inquiries were instituted in regard to their matters, and report made thereon, disclosing some of the reasons why this tribe had not profited more by the large expenditure made in its behalf under the existing treaty.

The new agent, Mr. Conger, has, under frequent instructions and constant supervision of this office, already effected a great change in the condition of the tribe. Preparations were made early in the spring for planting for a large crop, and the result has been a great success; and the Indians, who had been in such a state of destitution last year that supplies had to be furnished them to keep them from starvation, are now rejoicing in plenty. Special Agent Graves, who visited them as late as October 1, reports that their crop of corn will amount to 70,000 bushels; that the goods to be distributed to them after harvest have been well selected and are of a useful character; that their payment of $20,000 of cash annuities was satisfactory to them, (except that, like white people, they would have preferred gold to greenbacks ;) that the distribution of medals to their chiefs gave great satisfaction; and that old " Strike the Ree," the head chief, whose speeches in behalf of his people have heretofore elicited considerable attention, now expressed himself as satisfied that the government really intended to deal justly with the Yanctons.

Nothing of special importance has occurred in regard to the Poncas. The one thing needed for them is the ratification of the supplemental treaty made with them long ago, by which they exchange a portion of their reservation for other lands adjoining, more suitable for their purposes. Practically, the Indians had left the neighborhood of the agency as early as January last, and had gone to the lands intended to be secured to them by the treaty. Their condition during the winter was good, and food was plenty, while, as spring came on, great quantities of water-fowl supplemented their remaining stock of grain, &c. During the winter the Indians cut and corded upon the bank of the Missouri, for sale, over two hundred cords of wood. In the spring they put a larger breadth of land than usual in crops, and expected a good result.

It is to be hoped that action upon the treaty above referred to will not be longer delayed, there being no reason known to this office for its suspension. The Indians are very anxious for its ratification, in order that the necessary arrangements may be made for removing their agency buildings to a more convenient site.

Preliminary arrangements have been made for placing the educational interests of this tribe, which have been greatly neglected, in the hands of the American Baptist Board, and it is intended to establish under their care a good manual labor school in the building erected for the purpose some time since, retaining it upon its present site, as being better adapted for its particular purpose than to remove the building, as heretofore contemplated.

Proceeding further up the Missouri we come next to the Crow Creek agency, abandoned, as before mentioned, by the Santee Sioux and Winnebagoes, and where an extensive stockade and buildings of considerable value had been erected. These buildings have been occupied, for the most part, by United States troops of late, but were to have been abandoned by them under a recent military order for the evacuation of several posts. It being represented by Governor Edmunds that a small garrison would be necessary to secure quiet among the Indians and