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autumn months are spent in fishing about Washoe and Tahoe lakes and the streams which flow through their country. They also gather grass-seed and pine-nuts, hunt rabbits, hares, and ducks.

There is no suitable place for a reservation in the bounds of their territory, and, in view of their rapidly diminishing numbers and the diseases to which they are subjected, none is required.

RESERVATIONS.

Within the bounds of this superintendency there are but three. One is a reservation made for the purpose of securing timber and lumber for the benefit of the Pi-Utes. This tract of land was well selected, properly surveyed, and lies within the territory of the Washoes. It is not adapted to the purposes of agriculture, and the Indians seldom even pass over it. It consists of about twenty thousand acres, or nearly one-fifth of the best timbered land in the State. The Pacific railroad passes through the centre, and that company will claim every alternate section.

It is found, also, that it is exceedingly difficult to protect this timber. Men gradually encroach upon it, either wilfully or ignorantly, despite all the vigilance which can be used to prevent them. As the timber in other parts of the State is consumed, and as the railroad progresses, this difficulty will increase. It is a fact, also, that since the protection of the lands reserved for the Indians about Pyramid lake, a young and vigorous growth of timber has sprung up, which, in a few years at most, will aafford a supply for all practical purposes; so that the timber on the reservation above named will not be wanted, as was at first supposed.

In view of all the circumstances and facts in the case, I respectfully recommend that this reservation be sold to the best possible advantage, and that the proceeds be applied to the common benefit of all the Indian tribes under the supervision of this superintendency, upon such conditions as the department may decide.

The Truckee River reservation includes Pyramid lake and a portion of the adjacent country, and is well adapted to grazing and agricultural purposes. The soil is fresh and fertile, and the climate mild and healthful. Several acres of ground have been ploughed and were planted with potatoes and other vegetables in the proper season, and now are yielding a fair This experiment, made without cost to the government, I am happy to say has been a fine success, and at once proves the productiveness of the soil and the disposition of the Pi-Ute Indians to labor for their own support.

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From the accompanying reports of Agent Campbell and of Farmer Thomas, you will see that an attempt was also made to cultivate a portion of the Walker River reservation last spring. The particulars of this effort, with the results, are fully stated in the reports mentioned. This and the Truckee River reservation are very similar in many characteristics, although separated by the distance of seventy miles or more. They are each selected for the use and benefit of the Pi-Utes; are alike situated many miles from any considerable body of fertile land which may hereafter be occupied by white men, and are surrounded by ranges of mountains and sandy plains. Each includes several thousand acres of good farming and grass land, which only needs irrigation and proper cultivation to produce abundantly every variety of cereals and vegetables. The facilities for irrigation are not surpassed. Neverfailing streams, affording ample supplies of pure fresh water, from the snows of the Sierras, flow down and form lakes in the centre of each, of no inconsiderable size. Both streams and lakes abound in the finest trout and other fish, and are thus never failing reservoirs of food upon which the Indian delights to live. Such are the provisions which a prudent forethought has wisely made for the future wauts of these children of the desert.

But the time is at hand when this people begin to regard these reservations as their homes and only sure hope for a support. Their country is rapidly passing from them. Every garden spot and tillable acre of land is now being sought out and occupied by white men. Their groves of piñon are disappearing before the strokes of his axe, their grass-seed is consumed by his herds, the antelope and mountain sheep are killed or driven away, and, although there is some, compensation in the employment given in the harvest field and elsewhere, still the Indian must look for a reliable and permanent supply of his wants to the products of these lands sacredly set apart for him. But he has no skill in husbandry, and no implements of culture. He has shown himself ready and willing to labor, and already deeply feels his necessities, and looks with anxious expectation to that government upon which we have taught him to rely.

I therefore earnestly recommend that such liberal provisions as the department may deter mine be made for the support of two good faithful practical farmers, and that they be placed upon these reservations, supplied with all necessary implements, seed, and whatever else may be necessary to enable them to begin the work of cultivation, by enclosing farms, breaking the soil, preparing ditches and canals for irrigation, so that at the proper time next spring they may sow and plant and instruct the Indians in the various departments of agriculture.

SCHOOLS.

With the occupation and improvement of the reservations, as above indicated, there should be introduced a system of education founded upon the "manual labor" plan. Experience has shown that the children of savage tribes should be warmly clad and well fed upon good wholesome food. Then they should be taught to labor. Habits of patient industry should be formed and cultivated. They should be led to think by lessons concerning objects presented to their senses, and impressed by oral instruction. Books may be introduced by degrees, and thus the attention gained, the powers of the intellect aroused, and the elementary branches successfully studied. If this course should be pursued, under a firm and gentle form of moral government, I can scarcely doubt that the mental energies would be successfully elicited, the moral nature purified, and the whole character elevated. It is not maintained that under such instruction and discipline the rising generation would become highly cultivated or fully civilized. It is only hoped that the race might be improved; that the child, when grown, would be less a savage and more of a true man than he would have been otherwise; that he might have a practical knowledge of agriculture; be able to read and write; be a good law-abiding citizen, and become virtuous and happy to the extent of his capacities.

In view of these considerations, I have the honor to recommend that some provision be made for the establishment of a system of instruction founded upon the plan thus briefly set forth.

Hoping that this brief review of the condition and wants of the Indians in this superintendency, and the recommendations I have made, may serve to awaken an abiding interest in their behalf, I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

Hon. D. N. COOLEY,

H. G. PARKER, Superintendent Indian Affairs, Nevada.

Commissioner, Washington, D. C.

No. 30.

WALKER RIVER INDIAN RESERVE,
August 22, 1866.

SIR: I have the honor to submit my first annual report as agent for Indians in the State of Nevada.

Before entering into a detailed account of the condition of each tribe, there are matters of importance, affecting the general interests of the Indian service within this State, of which I deem it necessary to speak.

By the changes recently made in the southern and eastern boundary of the State, fifteen hundred souls have been added to our Indian population, placing the total number at about ten thousand. These Indians are dispersed over the entire country, living in small bands or families wherever the natural productions of the earth are sufficient to sustain life. The general character of this country is that of the most sterile on the continent, being almost entirely devoid of game. The principal dependence of the Indians has always been the pine-nuts and grass-seed, though fish constitutes an item of importance. This character of country has forced the Indian to the adoption of habits of industry, economy, and foresight. If there are any treaty stipulations existing between any of the tribes and the United States, excepting with the western Shoshone bands, I have no knowledge of them. condition of affairs may be regarded as favorable, providing the Indians receive equal consideration with those having such stipulations.

This

Experience among them convinces me that they are better satisfied with unexpected favors than with those long and anxiously looked for.

Considering the nature of this country, with the character of its white population, pioneer and progressive, it may be suggested that any scheme involving a removal of the Indians to a place of greater security from intrusion by the white man is impracticable, and here, at least, they must occupy the country in common. Such being the case, it becomes of the first importance, in order to preserve and civilize the former, and maintain peace between the two races, that the individuals of each race that commit crimes upon the other should receive sure and proper punishment. The Indians have been taught that their Great Father at Washington will redress their grievances, and punish the offenders; but, from the manner in which justice has been dealt out to them in this State, they can now refer to many precedents which show that such is not the case. In no instance has a white ever been punished according to law for the murder of an Indian, or an Indian for the murder of a white.

At present there are confined at Fort Churchill two Walker River Pi-Utes for the murder of Stuart and Rabe, in February, 1865. They were arrested in April following, by United

States troops, upon the Walker reservation, and afterwards turned over to the authorities of Esmeralda county for trial. With tools furnished them they broke jail, returned to the reservation, and, with the assistance of a few relatives, killed the Indian who first informed of the murder. After much difficulty and delay they were recaptured.

The effects of this affair have been injurious. It has encouraged those among the whites who favor extermination; while, among the Indians, those who were anxious and willing that the offenders should be brought to justice now fear to take an active part against them.

During the summer of 1865, four Bannock Indians who had been engaged in murdering and plundering were delivered by the military to the civil authorities of Humboldt county. The posse taking them in charge shot them down under the pretext of their trying to escape. While these Indians no doubt deserved their fate, yet could they have received it through some form of trial, and in the presence of Indians, the example could not have been otherwise than beneficial. These instances are cited for the purpose of showing you that we are without any form of justice to aid in the work of civilizing the Indians.

Officers of the law defend their course by urging the impracticability of convicting an Indian under the laws of this State, and that the counties are unable to bear the expense, &c., all of which is in a great measure true.

That policy is best to pursue towards Indians that holds them, so far as possible, individually (instead of tribally) accountable for their misdeeds, and unless some system of justice be established on our frontier that is both inexpensive and certain to punish those who are known to be guilty and are universally admitted to be so by their tribe, (as was the case with the two Indian prisoners referred to above,) no punishment will ever be inflicted, while, in time, an accumulation of wrongs will increase very much the chances of an Indian war, in which the many suffer for the acts of the few.

The murder of Stuart and Rabe, according to the prisoners' own story, (told in their simple and ignorant way,) was committed solely for the purpose of plunder. The circumstan tial evidence which is admissible in court against them, however, is extremely defective.

The Indians, in whose territory mines have been found of sufficient richness to warrant the erection of quartz mills and the settlement of the country, have been in a great measure compensated for the destruction of their resources in the pay received from the whites for labor performed, and, in accommodating themselves to the new order of things, have shown great aptitude. The need, however, of assistance from the government for the purpose of cultivating the reserves which we have, and in the establishment and cultivation of others, is most urgent. This arises from the fact that it is impossible to foretell when or what number of the many embryo mining districts that are within this State may attract to their dif ferent localities a large population.

There are three reservations within this State: the Walker, by road, sixty-five miles east ; the Pyramid, seventy-five north; and the Timber reserve, forty northwest of Carson City. The abandonment of all that portion of the Pyramid reserve lying within ten miles of its southern boundary line includes the saw-mill site and the farm which Agent Lockhart essayed to improve. The improvements are worthless, but the Indians have sustained a loss of at least fifteen hundred acres of tillable land, which is now occupied by settlers.

In order to give the department a more correct idea of the location of the several tribes within this State, I herewith transmit a map of Nevada, on which I have marked, in red ink, the names of tribes, their population, and the boundary lines of the respective districts over which they roam.

The following estimates are made for the improvement of the Walker and Pyramid reserves, and also for the current and contingent expenses of this agency for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868. The prices given in the schedule are as they prevail at the present time at Carson City. Teams and supplies of all kinds can be purchased at least twentyfive per cent. cheaper in the fall than in the spring of the year.

If the appropriations are made, farming operations should commence at the reservations by the first day of August, 1867. It might then be reasonably expected that at the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1868, there would be upon each reserve three hundred acres of land under cultivation, and eight miles irrigating ditch completed.

The following schedule of articles is requested for the Pyramid reserve:

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Cost of five riding horses and two saddles......

Cost of two shovel ploughs and corn cultivators...

Cost of seed potatoes and garden seed............

Cost of seed wheat and barley for two hundred and fifty acres of land..

Cost of four milch cows..

Cost of five hogs..

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$600 00 50 00

1,000 00

250 00

200 00

100 00

14,957 00

14,957 00

1,000 00

500 00

586 00

Total amount asked for.....

32,000 00

The information herein given concerning the Shoshone and other tribes in the eastern, and the Bannocks of the northern part of the State, is, in consequence of an entire absence of funds since my taking charge of this agency, mainly derived from a former experience among them, and from other reliable sources.

WASHOES.

Commencing at the westernboundary of the State, we have first the Washoe tribe, numbering about five hundred, and occupying a tract of country one hundred miles long, north and south, by twenty-five in width. There is no reservation within their district except the timber reserve, which is not adapted to cultivation, nor arable land which is not occupied. There is, however, a large amount of waste country over which they can roam unmolested for all the future if they wish to gratify their propensities in that respect.

These Indians are a peaceable and inoffensive people. inclined to use intoxicating liquor, occasionally to excess, and practice the immoralities common to Indians generally. They are disinclined to labor, though in this respect a change for the better is gradually taking place. In food and clothing they are generally quite well supplied. Nothing can be done to better their condition or prospects without a large outlay of money. I would, however, recommend the usual issue of clothing each year, and, in case of a severe winter, beef and flour in sufficient quantities to relieve their necessities.

PI-UTES.

This tribe inhabits a country two hundred miles long by one hundred and twenty broad, lying parallel and east of that of the Washoes. They number about four thousand two hundred, and are divided into five distinct bands. South of Walker lake are the Mono Pi-Utes, numbering four hundred, and under Chief Waugh-adz-ah-bo. They are closely allied to the Walker River or Ocki Pi-Utes, numbering fifteen hundred, and located in the vicinity of Walker river and lake and Carson river and upper lake, under Chief Oderie and Sub-chiefs Joaquin and E-sah-dawh, or Young Cayote. At the lower Carson lake are the Toy Pi-Utes, numbering eight hundred, and under Chief Johnson. They affiliate with the Coo-er-ee and Sidocaw bands, the former of which is located in the vicinity of Pyramid lake, and numbers some seven hundred, under Chief Young Winnemucca. The latter is located in the vicinity of Humboldt lake and river, and numbers about eight hundred, under Chief Sue.

The Mono and Octi bands should ultimately be settled upon the Walker and the Coo-er-ee, Toy and Sidocaw upon the Pyramid reserves. These reserves are well adapted for the purposes designed. Each contains an extensive fishery and some grazing country, with about three thousand acres of arable land, from which white neighbors are barred to a distance by intervening sand plains and mountains. The improvements now upon these reservations consist of a small plank house upon each, with the addition of an adobe stable at the Walker. These buildings are but temporary affairs and must soon be replaced by others which are larger and better suited to the requirements. On neither has any land ever been cultivated worthy of mention, there not having been either teams or tools for that purpose.

During the past year the tribe has maintained the most friendly relations with the whites; even the little troubles that were usually arising between them and the settlers have nearly ceased. They are extensively employed throughout the country as farm-hands, especially during the harvest season. For the purpose of securing employment they resort to the towns and mining camps in large numbers, and by their industrious habits and orderly behavior have gained praise and good will from our citizens. Their character, when compared with that of Indians generally, is distinguished by moral habits and a teachable nature. Usually they are well clad in good woollen goods; and I will here take occasion to recommend that hereafter not more than three thousand dollars' worth of blankets and clothing be purchased annually for the Pi-Ute Indians, and that these be kept at the Walker and Pyramid reserves, and issued only to those Indians who may hereafter be engaged there in cultivating the soil.

Indians not so engaged have ample opportunities for procuring a sufficiency. This would leave a cash balance that could be applied to purchasing teams, tools, &c., and at the same time exert a most beneficial effect upon the Indians. Two manual-labor schools upon each reserve would no doubt prove a success. The personal property of the tribe is worth about $12,000, consisting of four hundred ponies at $30 per head. This kind of property they are increasing very rapidly by purchasing from the whites. The amount to which they are benefited thereby, however, is questionable.

I cannot close this report of these Indians without urging the necessity of an appropriation for the purpose of improving both the Walker and Pyramid reserves. The natural obstacles to be overcome in starting farming operations preclude the idea that the Indians could succeed without assistance. The first thing necessary to insure success is an irrigating canal, which should have a capacity equal to the carrying of fifteen hundred inches of water, which, when required, could be continued for miles.

BANNOCKS.

North of and adjoining the Pi-Utes are the Bannocks. Formerly, these Indians were in the habit of visiting Pyramid lake, where I have met and talked with them. Judging from the nature of their country and from information received from military officers, I estimate the number of that portion of the tribe which inhabits this State at fifteen hundred. Since May, 1865, the larger portion of them have been acting in concert with the hostile Snake or Bannock Indians of southern Idaho. This combination has also been re-enforced by a large number of renegades from other tribes, and at present remain unsubdued, though from three to six companies of United States troops have been actively employed against them since the outbreak. In point of numbers they are formidable, and seem to be imbued with a spirit of dash and bravery quite unusual, while, being well mounted and armed, with the advantage of knowing the country perfectly, they are enabled to disperse and rally at given points with a rapidity that defies pursuit or a knowledge of their whereabouts.

SHOSHONES.

To the east of the Pi-Utes are the Shoshones, numbering about twenty-five hundred. Their language is very different from that of either the Bannocks or Pi-Utes. The section which they inhabit is large in extent, but extremely barren in resources, and as the Indians are often reduced to the dire necessity of eating reptiles and other loathsome things, it is not surprising that when in such straits they should occasionally relieve their wants by killing cattle and prospecters' horses. In clothing they are poorly supplied, having but few opportunities of getting any except those given them by the government. During the past year their behavior has been excellent. They are willing laborers, and would no doubt gladly concentrate upon some suitable reserve, where, with assistance from the government in the shape of teams, tools, &c., they would soon be enabled to gain a much better living than they now enjoy, with but little or no greater labor. The reserve in Ruby valley, which was formerly intended for their use, is now occupied by settlers and the Overland Mail Company's farm. I would recommend that another be set apart for them upon the headwaters of the Humboldt river. From investigation it is found that the destitution that at times prevails in this and other tribes of the Great Basin is not the result of a partial settlement of the country which they occupy, but that suffering and scarcity at times forms a part of their history from time immemorial.

To the east of the Shoshones are the Goships or Goshu-Utes, and to the southeast the Pai-Utes. The latter form no part of the great Pi-Ute tribe to the west of them. They inhabit the region that was ceded to this State by Congress during the last session, formerly a part of Utah and Arizona.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. H. G. PARKER,

FRANKLIN CAMPBELL,

United States Indian Agent.

Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Carson City, Nevada.

No. 31.

WALKER RIVER RESERVE,
August 28, 1866.

SIR: In compliance with your instructions I have the honor to submit this my annual report as local agent and farmer for the Walker reserve.

I took charge here the 1st of April last, and with the assistance of the interpreter, R. A. Washington, commenced clearing brush for a field of three or four acres.

On the 20th of April I started in breaking the piece with three yoke of oxen which you

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