safety for the large amount of government property at that point, as well as the crop just gathered, the subject has recently been represented to the department. The Indians now at Crow creek are portions of some of the bands treated with in 1865, who remained in that neighborhood all winter, being kept from absolute starvation only by the issue to them of such scanty supplies as could be spared from the stores at Fort Sully, and from the agency. It is much to the credit of the Indians that, in spite of their manifold sufferings, scarcely a case of stealing occurred among them, they being determined to keep their faith pledged to the government. As spring advanced, and the deep snows melted, most of them departed for the hunt; but parts of the Two Kettles and Lower Yanctonnais bands have remained at this point, willing to undertake the experiment of planting a crop. It was recommended by Governor Edmunds that the Lower Brulés should also be colonized at this place, and the agency buildings and accommodations be made available for all three of the bands named; but, on referring the matters to Agent Hanson, he reports that the Brulés insist upon the location at the mouth of White river, secured to them by their treaty. The agent reports fair success in raising corn and vegetables.

A curious illustration of the uncertainty of human affairs occurs here. The department had just abandoned this location as a home for the Winnebagoes and Santee Sioux, upon absolute conviction of its unfitness for agriculture, derived from proofs of the failure of crops for successive years, the descriptions given by persons familiar with the country, and the reports of the northwestern treaty commission, and of Special Agent Reed; and yet, Agent Hanson clearly recommends this same reservation as a proper place whereupon to initiate his wild Sioux of the plains in the mysteries of farming, believing that he can succeed at Crow creek as well as at any other place in that country. Events this year seem to justify Mr. Hanson's opinion; while another year, with less rain, may vindicate the bad reputation of the place as farming lands. The Indians, however, seem disposed to try it, and as the buildings are at hand for all the operations of an agency, it is proposed to put in operation here, experimentally, that portion of the treaty of the two tribes mentioned which contemplated their encouragement in cultivating the soil, supplying the necessary means for the purpose from the general fund of the Indian service in the Territory, until estimates can be laid before Congress and funds obtained. As to the Lower Brulés, there seems no alternative to a strict fulfilment of the treaty, and measures will be taken to do so at the mouth of White river.

Of the other bands of Sioux treated with, we only know of a disposition shown to cultivate the soil by one of the Sans Arc chiefs, who has asked that a little land may be broken for him near the mouth of the Cheyenne river; but it is something gained when any of these wild tribes are willing to make the experiment, and it will be the endeavor of this office to give them all possible aid and encouragement in this important beginning of a radical change in their customs. Passing beyond the Sioux country, we reach the agency at Fort Berthold, of which, and the Indians located thereabouts, we know nothing from the agent, but something from the treaty commission. The Arickarees, Gros Ventres, and Mandans are a very friendly and peaceable people, and industrious to a sufficient extent to raise annually large quantities of corn for their subsistence. Moreover, they desire to improve, and ask for schools in which their children may be taught; and these advantages will be secured to them if the late treaty with them shall be ratified.

I have, under this heading, refrained from any notice of the important treaties with the Indians of Dakota, as that subject has been particularly referred to in the preliminary part of this report.

Measures have been taken to reward, with medals and money, several chiefs who were reported by the commission as having rescued whites from captivity and restored them to their friends.

Agent Hanson mentions continued difficulty with persons who seem deter mined to supply the Indians with whiskey, undeterred by the severe penalties provided against the traffic, or the lamentable consequences to all parties of outrages committed by Indians when excited by intoxicating drinks. He has been instructed to prosecute to the fullest extent provided in the existing laws every possible means of putting a stop to this traffic.

A special agent has been sent up the Missouri to make the distribution of goods provided in the treaties with the Sioux, and at least three permanent agencies should be provided for-one at Fort Berthold, for the tribes confederated at that point, (and which tribes are nominally in charge of Agent Wilkinson, who, being unprovided with any habitation, only visits the locality at intervals ;) one at Fort Union, for the Assinaboines, just on the border of Montana; and, I may add here, another at or near the mouth of Milk river, for the Crows. Some of these, of course, are dependent upon the ratification of treaties recently made; but it would appear that an agency at Fort Union will be needed in any event, the great amount of travel through that portion of the country, to and from Montana, requiring the constant presence of a judicious man to keep the Indians quiet, and see that their rights are not interfered with.

Since the removal of the Santees from Crow creek there are no Indian schools in Dakota, but the pending arrangements in regard to the Poncas will supply that tribe with the needed facilities; while this office is in correspondence with the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, with a view of establishing a school for the Yanctons, to be under the charge, it is hoped, of a gentleman who has been highly recommended for his knowledge of the Dakota language, as well as for earnest interest in the welfare of the Indians. It is believed that the great success of the schools among the Santee Sioux, while yet in Minnesota, and since at Crow creek, has been the result of the knowledge of the language of the people by the missionaries and teachers; and that we may eventually obtain from among the educated Santees teachers for the Sioux of the upper Missouri, when those bands of the same great nation shall become settled upon reservations.

Under this head, among the accompanying documents will be found the able. final report of the treaty commission, presenting many valuable suggestions as to the proper method of maintaining peaceful relations with the powerful tribes of Dakota. The commissioners pay a well-deserved tribute to the Indians treated with last year for the faithfulness with which they observed their treaties amidst the terrible scenes of the last winter, eating their ponies, (upon which they depend for their hunting expeditions,) and the offal thrown out from the camps of the soldiers, and even starving to death, rather than save their lives by plundering the whites.

After the foregoing remarks were prepared, a special report from ex-Governor Edmunds was received, which is placed among the accompanying documents. Mr. Edmunds, it will be observed, takes a different view of the condition of affairs at the Yancton agency from that presented by Special Agent Graves, as above stated. This office has no present means of reconciling the discrepancy. It is proper to state, also, that just as this annual summary is about being completed, a report has come to hand from Governor Faulk, who succeeded Mr. Edmunds at a very recent date, and who, having visited the Yancton agency, concurs with Mr. Graves in his statements regarding its condition.

IDAHO.

We make but slow progress in obtaining accurate information relative to Indian affairs in Idaho, although something has been gained. After the verbal statements made by the late governor, Caleb Lyon, in the fall of 1865, and the instructions given to him, it was thought that we should speedily be in

a condition to know more, and thus be better enabled to do what should be necessary; but great disappointment has been the result. Shortly after his return to Idaho, the governor appears to have become involved in quarrels, political or otherwise, to an extent which resulted in his leaving the territory last spring, having accomplished little, if anything, to the advantage of the Indian service; and, on the contrary, failing to account for the large amount of gov ernment funds placed in his hands, causing great embarrassment to the office. Measures have been taken to cause a proper accounting to be made; but meantime, the long distance of the Territory from this city, and length of time occupied in communicating with Mr. Lyon's successor, has necessarily delayed the placing in his hands the funds for carrying out properly the duties pertaining to the Indians. In order to avoid this delay as much as possible, measures were taken to place a part of the funds appropriated for Idaho with the United States assistant treasurer at San Francisco, to be drawn by Governor Ballard, when the treasurer shall be advised of the execution of a proper bond; and advices having lately reached this office that such a bond is filed, the necessary operations of the superintendency can now go forward with some degree of regularity.

Governor Ballard has been much embarrassed by finding no proper records of the transactions of his predecessor, but is prompt with his annual report, to which, and to the reports of Agent O'Neill and Special Agent Hough, reference is made for details. Under the impressions obtained from Governor Lyon, he was instructed to make treaties with the Bannocks and Shoshonees in the southeastern, and with the Boisé Shoshonees in the southwestern part of the Territory, with a view of placing them upon reservations; to endeavor to conclude a new treaty with the Nez Percés, the one pending in the Senate, in 1863, not having been acted upon; and to set on foot negotiations with the Coeur d'Alenes and kindred tribes in the far northern part of Idaho, near the British line.

Some time during last spring a treaty was received here, which had been concluded by Governor Lyon with the Boisé Shoshonees, providing for placing them upon a certain reservation, and furnishing them with the usual aids for improvement and civilization. Various reasons, referred to above, had caused a distrust of the governor's discretion or judgment, and no action was taken upon that treaty; and later information fully justifies the course taken.

Governor Ballard's report discloses the fact that the Indians referred to are in no degree so far under the control of regularly constituted chiefs that they can properly be treated with, though he favors placing them upon a reservation, a course which the Indians themselves desire, as they are driven from their limited hunting grounds by the whites, and liable to be killed by white parties of volunteers, who are accustomed to go out upon Indian scalp-hunting expeditions, under the stimulus of rewards offered at public meetings of $25 to $100 per scalp; and at the same time these unfortunate beings are in deadly fear of the hostile Pi-Utes. The great difficulty appears to be to find a suitable place for a reservation, embracing the necessary requisites of agricultural land, water, and timber. At our latest dates Special Agent Hough was engaged, thus far, with little success, in finding a suitable place for those Indians. Directions have been forwarded to the governor to advise this office immediately upon the discovery of such a location, so that it may be withdrawn from public entry and sale. The bands referred to, numbering some six hundred, are miserably poor, and will require some assistance this winter, in food and clothing, to keep them from suffering.

The Nez Percés, numbering by the last census 2,830, may well be called a long-suffering people. Since the conclusion of a treaty with them in 1863, by which, upon their yielding all claim to a very large tract of land lying in Oregon and in the Territories of Washington and Idaho, a reservation of great extent was set apart for them, and ample arrangements provided for their im provement, they have been crowded upon by the white settlers, acting with full

knowledge that that treaty had not been ratified, until towns of considerable extent have grown up even within the limits of the proposed reservation, Lewiston, the first capital of Idaho, being one of these towns; and their country has been "prospected" in every direction by the enterprising miners.

Meantime the Indian chiefs who were opposed to the treaty, seeing the promised payments withheld, have gained influence, and caused some trouble in the tribe; and but for the efforts of "Lawyer," the head chief, who has been thoroughly faithful to the government, the difficulty would have been serious. During the late session of Congress, the Senate, on a full consideration of Indian matters in that region, advised the ratification of the treaty of 1863, and Congress made the necessary appropriations under it. These are large, and contemplate expenditures for houses, mills, schools, and various improvements, and helps to civilization, which, if judiciously made, will, in some measure, atone to this peaceable and well-disposed tribe for much neglect.

These people listened with attention to the appeals of the first missionaries who visited their country, and have always since paid great attention to religious worship; but the influence of the numerous whiskey shops in every direction around them seriously opposes their progress. It will be impossible to control this evil so long as the reservation of the tribe is so extensive as at present, and the earliest possible measures should be taken to reduce it for their good.

The annual report of their agent, Mr. O'Neill, indicates some progress in agricultural pursuits, on the part of a few. He mentions one chief as owning 500 head of cattle. The people are stated to have had last year under cultivation 2,680 acres of land, upon which they raised about 24,000 bushels of grain, and 18,000 bushels of vegetables; and their stock is returned at about 12,000 head. With all this, the "wealth of the tribe in individual property'. is returned at only $15,000, which is evidently far too small a figure, and not doing justice to the Indians. The work of improvements at the agency has gone on slowly during the past year, on account of the want of funds, and the schools, for that and other reasons, have been closed. Under the treaty, as now ratified, ample provisions are made for educational purposes.

Among the accompanying documents relating to Montana, is inserted a letter from Agent Chapman, of the Flathead Agency in that Territory, referring to a visit made to him by "Gary," a Spokane chief from the borders of Washington Territory, and the desire expressed by him fora treaty by which his people, who were being crowded and imposed upon by the whites, could be united with the Flatheads and confederated tribes upon their large reservation in Montana. Upon this, letters were addressed to the superintendents of Montana, Idaho, and Washington, directing them to cause the necessary inquiries to be made, and, after correspondence with each other, to advise with this office. From Montana, acting Governor Meagher has, some time since, reported against the proposed movement; for no reason, however, except his opinion that Agent Chapman has enough occupation without adding to the number of his Indians. Governor Ballard sends information that Superintendent Waterman, of Washington, has required of the special agent in immediate charge of the Spokanes a report upon the subject. From the information now received it would appear that a satisfactory arrangement with the various tribes in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, including the Spokanes, Colvilles, Coeur d'Alenes, and a por tion of the Kootenays, can probably be accomplished by setting off for them a reasonable reservation in the country now occupied by the Coeur d'Alenes.

Late in the last summer Seth Kinman, of California, who had been highly recommended by the department as specially qualified for an Indian agency, was sent overland to report to Governor Ballard as a special agent, to be assigned to duty by the latter. His arrival has not yet been announced.

Special Agent Hough, who passed over the new road from San Francisco to Boisé City in the spring, reports constant hostilities from the bands of Pi-Utes

and outlawed Bannocks of that region. A considerable portion of the troops hitherto stationed there has been withdrawn, and the settlers are protecting themselves after a very rough fashion. All this can be prevented, and peaceful relations established, if the department had the means of negotiating with the tribes of the country whose hunting grounds are invaded by the whites, and who, in many cases, must steal or starve; or, if formal treaty negotiations are not deemed advisable, of making moderate provisions for their physical wants until they can be taught and habituated to self-sustaining labor.

Just as this report is completed, advices are received from Governor Ballard of great discontent among the Nez Percés, on account of a claim set up by a private individual to the section of land including all the agency buildings.

ΜΟΝΤΑΝΑ.

No annual report from this superintendency has been received. The governor, and ex-officio superintendent, Hon. Sidney Edgerton, has been absent from the Territory a considerable portion of the time, and the general interests of the service have been in the hands of General Meagher, secretary and acting governor, who, at last accounts was about leaving the capital of the Territory to visit the Flathead agency.

The agency last named, after having been transferred, on erroneous information, to the Idaho superintendency, was early in the year again placed in its former relations to Montana. The absence of reports from Agent Chapman is much to be regretted, as the agency is an important and interesting one.

The only other agency in the Territory is that for the Blackfeet Indians, with its headquarters at Fort Benton. Mr. Upson, who had charge last year, left for Washington in January, via San Francisco, but died in California. A treaty which had been made in November, with the Blackfeet and Gros Ventres, was found among his papers, and reached this office after the lapse of some time. Other papers were also transmitted, exhibiting the fact that a part of the Indians treated with had almost immediately broken out into hostility. These accounts being confirmed by advices from the acting governor, it was not deemed advisable to recommend the ratification of this treaty by the President. The several bands of Blackfeet, it appears, are the Indians who have persisted in hostilities, while the Gros Ventres, associated with them, have been entirely friendly and peaceable as to the whites, and also as to other Indians, so far as the attacks of the latter upon them would allow. It is much to be regretted that a separate treaty was not made with these Gros Ventres, so that they might have received the benefits promised them. In view of their good conduct, it was designed that the northwestern treaty commissioners should reach them and enter into a separate treaty with them, but that commission found it impracticable to do so.

A new agent for the Blackfeet, Mr. George B. Wright, accompanied the commission as far as it went; but instead of proceeding direct to his destination, as, from the advices received, it is thought he might safely have done, he returned down the Missouri, and proceeded to his destination overland, arriving at a very recent date. Such information as has been received from him is placed among the accompanying documents, where also will be found a report by Mr. Upham, who had charge of the agency in the interim between the departure of Agent Upson and the arrival of Mr. Wright, and who gives full evidence of the hostility of the Blackfeet.

Reference to a recommendation by the agent of the Flatheads in favor of uniting the Spokanes, Coeur d'Alenes, and other tribes upon the Flathead reservation has been made under the head of Idaho.

Among the recommendations by acting Governor Meagher was one for the establishment of an agency for certain bands of Bannocks and Shoshonees, rep