ference or ignorance of the feelings or habits of the Indians, these farms were arranged around an extensive military post in such proximity that officers and soldiers must pass and repass around or through them. At present, as there are no Indians on these farms, the new fences have been broken down, and a road has been opened through the fences and over the new ploughed ground.

If it is possible for the War Department to dispense with the use of Fort Lapwai, or it should be deemed best to remove the garrison many miles further to the northeast, where there may possibly be more danger from hostile Indians, the prospect of bringing in upon the reservation the "non-treaty Nez Perces" would be much more probable. If the troops were removed, the buildings they now occupy would be of much value to the Indians as dwellings; and it would be well for the Interior Department to purchase them. To resort to threats or force to bring in the non-treaty Nez Perces, and place them up and down that narrow valley immediately around the fort, would end in ruin to the Indians and demoralization to the garrison.

To pass through these costly unoccupied farms and to find at the further end of the valley the poor Nez Perces living in their grass and straw tepes (or tents) in the same condition in which they probably lived twenty years ago, is discouraging in the extreme.

At Lapwai, I could see only two houses built for, or occupied by, Indians. One of these was the dwelling-place of Lawyer, the head chief. In a conversation which I had with him in the presence of the agent, he told me that there was as many as fifty Nez Perces families who would prefer to live in log or wooden houses if they had any one to show them how to build, or their boards were sawed at the mill for them. Why this had not been done when there had been a saw-mill at the place so long I did not learn, When I called the agent's attention to these facts, he very frankly said that I must remember that he was neither a philanthropist nor a reformer; that he had been there but a few months, and I was the first inspector who had ever visited the reservation. The captain's remark is true, and I should be sorry if what I have said above should do injustice to him. I believe that both he and Lieutenant Wham, his predecessor, had done their best, and effected many reforms. The abuses date back further, and belong to a bad general system, whose ill effects may be found running through nearly all the Indian agencies.

Captain Sells informed me that at Kamia I would find things much more satisfactory; that a new saw and grist mill had been recently erected, and some four or five new dwellings for the Indians erected. The lateness of the season compelled me to hurry home without visiting it.

Before leaving Lapwai, Lawyer and a number of the other headmen of the tribe assembled together, and called upon me to say that they had understood that under the new policy of placing the Indian reservation under the care of the Christian missionary societies, that they had been assigned to the Roman Catholics, and they wished to inform me that this was a mistake and contrary to the wishes of a majority of their tribe. They said that for over thirty years the American Board of Com. missioners for Foreign Missions had maintained a mission among them, and that the Rev. H. H. Spalding had been for many years their teacher and missionary. They produced and presented to me a copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew, translated into their language by Mr. Spalding, and printed at Lapwai years ago. They earnestly asked that they might have an agent in harmony with their faith. The chiefs pointed

out to me the old mission-house where Rev. Mr. Spalding taught them, and they spoke with affection and gratitude of his labors.

P. S.-February 1. On reporting these facts on my return to the Presi dent, he ordered that the Nez Perces should be assigned to the Presbyterians, and that the Roman Catholics should have the Umatilla reservation, in Oregon, which had previously been assigned to the Methodists, through mistake.

At Lapwai, as well as at Umatilla, I am indebted to the officers for much attention and kindness.

Captain Sells's official report is herewith appended.

OFFICE INDIAN AGENT, Lapwai, Idaho, September 5, 1870.

SIR: In accordance with instructions received from the Department of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C., June 10, 1870, I have the honor to submit my annual report for the Nez Percé Indians, for the year ending August 31, 1870.

By virtue of Special Orders No. 28, from Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, February 3, 1870, I was directed to report to the honorable Commissioner of Indian Affairs for assignment to duty as Indian agent.

February 10, 1870, I received instructions from the honorable Commissioner to report to Colonel De L. Floyd Jones, superintendent of Indian affairs for Idaho, for assignment to duty as agent for the Nez Percé tribe of Indians. April 1, 1870, I relieved Lieutenant Wham and entered upon my duties.

It is impossible for me to arrive at any data upon which to base my report for the period required by circular letter of instructions from the Commissioner, prior to April 1, 1870, there being no information of any kind in this office.

The Indians apparently have been well satisfied with the administration of affairs since the arrival of the army Indian agent.

There has been an immense amount of work done in fencing and plowing their lands. Heretofore comparatively nothing had been done, although the appropriation was ample to provide them all with good homes if the stipulations of the treaties had been faithfully carried out. The work should now be pushed forward as rapidly as possible to completion.

There has been some dissatisfation among the Indians living off the reservation, in consequence of a misunderstanding of the amended treaty of 1863. They seem to be of the opinion that they will not be compelled to leave their present homes and move on the reservation. I have uniformly told them that they must eventually move on ; that the Government has made provisions for fencing and plowing their farms on the reservation, and they must come and cultivate them.

Quite a number of them have gone to the buffalo country this fall. I do not anticipate that any trouble will grow out of it, as they are all peaceable and quiet. Their object is to trade with the plains Indians for robes, &c.

Colonel Jones visited the agency about the 1st of July, upon my representation that there was some dissatisfaction with Lawyer (head chief) among the tribes. The chiefs were called together for the purpose of electing a new chief, but very few came to the agency. There not being a sufficient number to justify their making a choice, the election was postponed until fall, in case a change should then be desired. There is no possible objection to the present head chief, (Lawyer.) The reason for the hostility to him by the Indians is in consequence of his alleged misrepresentations of the additional treaty stipulations. I have invariably informed both the treaties and nontreaties that they must inevitably move on the reservation, and, as far as present indications go, quite a large number will come on in the spring, in addition to those already living here.

The saw and grist mills at Kamia are in complete running order. The saw and grist mills at this place are old and almost worn out. There should be an appropriation of at least $10,000 to purchase entirely new machinery for both mills. In one or two years they will be entirely unfit to do the work required. I am erecting a new school building, 26 by 50 feet, two stories high, which will be large enough to accommodate all the scholars that will attend.

The crops this year have been unusually good, and I do not anticipate that there will be any scarcity of food the coming. winter.

I inclose herewith the reports and statistical tables required by circular letter from the Office of Indian Affairs, dated June 1, 1870. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. E. S. PARKER,

D. M. SELLS, Captain United States Army and Indian Agent.

Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C.

Leaving the Nez Perces reservation on the 27th of October, by stage, to Umatilla, on the Columbia River, thence by steamboat and railroad to Portland, Oregon, where I arrived on the 1st of November. Here I met with several old friends, officers of the Army, whom I had seen in Alaska the year before. As these officers had recently returned from that Territory, I learned several interesting facts concerning Alaska.

Nearly all the troops, with the exception of two companies left at Sitka, have been withdrawn from there. Gold had been discovered on the Skerna River, on the southern border of Alaska, and a large number of miners and traders were flocking in there.

Nothing whatever had been done by the Indian Department for the Indians of Alaska, and the only power now left there, except one revenue cutter, was the Alaska Commercial Company, the great fur seal monopoly, who virtually had the Kenai Peninsula, Aleutian Islands, the fur seal islands of St. Paul and St. George, and the northwest coast of Alaska, in their undivided control.

The poor Indians on Oukamaok Island, whom I had the privilege of relieving from starvation last year, (referred to on page 91, report of 1869,) finding themselves without any means of communication with the outer world and likely to starve, had all removed to the island of Kodiak, two hundred and twenty miles distant, traveling this great way on the open sea in bidarkas or skin canoes.

I earnestly trust that a portion of the $100,000 appropriated by Congress for "industrial and other schools among the Indian tribes, not otherwise provided for," may be used to commence the work of civilizing the tribes of Alaska Territory, agreeably to the recommendation of the board last year, as that appropriation was placed in the bill in part in response to that recommendation. (See Appendix 41.)

APPENDIXES.

APPENDIX 1.

The visit of Red Cloud, chief of the Ogallallas, with seventeen head chiefs and three squaws, of the northwestern bands of Sioux, together with Spotted Tail and four other chiefs of the Brulé Sioux of the Missouri River, to Washington and the East.

These chiefs arrived in Washington about the 1st of June, 1870, the Brulé chiefs being a few days in advance of the Red Cloud party. The following minutes of their meetings were taken at the time:

Our Indian visitors, Ogallallas and Brulés, under the superintendence of General A. J. Smith, yesterday, June 3d, 1870, visited the Interior Department, and had an interview with Secretary Cox and General Parker, Commissioner of Indian Affairs. Captain Pool and all the interpreters accompanied the band. There is as yet a little jealousy existing between the Brulé and Ogallalla chiefs, Red Cloud and Spotted Tail, because of the prominence that is given to Red Cloud and his warriors; but Spotted Tail is willing to concede him the precedence, provided they can have peace. Thursday, at their hotel, the two chiefs held a private conference, at which they expressed friendly feelings for each other, and good wishes for their respective people. When the Indians were seated, Commissioner Parker, through their interpreter, John Richards, spoke as follows:

REMARKS OF COMMISSIONER PARKER.

"I am very glad to see you here to-day. I know that you have come a great distance to see the Great Father, the President of the United States. I am glad that you have had no accident, and that you have arrived here all safe. I want to hear what Red Cloud has to say for himself and his people; but I want him first to hear my chief, the Secretary, who belongs to the council of the Great Father. I want him and all his people to know who has charge of them by direction of the President. He and all his people should be thankful that the Great Spirit had preserved them through their journey. The Great Father had received Red Cloud's message that he wanted to come here, and he had given his consent to his coming, and we will be ready at any time to hear what he has to say."

The Commissioner then introduced the Secretary, who shook hands all around, and made the following speech, which was interpreted by Mr. Richards:

REMARKS OF SECRETARY COX.

"When we heard that the chiefs of the Sioux Nation were willing to come to Washington to see the President and officers of the Government, we were very glad. We were glad that they were the first to express the wish to come. We know that when people live so far apart as we do from the Sioux it is very hard to understand each other, and know what are their wants; but when we see each other face to face we know what is right, and what we ought to do. The President, General Parker, and myself, and all the officers of the Government want to do the thing that is right while you are here; therefore we shall want you to tell us just what is in your hearts, how you feel, what you want, and how you can make such a peace as will last forever. In coming here you have seen that this is a great people; that its numbers are very great, and that we have a great deal to do, and that its numbers are growing every day. We want to find out what is going on in the Sioux country, that we may make arrangements that will be satisfactory to both parties. In a day or two the President will see the chiefs who are here, but in the mean time we want you to prepare what you have to say, and we will answer you. We want. also, to use our influence with all who are here to live at peace, not only with the whites, but also with each other, that we may have no more trouble with the different bands or with the whites on the frontier." [Ejaculations of assent showed that the Secretary's remarks were understood.]

Turning to Spotted Tail, (Mr. Genru interpreting,) the Secretary said he was very glad that he had come, and particularly thankful to him for the good will and contentment he and his band had shown since they had been here.

The Commissioner then told him that he was ready to hear anything he had to say, and if he was not prepared, to name a day and he would be ready to hear them.

Red Cloud immediately came forward, shook hands with the Secretary, and made the following terse remarks:

RED CLOUD'S TALK.

"I have but a few words to say. My friends, I have come a long way to see you and the Great Father, but some how or other you do not call upon me. I have come

to see you.

When I heard that my Great Father would permit me to come to see him I was glad, and came right off. I left my women and children at home, and want you to give them some food. I wish you would give my people a few wagon-loads of ammunition to kill game. Telegraph to my people, and say that I am safe. That is all I have to say to-day."

The Secretary replied very mildly to the dignified demands of Red Cloud as follows:

REPLY OF SECRETARY COX.

"For to-day we welcome you. We would have come to see you, but we understood that you were very tired, and we supposed that it would gratify you more to come here. We desire to show you every respect and kindness, and we will send word to your people that you are safe, and all other things that you ask. We will give your words much attention."

This gave great satisfaction, and there was a general "How!"

Commissioner Parker then told them that he would show them the city to-day. On the next day the white man would do no business, (Sunday.) On the morning of the third day they would be shown much, and on the evening of the third day he would take them all to see the President, just to say "How." The President had a great many people to look after and a great deal of business to do, and could not come to see them. After Monday evening they would see the President and talk business. The Co mmissioner further instructed them to ask for what they wanted from those who had them in charge, and so soon as they got ready to have more talk he would be glad o see them.

DID NOT WANT HIS PICTURE TAKEN.

General Parker then told them they might go to Brady and have their photographs taken, but Red Cloud said that it did not suit him to do so. When asked why, he said he was not a white man, but a Sioux, and that he was not dressed for such an occasion. After their interview at the Interior Department the Indians returned to their carriages, and drove to several of the public buildings, but did not enter any of them. This morning they will visit the navy yard and arsenal, and on Tuesday will have the long-expected "big talk."

Visit of the Indian delegation to the navy yard and arsenal.

Red Cloud and the other Sioux chiefs were to-day, June 4th, taken by General Parker to see the arsenal and navy yard. The Secretary of War and the officers of the post received them at the arsenal and did their best, with the materials at their command, to impress their visitors with the powers of the "Great Father." The surprise that was expected to be exhibited by their guests was dissipated, however, when it was observed that the squaws promptly placed their hands over their ears some time before the cannons, which were to be fired for their especial astonishment, were discharged, proving that they knew all about that long ago. When Red Cloud came to the 15-inch Rodman he carefully took a measurement of the diameter on his fan and hand and the size of the grains of powder used, which elicited their admiration and surprise. Indians do express surprise, notwithstanding the belief to the contrary, as it was plainly shown when the big gun sent its huge shell ricochetting four or five miles down the Potomac River. The antique cuirass in the museum of the arsenal and the stocks of Springfield needle-guns interested them, and they left the arsenal and its obliging officers with a hearty shake of the hand and pleasant smiles. Secretary Robeson, Admiral Dahlgren, a number of ladies and gentlemen, together with a regiment of marines stationed at the navy yard, welcomed them. They inspected the workshop, the iron-clad monitors, the founderies, &c., with anything but stoical indifference, and were constant in their explanations to one another of the meaning and purpose of all they saw. Secretary Robeson, Admiral Dahlgren, and the officers and men seemed to think no trouble too great to make the interviews instructive and profitable to their guests; and when at the close Red Cloud respectfully declined Mrs. Dahlgren's hospitable invitation to a luncheon, and the whole delegation of chiefs and women stepped aside from the path on which they were departing to shake hands affectionately with her infant children, the impression made by them was very favorable.