tion a short distance to the south of the commissary building, and I placed the delegation brought through by myself on an elevation a short distance to the north of the commissary. The Indians are all living in their tents, as no buildings have been built by the Government for their accommodation.

The only buildings on the reservation are the commissary building, situated about 2 miles from the north line of the Territory, and about 3 miles nearly south from Baxter Springs, Kans.; the mission-buildings about 2 miles southwest from the commissary, and a few log huts occupied by the Quapaw Indians scattered here and there over the reservation, probably not more than twelve or fifteen in number.

I am of the opinion that the removal of the Poncas from the northern climate of Dakota to the southern climate of the Indian Territory, at the season of the year it was done, will prove a mistake, and that a great mortality will surely follow among the people when they shall have been here for a time and become poisoned with the malaria of the climate. Already the effects of the climate may be seen upon them in the ennui that seems to have settled upon each, and in the large number now sick.

It is a matter of astonishment to me that the Government should have ordered the removal of the Ponca Indians from Dakota to the Indian Territory without having first made some provision for their settlement and comfort. Before their removal was carried into effect an appropriation should have been made by Congress sufficient to have located them in their new home, by building a comfortable house for the occupancy of every family of the tribe. As the case now is, no appropriation has been made by Congress, except of a sum but little more than sufficient to remove them; no houses have been built for their use, and the result is that these people have been placed on an uncultivated reservation to live in their tents as best they may, and await further legislative action.

The rainy season, which I am informed usually commences in this country from the 1st to the 15th of September, will soon be upon them, and before any appropriation can be made by Congress for the construction of houses, winter will have set in, and they will be obliged to remain in their tents until spring, which will be but a poor protection for their families against the elements.

There is no building for the accommodation of the agent, and he, together with the employés of the agency, is obliged to live in the commissary building, which is also used for storing all agency supplies. This building is 30 by 100 feet; is of balloon frame, inclosed with three-quarter-inch lumber, battened; is not ceiled on the sides nor overhead, except a small portion of the front end, for council-room and office.

SUCCESS OF REMOVAL.

In order to make the removal of the Poncas a success, I believe it to be absolutely neces sary to locate them on farms of their selection on the reservation, so far as is practicable; build them comfortable houses in which to live, and furnish them with the means to break the land and for general tillage. I think that in this way the tribe may be made to become self-sustaining in a few years.

The Poncas are a large, well-proportioned and well developed race of people, many of the men being over six feet in stature, and are said to be very good workers.

QUAPAW RESERVATION.

This reservation is a very fine section of country, being mostly rolling prairie, of a rich, fertile soil, and is well watered by fine streams and many magnificent springs. On the western part of the reservation are as fine sulphur-springs as can be found anywhere, and in the same vicinity is a spring known as "Tar Springs," which name is derived from the fact that a substance very much of the nature of tar flows out with the water and covers the surface to considerable thickness. Girting Spring River and other streams is plenty of timber for the use of the reservation for many years. There is plenty of coal found in the western portion, and I am also informed that coal has been discovered east of Spring River, near the eastern boundary of the reservation.

This reservation has many excellent advantages for stock-raising; grazing being good, water abundant, and hay may be secured in almost unlimited quantity, and of excellent quality, at small expense.

THE FARM.

There is an inclosed farm of about 360 acres in the northern part of the reservation and near Spring River, of which 300 acres were planted to corn this spring by the Government, for the benefit of the Poncas. About 60 acres were destroyed by the heavy spring rains, leaving about 240 acres which is in splendid condition, and promises an abundant harvest. There were about nine acres of wheat on the farm, which I caused to be cut and stacked. I have not yet had it thrashed; but it was light straw, and I do not anticipate much of a yield from it.

SETTLEMENT OF TITLE, ETC.

Among the first and most important things to be done, in my judgment, in order to make the removal of the Poncas a success, is for the Government to settle the title of their reservation in them; and to settle with them for their old reservation and other property which they left in Dakota. As the matter now stands, the title to this reservation remains in the Quapaws, no effort having been made as yet to even remove them from it; and the title to the old Ponca reservation in Dakota still remains in the Poncas, they having signed no papers relinquishing their title nor having violated any of the provisions of the treaty by which it was ceded to them by the Government.

These Indians claim that the Government had no right to move them from their reservation without first obtaining from them by purchase or treaty the title which they had acquired from the Government, and for which they rendered a valuable consideration. They claim that the date of the settlement of their tribe upon the land composing their old reservation is prehistoric; that they were all born there, and that their ancestors from generations back beyond their knowledge were born and lived upon its soil, and that they finally acquired a complete and perfect title from the Government by treaty made with the "great father" at Washington, which. they claimed, made it as legitimately theirs as is the home of the white man acquired by gift or purchase. They now ask that a delegation of their chiefs and headmen be allowed to visit Washington for the purpose of settling all matters of difference between them and the Government; and that they may talk to the "great father" face to face about the great wrongs which they claim have been done them.

I earnestly recommend that their request be granted.

CIVILIZATION.

I believe that the most potent agent that can be employed for the civilization of the Indians is the school-room; and I especially recommend that a boarding and day-schoo be established and maintained without vacation at this agency. From my experience and observation, I am led to the conclusion that vacations are detrimental, if not fatal, to the success and prosperity of all Indian schools. After an Indian child has been in school for a few months, and becomes somewhat accustomed to its studies and new surroundings, if then allowed to return to the lodge of its parents, it soon drifts back into its former wild habits of life, and all, or nearly all, the good accomplished in the school is lost. Therefore, I am of the opinion that Indian schools should be kept open throughout the year, and that the children should be kept in attendance as steadily as possible. All other modes for the civilization of the Indians fade into insignificance when compared with the civilizing influences obtained by that thorough discipline and instruction had in the well-conducted school-room. Educate the Indian child, and give him good moral training, and the great problem which has occupied the attention of some of our best men during the past century, of how to civilize the Indian, will solve itself by evaporation.

Many of the Ponca children are as fine types of strong physical and mental character as may be found among children anywhere, and I have been impressed with the earnestness with which they sought instruction from the manners and customs of the white people with whom they came in contact during the late removal. Schools for their training and instruction should be opened at once. They will require all the room now occupied by the Quapaw and Modoc children at the mission, and a day-school besides.

SANITARY CONDITION.

The present sanitary condition of the tribe is as good as could be expected considering the radical change in climate the people are undergoing, and the fatigue and exposure experienced during the late removal. Several are now sick, the prevailing diseases being scrofula, consumption, and bilious fevers, with a few cases of fever and ague, and dysentery. I would recommend the building and furnishing of a hospital, where the sick may be taken and treated under the personal care of the agency physician. As they are now treated in their tents, they are subject to constant exposure, and from want of knowledge of the ways of the white people in administering medicine, do not take the remedies given them by the physician with any degree of punctuality.

DEATH-ROLL.

During the removal from Dakota to this place, nine deaths occurred on the road, all but the first of which were given Christian burial. These burials were accompanied with con siderable expense, but the civilizing influences that they exerted over the tribe more than compensated for the money expended. Hitherto they have been in the habit of burying their dead in true aboriginal style, but now their great desire on the death of a friend appears to be for a respectable coffin, and that the corpse shall be buried after the fashion of white people. Since the arrival here there have been eight deaths, all of which have been given Christian burial with but small expense to the service.

BUILDINGS.

I desire to call your special attention to the urgent need of agency and employé buildings and houses for the residence of the Indian families, estimates for which have been forwarded to the Indian Office. In addition to these a barn and slaughter-house are greatly needed, and I ask that they, as well as the first mentioned, may be constructed at the earliest possible time.

INTOXICATING LIQUORS.

Being situated on the border, and close to Baxter Springs, the most dangerous evil to be dreaded is intemperance. It has been a blighting curse to other tribes in this vicinity, and unless extraordinary measures are taken, the Poncas will surely fall victims to it. They have the natural appetite of the Indian for strong drink, and notwithstanding the safeguards that I have endeavored to throw around them, several have already become intoxicated, having procured the liquor through the agency of a worthless white man at Baxter Springs. I immediately had the vendor arrested under a statutory law of Kansas prohibiting the selling, giving, or delivering of intoxicating liquors to an Indian. On the trial of the case the proof of guilt against the prisoner was made positive, but the court, (justice,) at the request of defendant's counsel, charged the jury that the law was unconstitutional, and that a conviction could not be had against the prisoner for the offense charged, and the jury returned a verdict, under the charge of the court, of not guilty.

The next case of the kind that I have, will be taken into a court where all statutory law shall be held constitutional until decided otherwise by the Supreme Court.

POLICE.

I recommend that a police force, of not less than two Indians, be maintained to guard the reservation against the introduction of intoxicating liquors, and ask that authority be given to employ the same.

EMPLOYÉS.

I have to say that all employés of this agency must be men of sterling character in all that goes to make up honorable, moral manhood, and must be competent to perform the duties assigned them in a manner acceptable, and of substantial value to the service. Profanity or any immoral conduct will be cause for immediate dismissal. All the employés that I now have, I believe to be of the required habits and ability.

CENSUS.

The Poncas now here number 681, embracing 197 heads of families. In addition to these there are 36 members of the tribe stopping with different northern tribes who have not yet reported, but who will probably arrive during the fall.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS.

E. A. HOWARD, United States Indian Agent.

QUAPAW AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY,
August 24, 1877.

SIR: In accordance with instructions contained in Department circular dated 10th ultimo, I submit herewith my sixth annual report of the condition of this agency for the current year.

This agency is situated in the northeast corner of the Indian Territory, and contains 212,298 acres, about one-half of which is good tillable land; the remainder can hardly be excelled for stock-raising and grazing purposes. A large portion, probably one-third of the agency, is wooded, and all is covered with a luxuriant growth of nutritious grass. It is well watered by numerous streams and rivers; prominent among these are the Neosho and Grand Rivers on the western boundary, Spring River through the center of the northern half, Cowskin River through the southern portion. In addition to these large streams, numerous creeks and branches supplied by living springs are to be found flowing through all portions of the agency; almost all of pure, clear, and cold water. The tillable land (except bottoms along the streams) is nearly all prairie with black loamy soil. The grazing and timbered is mostly high, rolling, and rocky. The timber is not as a rule very valuable, except for rails and house-logs, but little being suitable for manufacturing into lumber.

The tribes constituting the agency are the Quapaws, confederated Peorias and Miamis, Ottawas, Eastern Shawnees, Wyandotts, Senecas, and Modocs. In addition to these there

are a number of Blackbob Shawnees, and Citizen Pottawatomies, who properly belong elsewhere, but who are temporarily residing here.

The Quapaws, numbering about 235, occupy a tract of 56,685 acres in the northeast corner of the agency. The majority of the tribe have long desired to remove to the Osage agency, and become incorporated with that tribe; this desire, together with their dissipated habits and the proximity of their present location to the border, has materially retarded their progress. The principal chief and at least half the tribe removed to the Osages over a year ago, and have remained there since.

Early in the spring, in accordance with instructions of Hon. Superintendent Nicholson, I apprised those upon the reservation of the intention of the Government to remove the Ponca Indians to the reservation, and to allow them to carry out their wishes by joining the Osages; this arrangement was entirely satisfactory to a majority of the tribe, but has been bitterly opposed by a few, backed by some unscrupulous, intermeddling whites, who desire, for the advancement of their own interests, to thwart the wishes of the Government. I am, however, of the opinion that the best interest of the tribe will be subserved by the proposed removal. It will be remembered that in the spring of 1875 the tribe entered into an agreement to relinquish about two-thirds of the reservation whenever wanted by the Government. Should they be permitted to retain the remainder, it would be impossible to get any considerable number of them to stay on it, the greater portion having already abandoned their homes. Those that remain have not sufficient energy to keep up a tribal organization and make improvements, none having been made by them the present year, and all their old ground has not been planted; most, however, who remain on the reservation have planted more or less. All the children on the reserve of a suitable age, 25 in number, have been in school during the year, and nearly all regularly. I believe if these children can be properly educated and cared for, for a few years longer, a brighter future is in store for them. The Confederated Peorias and Miamis, numbering about 202, occupy a fertile tract of 50,301 acres. The consolidation of these tribes, so far as their lands are concerned, has been effected, and all uncertainty in regard to their homes removed. The good effect of this has been seen in the energy with which they have engaged in enlarging old and making new improvements. These people are thoroughly energetic and enterprising. They have good houses and barns, and many large farms well stocked with cattle, horses, and hogs. Their children have attended school with regularity, the attendance at the two schools on their reservation aggregating 87.

The Ottawas of Blanchard's Fork and Roche de Bœuf, numbering about 140, have a reservation of 14,860 acres. They are energetic in farming, nearly every head of a family in the tribe having an improvement of his own, ranging in size from a few acres to 160. There has been an aggregate attendance of 36 children at the school for this tribe during the Their condition and progress are very encouraging.

year.

The Eastern Shawnees, numbering 85, have 13,088 acres. They have some very fine improvements, and are adding to the size of their farms each year. A disposition is shown by some of their leading men which is very commendable. Thirty-one children belonging to this tribe and the Blackbob Shawnees residing among them, have been in school this year.

The Wyandotts number about 250, and occupy a reservation of 21,706 acres. They are, as a rule, enterprising and energetic. All are engaged in farming, some of them having fine, large farms with all the conveniences of civilized life about them. They have a considerable amount of stock, some of it of good blood, and many are much interested in improving its quality. They have had 65 of their children in school during the year.

The Senecas number 235, and occupy a reservation of 51,958 acres. These people are rapidly acquiring habits or industry and economy, which will soon enable them to compete favorably with the surrounding whites. They have good improvements, and are adding steadily to their size from year to year. The feeling of hostility to education and civilization, to which I have heretofore alluded as existing in this tribe, has almost entirely given way. This is evidenced by the unusual number of their children (46) in school during the past year. They have also shown unmistakable signs of a disposition to more and more adopt the ways of civilization and give up their old Indian customs. I believe this tribe has an unusually bright future before them.

The Modocs occupy 4,000 acres of fine farming and grazing land; they number 112. They are actively engaged in farming, and have been quiet and easily managed. All their children of suitable age (32 in number) have been in school almost continuously during the year. I have had 160 acres of new land broken for them this summer, a large portion of which will be sown to wheat this fall. They have this year 30 acres of wheat, 170 of corn, and about 8 acres of potatoes, garden vegetables, &c. Their wheat, though sown late, after the grasshoppers left last fall, has made a very good crop. The corn is excellent, promising as fine a crop as is often seen. I have purchased for them 61 cows and their calves, they already having about 30 head It is my wish to get this tribe engaged in stock raising as much as possible, as I believe their natural disposition and the nature of their reservation are both well adapted to this mode of life. They made during the past winter and spring about 15,000 new rails. There have been no cases of intemperance among them. The sickness which has been so prevalent among them since their settlement here appears to have abated to a great extent, and their health during the past summer has been compara

tively good. They must, however, still be subject to sickness until they can be induced to take better care of themselves. It has been impossible to get them to understand the deleterious effects of exposing themselves to inclement and wet weather unnecessarily; but I think as they continue to advance they will be more careful in these respects.

The stray Blackbobs, Pottawatomies, &c., who are living here, are not, as a general rule, a very progressive class of Indians. They are, with few exceptions, intemperate, lazy, and thriftless. Three-fourths of the cases of drunkenness that occur within the limits of the agency are among this class, and many of the others are through their influence. There are, however, some honorable exceptious to this rule, a few being industrious, well-behaved men. Taking all the tribes together, their condition is very encouraging-health has been unusually good, and the season has been more favorable than common. They have worked well during the year; have raised a very large crop of corn, and have made many additions to their improvements. The amount of wheat raised is small. This was caused by the rav ages of the grasshopper last fall. There are within the agency (exclusive of the Government farm on the Quapaw reservation, cultivated this year by Government for the benefit of the Poncas,) 6,613 acres of land in cultivation, and 7,909 acres under fence. There have been during the year 763 acres of land broken; 603 by the Indians, and 160 by the Govern ment. The Indians have made and put into fence 123,600 rails, besides about 15,000 made by the Modocs, but not yet put up. They have built 29 new houses, and have 891 horses, 1,254 cattle, 4,256 hogs.

The educational interests of the agency have never been in a more prosperous condition than during the past year; five schools have been in operation nine months each, with a total enrollment, as follows:

The attendance has been more regular than ever heretofore, and the progress correspondingly better. Orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, written and mental; geography, physical and descriptive; English grammar, physiology, and history have been taught, and the children in each school have regular daily instructions in the Holy Scriptures. In addition to this, both males and females in attendance at the missions have been regularly taught industrial arts. The boys are employed out of school in caring for stock, milking, and farm and garden work. The girls, in attending to ordinary household and kitchen work, cooking, sewing, cutting garments, &c. They all take kindly to such work, and their parents, almost without exception, are pleased to have them so employed and instructed. The large proportion of females in attendance at such schools (over one-half of the enrollment) is an encouraging feature of the work; when any people among whom the degradation of woman has been so complete as it has been among the Indians, become so far advanced as to consent to and encourage the education of their girls, thus lifting them to an equality with the males, they have taken a very material and important stride toward civilization and Christianity.

The Quapaw and Modoc, Ottawa and Seneca, Shawnee and Wyandott missions are run by contract; the contractor furnishing teachers, boarding, and caring for the children, and receiving therefor $2 per week for the time actually attended by each child.

The Seneca, Shawnee and Wyandott, and Quapaw and Modoc missions, and the Con. federated Peoria, &c., day-school are now in operation, having been continued without any vacation at the close of the fiscal year. The Ottawa mission and Miami day-school had to be closed on account of changes in employés at these points. It is the expectation, however, to have them reopened September 1.

The Peorias and Miamis have school-funds sufficient to carry on their schools, but the other tribes have to depend upon the liberality of the Government. I must urge upon the Department the importance of securing ample appropriations for school purposes. There should be at least $10,000 available for the support of the Seneca, Shawnee, and Wyandott, and Ottawa missions. This may seem like a large sum for two schools, but when the number of children educated, and the great good which is thereby being accomplished is taken into consideration, I do not think the amount can be deemed unreasonable.

Religious meetings and Sabbath-schools have been kept at each of the missions and school-houses, and à Sabbath-school and occasional meeting at the agency. These have all been well attended as a general thing, and much interest evinced. A series of union-meetings has also been held at various points in the agency during the spring and summer. These have been attended by large numbers of each tribe in the agency. At the last one which was held on the Ottawa reserve, June 29, 30, and July 1, there were at least 500 persons present. At all these meetings a prominent part has been taken by many of the Indians, and the quiet, respectful attention given by almost all has shown that a deep interest has been awakened in the minds of many in their future welfare.

General temperance work has been done at every opportunity. The habits of the people