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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1879
([1879])
Reports of agents in New Mexico, pp. 112-122
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Page 112
112 REPORTS OF AGENTS IN NEW MEXfCO. in every way, saying they were insubordinate, idle, and malevolent. It is to be re- gretted the truth is not kept a little nearer in view when such statements are made. As the visit of Cmpauny I, First Cavalry, ;Captain Caxr, was eaused by these report, and after a mouth's stay at the reserve no cause for them could be found, I thinkthe offers left satisfied of their toi incorrectness., The Shoshones adopt the gagb of the whites with scarcely an exception, but continue the use of paints, which they seem unwilling to dispense with. Their earnest wish 'often expressed is, to be "all the same as white man." This agency is not under the patronage of any religions sect, and we have no mis- sionary or schools. I would, therefore, ask fointhe establishment of a school among them at an early date. This, they say, has often been promised them, and they con- stantly remind your agent of that promise. A school if established would of itself he a great inducement for the Indians to concentrate. There would be no want of schol- ars, as adults and minors would alike attend. The medicine men, whom they formerly had great confidence in for the cure of dis- eases, &c., are now nearly discarded. Two of them became very sick, and, becoming much frightened in consequence, sent for the agency physician. The Indians reasoned that if they had no faith in themselves, they could not have any faith in them, and now they resort to the "paper doctor," as they call the agency physician. The police force have proved of great service in the mining towns, especially in the suppression of the liquor traffic with the Indians. I have thought it best to continue .part of the force at those towns until we can concentrate the tribe on the reserve. I have reorganized the force, and with double the number of privates, more attention Kill be paid to the drill, as while getting the land under cultivation, this was for a time neglected. One great benefit derived from establishing the force is the fact of its adding greatly to the self-respect of the members, and being selected for good con- duct gives the appointees much influence among the tribe. The Indians are anxious to establish what I would call a tribunal for trying and punishing petty crimes among themselves, as our local courts refuse to try such cases. I now confine them; but in most cases a good flogging would be better, if given by their own people. One scoundrel, two years ago, killed his wife, and last year burned down a wickiup or tent. I arrested him for the last offense, but the grand jury was instructed to ignore the bill, and he was again set free. All I can do is to have him driven away for the time. If he should venture on the reservation, his punishment would be severe, as the Indians are tired of his actions. In conclusion, I can but repeat what has before been stated, that I believe the West- ern Shoshones will be among the first to take rank as self-supporting Indians. JOHN HOW, United States Indian Agent. The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. ABIQUIU INDIAN AGENCY, Tierra Amarilla, N. Mex., July 29, 1879. DEAR SIR: I have the honor to inclose this my annual report for the fiscal year end- ing June 30, 1879, as follows: The agency is situated in a country peculiarly adapted for the Indians of this tribe- Jicarilla Apache-it bAng a country abounding with many kinds of game, and almost strictly a pastoral cofiutry; consequently the time may never come-when the Indian will be crowded to any. great extent by American or other settlers. When I speak as above, I do not mean the exact location of the agency at the present time, but of por- tions of the country near the agency, where the Indians belonging to this agency might be taught farming and other civilized pursuits. As a rule, the Indians belonging at this agency are peaceful, quiet, and molest no one, perfectly satisfied with the kind and quantity of rations, and also of the gratifi- cation presents made to them by thegovernvuent.' In but one instance did'they posi- tively disregard the wishes of the government, and that in the case of the police force, which duty they positively refused to perform, giving as a reason that they most earn- estly desired peaceful pursuits, and not those of a warlike nature; and enlarging upon the subject, they made a most earnest and eloquent talk upon their hopes and desires for the future. That same feeling still exists, and has been mentioned time and again, both before and since the matter of the.police force was brought up. Scarcely a time passes, when the principal men of the tribe are at the agency, when the matter is not brought up. Their hopes and desires may be enumerated as follows: 1st. They do not want to go any great distance from where the agency now is located, having been born here, haV'ing bnuied their dead here. Knowing the country as they do, they most decidedly object to being moved away from this, ountry. 2d. They desire to have farming land of their own, where each can raise a small
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