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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