Accompanying this will be found the statistical list of the scholars attending the St. Mary's manual labor school. As no report accom panies the list save a line from the superintendent of the school, I am unable to give that prominence to its probabie worth that its many years of labor in our midst would seem to require. This school is under the control of the Catholic Church. Without wishing to be understood as favoring any one, or doing aught but what duty to those under my charge seems to require, I suggest, in accordance with the wishes of the Indans, that, inasmuch as the school is about fifteen miles from the present reserve, and its scholars are almost entirely from the sectioniz ing band, (but few coming from the Indians upon the reserve,) and that as the sectionizers will be very greatly diminished this fall by the pay ment of the head rights of a large number of them, which will sever their connection with the tribe and preclude their right to the use of the schools supported by the educational fund of the tribe, whether it would not be right and proper and for the good of all to take steps to organize a school on the reserve proper, and thus place the facilities of education and civilization right at their very door. The organization of such a school could not interfere or prove in the least detrimental to the pros perity of the one already established, as either would be entirely inde pendent of the other, though laboring to accomplish the same great end. the advancement and education of the human mind.

In conclusion, allow me to express my heartfelt thanks to the Depart ment for their kind and prompt endeavors to sustain me in the new position, thereby advancing the interests and well-being of these Indians. for whom I have a deep interest, and I trust every facility will continue to be given to enable me to prevent outside parties from successfully overreaching them, and also that every opportunity may be improved for their advancement in education and useful knowledge. It is appa rent that the time is near at hand when they must become tillers of the soil, and earn their bread by honest toil. In my opinion nothing can advance their real interests more effectually than placing them upon a suitable reservation, and friendly treating them as wards of the Gov ernment, and, as a means of retaining them upon the premises, to pay annuities to no one who is not an actual resident, and placing among them, as representatives of the Government, persons having something in view higher and more ennobling than the mere acquirement of gold.

Respectfully,

ENOCH HOAG,

JOEL H. MORRIS, United States Indian Agent.

Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Lawrence, Kansas.

No. 102.

KICKAPOO INDIAN AGENCY, KANSAS,
9th Month 6th, 1870.

MY FRIEND: I herewith submit my first annual report, together with sub-reports from the two schools in this agency.

The tribe numbers 296 individuals-males 153, females 143—which indicates quite an increase since last year; this can be partly accounted for by the marriages that have been made into the Pottawatomie and other tribes and being settled in this tribe.

The health of the tribe during the past year has been good, and more births than deaths.

The greater portion of the Kickapoos have manifested a pretty good interest in the cultivation of their fields, and it seems to be a pleasure to some of them to try and get their support from the soil and to be actively engaged in some way that will add comfort and pecuniary advantages to their enjoyments. Yet there are some who, notwithstanding the good example of thrift among them in the tribe, are lounging around the wigwam and the stores, and, I suppose, comfort themselves with "When will payment be?" And it is noticeable that this class of Indians suffer more from the evil effects of whisky, tobacco, scrofula, 66 gray-backs," and other attendant misfortunes. Indolence is the mother of disease and the vices, while labor is the father of health and good morals.

One year ago intemperance prevailed to a considerable extent in the tribe; three of the chiefs seemed to be leaders in the "ring," and were not only ruining their own souls and bodies, but were poisoning the minds of many of the young men, and were putting them in the downward road to physical and moral ruin; and when the subject of temperance was presented to them in council they said their "Great Father" (Andy Johnson) set them this example three years ago while at Washington, and that their agent had no right to deprive them of a privilege (?) that he sanctioned. Finding it impossible to do much with the Indians on this subject so long as they could get whisky, we then turned our attention toward the arrest of the whites who were guilty of furnishing it to them, and succeeded in presenting some twelve or fifteen cases to the United States district court, most of whom pleaded guilty and paid their fines. Since that time there have been but few cases of drunkenness in the tribe, and one of the chiefs who was a leader in this particular vice has changed so much as to be a pretty regular attendant at their meeting, together with his family, and is now a practical advocate of temperance and morality in the tribe. Some of the allottees of this tribe propose to become citizens of the United States under treaty provisions for the purpose, and about fifteen of them have obtained "certificates of competency" agreeable thereto, a portion of which have been forwarded to the Department for action thereon. The treaty provides that said allottees must give satisfactory evidence to the judge of the United States district court for such competency as is required by the provisions of said treaty, but I am credibly informed that no such evidence has been required from those making application, but certificates have been granted and issued to all who have presented themselves. In this there is a great wrong; it is lowering the standard of merit in the minds of the Indians, and also placing in the hands of incompetent persons their means of support, which must soon vanish from them. These individuals claim that they have done all that the treaty requires of them, and are feeling quite disappointed that they have not ere this received patents for their lands and their head money. I am happy to say on behalf of those whose certificates have been forwarded, with but one or two exceptions, that they are deserving Indians, and merit the prompt action of the Department on their behalf. I would like in future that certificates of competency be granted to such, and only such, as can give the proof.

We have had two day-schools in progress most of the time during the past year, and one Sabbath-school for five months. The Walnut Creek school is situated about the center of the diminished reserve, in Boone County, Kansas, and has been held in a hewed-log church building be

longing to the tribe; was opened on the 8th day of 11th Month last, under the charge of Joshua H. Trueblood, of Indiana, as teacher, continuing four months. Twenty children were enrolled, with an average attendance of about ten; fourteen of the children had never been in school before, none of whom knew our language. The children seemed to take a deep interest in the school and their studies, as also did their parents, who often visited the school. At the end of the four months seven of the children could read quite well in the second reader, having first gone through the first part until quite thorough, and ten of them could read full as well in the first reader. They all received daily praetice in spelling and writing, and chart and blackboard exercises. Most of them at close of school could speak our language some, and understand it quite well. Much credit is due our friend Trueblood for efficient labors.

On the 23d of 5th Month of this year the same school was reopened under the care of Walter Kitching as teacher, and continued for three months. Sixteen children were enrolled, with an average daily attendance of six and three-sevenths. And although improvement in some respects was not so noticeable as in the first term, yet in writing and speaking there was an improvement. In order, the teacher seemed to be deficient, and in consequence thereof the school gradually dimin ished until there were but about six in regular attendance, and the school was dismissed at the end of fourteen weeks. The mission school near Kennekuk was continued in charge of Elizabeth P. Adams, from 9th Month 1st, 1869, to 1st Month 1st, 1870; since that time Elizabeth Miles has been in charge as teacher. During the year there have been enrolled fifteen scholars, with an average daily attendance of ten. The average daily attendance for the first five months was about seven; since that time the school has been steadily increasing, until nearly all of the allotted school children are in the school. About one-half dozen of the additions to this school have been of raw material, having never before attended school. Although most of these children had been attending school for some time, yet they seemed to be very deficient in manners or anything like discipline, and the improvement in cleanliness, manners, and correct discipline has been very marked during the year. They seemed to have acquired a drawling manner of expression, an awkward manner in walking, standing, and sitting, and when they were called upon to rise to their feet during recitations they would each take his or her own time for getting to their feet; and during the devotional exercises each morning they seemed to have no idea of devotional solemnity. This, of course, is not to be wondered at. Much attention has been given by the present teacher to strict discipline, almost as rigid as military tactics, and, we think, to good purpose, and there seems to be as much gentility of manners manifested by them now, in school or out of school, as we will see in most of the country white children. Their advancement in their studies has been quite as good as we could expect; all of them can now read, write, and spell, and some of them are quite ready in mental arithmetic and other practical exercises.

About the 1st of the 4th Month we organized a Sabbath-school at the mission, under the management of Elizabeth Miles as instructor. This effort has been characterized with many pleasant and interesting events, to be remembered with pleasure by many of us. The children and some older Indians have been regular in attendance, and have taken a deep interest in the scripture stories as they have been related to them. They love to hear the "story of the cross"-how that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son to die for us, and of the free

offering that was made for us upon the cross; that Jesus loved us so dearly that his precious blood was shed for our sins, and that he loves little Indian children just as well as he does the white children, and we think good impressions have been made upon their little hearts; and they have said that if Jesus so loves them, ought we not also to love and obey Him? They have all of them committed to memory one or more Psalms, which they love to recite; also, many appropriate verses and scripture texts. They are very fond of singing, and can now sing quite a number of appropriate Sabbath-school hymns quite well, and they seem to enter into feeling with the sentiments contained in the hymns. Much cheerful labor has been expended in this school in trying to imprint upon their minds the precious truths of the gospel as set forth in the Bible.

The leading men in the tribe seem to fully realize that they must engage extensively in agricultural pursuits, and encourage the education of their children; for in these two great elements they discover there is power and influence, and in order to cope with their white neighbors they too must avail themselves of their advantages. They are willing that their educational and beneficial fund shall be used pretty freely in the education of their children, but they first desire to build a boardingschool building, and this, I am decided myself, would be of great advantage to them, as the experience of all educational efforts among the race goes to prove that much more good can be accomplished by taking the children from their homes.

Our hope is in the proper training of their children.

UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR CHEROKEES,

Fort Gibson, Indian Territory, September 30, 1870.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the affairs of this agency, and the condition and prospects of the Cherokee people, for the year ending with the current month.

The funds transmitted from your office, to be paid to the proper official of the Cherokee nation, have been transferred, in accordance with instructions, and vouchers for what has been so paid have been forwarded with my quarterly accounts. The amount received, together with what I am advised will, within a short time, be placed in my hands to be turned over to the treasury of the nation, is sufficient to meet the expenses incurred in carrying on the government and providing for education of children and support of orphans, and as soon as this people are freed from the burden of expense incurred in supporting delegations at Washington, charged with the duty of obtaining action on the impending treaty, an income will be available to them, from which means can be drawn for advancing many desirable objects of natural improvement and progress.

Since last March nine bounty-land warrants, for services rendered by Cherokees in the war of 1812, and 215 checks for amounts of second bounty for services rendered during the rebellion, in second and third Cherokee regiments, have been placed in my hands for delivery to those entitled. At this time there is much difficulty in finding heirs of the persons to whom the warrants were issued, and as yet but one has been delivered. All but 55 of the checks have been paid to claimants and, in accordance with your instructions, care has been taken that these should receive full value in money from persons who, in my presence, purchased the checks for exchange. Great satisfaction is expressed by the Indians at this reform in the manner of paying the bounties, and there can be no doubt but that heretofore much less than the full amount of what was payable to them was realized by those who received the bounties in the way they were constrained to accept payment by the private agent, who had the exclusive privilege of obtaining and paying bounties and pensions due to Cherokees. What you have instructed me to pay amounts to less than $16,000, but the very large amount for merly received for them by this person, after deduction of fees larger than the Indians had agreed to pay, was made to yield a further profit by giving them the option of trading on credit at a designated store, or waiting an indefinite time for the proceeds of their claims. As they come to Fort Gibson from distances varying from nearly one hundred to a few miles, many on foot, and were always much in need of what they were offered the opportunity of obtaining on such terms, it is likely none refused the credits. The trading establishment could thus secure both capital and custom, and prospered very much beyond all others in the Indian country. It is to be remarked that there is a prevailing im pression that dealings with the Indians secure unusual opportunities for large profits in business enterprises, but the result of my own observation, and that of others of whom I have made inquiries, warrants the statement that more than a very moderate return for investments has never been obtained, but where means are had for taking more than these people would pay, if they were not, by pre-arranged contrivances, placed at disadvantage as to accepting or declining terms on which merchandise is offered them in trade. Any attempt to protect them from imposition is an innovation upon the old usage, under which money paid to Indians was expected to reach the hands of enterprising white men immediately afterwards and in a way that would remunerate them for hazards and sacrifices. And it does not appear that it has been thought necessary or expedient that agents of the Government should interfere to the detriment of the trader.

The results of investigations in a portion of the cases of claims for pensions transmitted, in which there were apparently two persons apply ing where one only was entitled, have been especially reported. In those not yet returned there is every probability that when the inform ation the witness can furnish is obtained, it will be found, as in the cases reported on, one application was made out by the agent or attor ney, and the names and data being obtained through an interpreter and not according, especially as to names, with what was furnished on refer ence to records at Washington. Papers, in every case, were made out a second time by the same attorney, or those employed by him, after getting copies of certain rolls and records from the public officers, as testimony heretofore forwarded shows was done. Much wrong and im position upon the Indians would have been prevented by requiring that applications for pensions and bounties should be made out in the pres ence of the United States agents, or at least that they should be at