success. The fifth, which is O-shaw-wan-nos, the head chief, still reside at or near the Sault, and it is yet uncertain what course they will pursue in reference to moving on their reservation, as it is unfitted for agricultural purposes. I refer the department to my letter on this subject of October 2, 1858. In a clause of the first article of the treaty with the Ottawas and Chippewas, in 1855, provision is made upon certain conditions for the purchase of certain lands owned by the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which matter has been under consideration for some time past, and it is now being perfected with a view to its submission to the department, which arrangement, if consummated, will convey to the government, for the benefit of these Indians, about eleven hundred acres of land. Much inconvenience is experienced by some of the Indians in the location of the smith shops provided for them: they have been established at those points where the greatest number are settled, but several of the reservations are so remote as to preclude the possibility of the full advantages to be conferred on all. I have found it necessary, in view of the limited state of the fund, to discontinue the shop formerly located at Mackinac. The mills erected for the benefit of the Chippewas of Saginaw, in Isabella county, are now in good condition and doing good business. In the erection of these mills, the foundations were insecurely laid, as was also that of the mill-dam, in consequence of which several breaks have occurred in the dam and the mills had become damaged until it became necessary to place a new foundation for the mills, reconstruct a portion of the machinery, and strengthen the dam, all of which has been thoroughly performed; and it may now be hoped, with judicious management, that it will not only prove a great convenience, but a source of some revenue to those for whom it was built. That portion of this tribe residing on Saginaw bay are now selecting their lands with an intention of moving on to them in the spring. No material change has taken place with the Ottawas, Chippewas, and Pottawatomies, parties to the treaty of July 29, 1829, and the Pottawatomies of Huron, in the treaty of November 17, 1807, since the date of my last annual report. They still implore the government to make a treaty with them and provide them with homes and schools, as they have to all the rest of their brethren in the State. The past year has been one of general health and unusual prosperity among the Indians of this agency. Their crops have been abundant. A bountiful harvest has encouraged them to renewed diligence in clearing the land, and relying more upon tilling the soil for a subsistence; and it may be reasonably expected, under the facilities afforded by the present treaty, that, with its expiration, under the blessings of a bountiful Providence, they will be in a condition to take care of themselves. I remain, respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. A. B. GREENWOOD, A. M. FITCH, Commissioner Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 3. AGENCY OF THE INDIANS RESIDING IN THE VICINITY OF GREEN BAY, WIS., Fond-du-Lac, October 25, 1860. SIR: The reports of the employés of this agency, for the past year, are quite full and correct, relieving me from the necessity of any very extended detail. The more so, and I take pleasure in the statement, since they emanate from intelligent, faithful, and industrious persons. It is a matter of deep regret that the condition of the Menomonees, as also that of their neighbors, the Stockbridges and Munsees, is so unfavorable. The disastrous failure of their crops, for the two years preceding this, obliging them, in a great degree, to depend upon the chase for subsistence, and discouraging them from exertion in advance of the present propitious season, is doubtless the chief reason that I am obliged to report at this time little or no improvement. Besides, for some years, before and since my connection with this office, the Menomonees have been filled, by designing and wicked persons in their neighborhood, with alarming stories of mismanagement, if not fraudulent misapplication of their funds, inducing weekly secret councils, and keeping these Indians, in their credulity, constantly restless and uneasy. I am glad to say, however, that the result of the recent thorough examination, instituted at their request, and for the most part conducted in their presence, has had a salutary effect-certain it is, their whole manner has changed, their deportment is better, and their habits of thrift and industry have altogether improved. It is my apprehension, however, that it may become necessary to grant them some relief for subsistence during the coming winter. The report of the farmer, and my own observation, would certainly indicate that necessity. I have great attachment for these Indians. While very credulous, they are honest; and as a tribe are rapidly inquiring intelligence and fondness for industrial pursuits. They should have individual encouragement and protection. Hence, I earnestly renew the expression of my opinion, as contained in my letter of the 26th September, 1859, as well as in my last annual report, that so much of their reserve as is necessary should be surveyed into forty and eighty acre tracts, allotments made to each, and that the balance be sold or bought by the government, and the proceeds turned into an individual improvement fund, for the benefit of those who are industrious. I have also to state, that Mr. Haas, who has been their faithful farmer for several years, has resigned, which I regret very much, as it will be very difficult to find another that would be as devoted to the interest of the Menomonee tribe of Indians as he has always been. And perhaps the most serious loss that is to result from the insane conduct of this unfortunate tribe, will be that of Mrs. Rosalie Dousman, the preceptress of their female school. Having been insulted and reviled in the house, and in the very presence of their missionary priest, and her dwelling assailed with violence at midnight under the direction of his chief, by his brutal emissary, she has declared her determination to abandon them. With no impelling motive other than her Christian benevolence, she has been, for thirty-two years, their faithful, self-sacrificing benefactress, whom they had long loved and revered, under the endearing name of their mother-a title, by long and patient endurance, by unremitting, unrewarded devotion to their temporal, intellectual, moral, and religious welfare, most hardly earned; the instructress of their children, the nurse of their sick, the providence of their destitute, the consoler of their dying, their priestess at the altar, the sole, gratuitous interpreter of the religious teachings of all their Christian missionaries, from whose lips alone the lessons of Divine truth had ever reached their ears. Most of the observations within are applicable to the Stockbridges and Munsees. Their tract of land is by no means desirable, and the failure of crops has certainly discouraged them very much. They are anxious to sell and remove to some more genial climate. This subject I have had the honor to present fully to you heretofore. Whilst The crops of the Oneidas have been good this year, and I am glad to give a favorable report of them in all things. It would be very desirable to change, by some means, their existing form of government. The present hereditary chiefs, Daniel Bread, and others, by advice and example, exercise a salutary influence. But they are old, and their successors, I am fearful, may be very different men. that change, if necessary, should be brought about by themselves, or through indirect or direct action of the government, is respectfully but earnestly submitted to your consideration. It gives me pleasure to commend highly the conduct of the teachers of all the schools, and particularly the Rev. Mr. Slingerland and Goodnough. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, Hon. A. B. GREENWOOD, A. D. BONESTEEL, United States Indian Agent. Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. No. 4. PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL ONEIDA INDIAN MISSION, Oneida, Wisconsin, September 18, 1860. SIR: The school of the first Christian party of Oneidas, of which I am teacher, commenced on the 7th November, 1859, in the new school house, (built by contributions from various members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at the East,) and continued in session until the 4th of July, 1860. There is considerable irregularity in the attendance of the children, but the attendance has been better for the past year than heretofore, and I have hopes that it will be better next year and thereafter. The children have learned very fast considering the disadvantages under which they labor. The studies have been reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, and simple questions in natural science. The greatest difficulty that I have to contend with is the irregularity of attendance. There being no reward for a regular attendance, and no punishment for an irregular one, the children do not take the interest in the school which they otherwise would. So I am obliged to teach each child separately, it being impossible to keep classes formed, and this takes up my time to such a degree that I cannot drill them as much as necessary. Had I the means to give each child a prize or present in proportion to his or her good behavior and regularity of attendance, I might have double the number of students, and the school would be the means of doing ten times as much good. The whole number of days the school has been kept is one hundred and thirty-eight. Time spent in school each day from four to five and a half hours. Whole number of lessons heard has been three thousand two hundred and seventy-nine. Whole number of students eighty-three. The school will commence its next term, if Providence permits, on the 1st October next. Strong drink is still doing its accursed work in the tribe. One thousand dollars spent in preventing, by rewards and punishments, the use of strong drink, would do more good to the Indians than ten thousand dollars given in the way of annuities to them. However, I trust that this tribe will continue to advance in Christain knowledge and civilization. We have been blessed with a bountiful crop this season, so that by the use of proper economy there will be no want of food during the next year. Respectfully submitted, A. D. BONESTEEL, Esq., E. A. GOODNOUGH. United States Indian Agent, Fond-du-Lac, Wis. No. 5. ONEIDA, WEST MISSION, Oneida Indian Reservation, Wis., Sept. 14, 1860. DEAR SIR: I herewith send you my annual report from July 1, 1859, to July 1, 1860, according to your instructions of July 18 and August 30, 1859, viz.: One school under my care, designated the Oneida west school, and located in the southwest part of the Oneida Indian reservation. Total number of names on the register for the year is 103; 52 males and 51 females; one teacher. Under the care of the Methodist Episcopal Church-i. e. so long as the Methodist missionary holds the office of teacher. Nothing has been contributed by the Methodist Episcopal Church, as the funds for the school come from the United States government. Nothing is contributed by the Indians except part of the firewood. There are two missionaries among the Oneidas, viz.: One Episcopal and one Methodist. The school under my charge has progressed very favorably, especially during the winter, some of the larger scholars making very good proficiency. During the summer months the school has generally been small. The studies have been reading, (as high as the fifth reader,) writing, arithmetic, and geography. If the scholars could be induced to attend regularly I think they would learn fast; as it is, they learn slow; and whether energy can ever be driven into parents or children on this subject it is hard to say. If there are any other items you wish information upon let me know, and I will furnish it to the best of my ability. Yours, very respectfully, A. D. BONESTEEL, Esq., DAVID LEWIS. No. 6. SHAWANO COUNTY, WISCONSIN, September 20, 1860. SIR: In compliance with your request I herewith transmit to you my third annual report of the west district school among the Stockbridge and Munsee Indians. The attendance of last winter was full, having forty different scholars, thirty-six in attendance at any one time, with an average of twenty-five. Six progressed nearly through the fractions in Thompson's Practical Arithmetic; one advanced as far as compound interest; two went through Brown's Grammar once, and were quite apt in parsing and correcting false syntax; two advanced half through Comstock's Natural Philosophy, and five completed Cornell's Intermediate Geography. This is the report of those most advanced. The studies of the rest were the simple branches of reading, geography, and arithmetic. Had the same numbers and interest continued through the summer greater advances could have been noticed, but as spring came many of the larger scholars were needed and detained at home, thus reducing the school for the summer to thirty different scholars, twenty-three at one time, and an average of sixteen. These being for the most part small, little else can be said than that they have made commendable advances in reading, writing, spelling, cyphering, and music. Ten A-B-C scholars of late growth have attended during the summer, and have been advanced some to words of three letters, and others to be able to read. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, JEREMIAH SLINGERLAND, Teacher among Stockbridges and Munsees. A. D. BONESTEEL, Esq., |