The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1870-05-19
Correspondence of the Upton Advertiser.
From the Frontier.
OFFICE KIOWA AGENCY,
Indian Ter. ith mo-. 30. 1870,

[
Indian Ter, 4th mo-, 30, 1870.
The citizens of Cedar Co., in common
with many other sections of the cOun-
try, no doubt feel an interest in know
ing what is going on in the Indian
country. Pressure of business only has
prevented me from occasionally writing
on this subject for the ADVERTISER.
There are several classes of Indians liv-
ing on this Reservation, of whom the
Delawares are the most civilized. Many
of them dress in citizens clothes. The
women are often snugly clad, and ride
OH side-saddles.' They number about
100.
The Caddoes, who number 465, are
next in civilization. They have retro
graded during the last ten or twelve
Gus and self sustaining people, with
large stocks of cattle and hogs, to almost
destitution as to cattle or hogs, and
dependent on the government for their
subsistence. Some of them manifest a
wish to again become agriculturists, and
are now making some effort to plant
and cultivate corn.
/ A few of the AFFILIATED Bands" are
willing to work little if l will furnish
men to do a good deal.
The Wichitas, who number about 300,
were in great hurry to have some men
and plows sent to their field, promising
to furnish teams. When the man and
plows went there they would not fur
nish teams. The women went to work
in their patches along the edge of the
woods, digging up the ground with their
hoes and planting their corn; but they
think too much of their horses and
mules to allow them to work. l told
them if they wanted to make mules of
their women they would have to do it,
1 would not furnish teams to do their
blowing.
The Wichitas and six other remnants
of tribes constitute the AFFILIATED Bands
of Indians" and number about 200.
They live along the Washita river, from
thirty to forty miles north of the Agen-
cy. There is to be a sub-Agent, Jona-
than Richards, a Friend, from Penn'a,
to live near them and look after their
interests.
The Comanches formerly lived in
Texas and commenced farming there,
but were driven out and their agent
murdered by the Texans. They are
willing to be waited on and fed; but as
| for working it is below their dignity
The chiefs appear to wish their young
men to cease stealing horses and com.
hitting other depredations, but the
chiefs can no more control their young
men than magistrate can prevent the
commission of crime. The Comanches
who are on the Reservation number
about 2,G27. Several of them have
small farms, which am having plant
ed with corn and vegetables.
| The Kiowas number about SIS. They
and the Apaches, numbering 800, are
the widest that have any jurisdiction
over. They all wear blankets, or buffa
| 10 robes, and spend large portion o.
their time following the buffalo. Some
of their young men occasionally so t.
Texas to steal horses, but the chiefs as
sumo to be friendly. l think there has
been pretty strong expectation, If no
effort, to create an Indian war will
them, but do not think they intend tx
go on the war path this spring.
There are from 600 to 1000 of the Qua
ha-da or Rowing Indians, who belong t.
the Reservation, but are still living out
side, following the buffalo and making
raids into Texas. This is probably th'
band that stole the woman and boy from
Texas this year.
The Indians have Medicine Dance
every spring, at which they usually de
eide whether they will have peace o
war during the summer. 1t is to be il
about twenty days, some eighty mile
west of here. Gen. Grierson and hav
been invited. Should | attend it vii
probably be good subject for anothe
| paper. think it will be the best op
portunity we shall have of receiving
tidings of the prisoners, and possibl
LAWR1E TATUM,
US. Indian Agent.