The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-02-22
sTRoUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY, PA, FEBRUARY 1872.

H'SH Is we'll dtteuueu, duu Inc pupils
make good progress. A sewing depart
ment has been added to the institution
for Indian women and girls. An Indus
trial Home for orphans has been estab-
lished, which now accommo odates fourteen
children and would be capable of receiv-
ing a greater number, if larger fund
could be had for its support
At this Agency there is store estab.
lished by Friends in Philadelphia, similar
to that kept at the Otoe Agency, and
with the same beneficial results. ~
The vice of intemperance, so common
and SO destructive among many tribes of
Indians, does not prevail to any consider
able extent in the Northern Superinten-
dency. In most of the tribes the Chiefs
use their influence to prevent the in.
PRODUCTION of spirituous liquors, and the
Agents punish by imprisonment or other
wise, those of the Indians who are found
intoxicated or in possession of intoxicat-
ing drink. .a 4fia %. IT, a..ta.s-u
AT all the Agencies, pains have been
taken by the Agents to promote the
stability and purity of the marriage rela-
tiou among the Indians. At the Santee
Agency it has become a common practice
to solemnize their marriages at the meet
ing houses with religious rites. At the
Omaha and Pawnee Agencies several
Indian marriages have been solemnized
nearly in the manner of Friends; the
parties promising to be faithful till sepa-
rated by death, and signing certificate
in the presence of witnesses.
Three of the tribes in the Northern
Superintendency. namely: the Omaha,
the Pawpees, and the Otoes. continue to
hunt the buffalo and generally 60 twice
in the year to their hunting grounds,
situated south of the Platte in the western
part of Nebraska and Kansas. In these
excursions the hunters take with them
their women and children. They live
sumptuously on buffalo meat and bring
home from their winter hunt as much
meat and as many robes as their ponies
can carry. The summer hunt is for the
purpose of procuring meat for subsistence
and skins for moccasins and other pur-
poses. Iaa 2art. "...
These hunts are not favorable to Indian
civilization, but cannot we'll be discontinue
ed until those tribes become possessed of
focks and herds from which supply of
meat may be obtained. Their most
thoughtful men are we'll aware that the
time is not distant when the white man
will occupy their hunting grounds and
the chase will have to be relinquished
forever
The Winnebagos and the Santee Sioux
have abandoned the chase as means of
subsistence and are supplied by the Gov
ernment with beef and -four, which are
paid for out of the tribal funds. / deem
it very desirable that this practice shall
cease as soon as those tribes are settled
on their farms and supplied with suf-
ffciency of live stock to render them self
sustaining. .. s r
During the last two years very liberal
donations of clothing, sanitary supplies,
and money have been made by members
of the Six Yearly Meetings in connection
with us. Nearly all the school children
in the Northern Superintendency, except
those at the Santee Agency, have been
clothed in this way; many garments for
the aged and in6rm have been furnished,
and suitable food for the sick has been
supplied. The children in the Mission
Schools, at the Santee Agency, have been
mostly clothed by contributions from
members of their respective churches.
Tha peculiar adaptation of women for
this work has been too much overlook ed
in the efforts that have been made to
civilize the Indians. The Indian women
are generally less enlightened than the
men, and are exceedingly shy and timid
in their intercourse with white people.
They love their children, but through
ignorance, are not able to train them pro
perly, or to nnrse them successfully in
time of sickness hence, many of them
die from improper diet or unskilful nurs
ing, and those that survive receive from
their mothers superstitious notions that
are difficult to eradicate. 1t is found by
experience that an enlightened and good
woman who will go among the Indian
women and manifest an interest in then
aud their children, can soon gain theil
confidence. She may then instruct them
in the proper care Of their children, auo
in other househli duties, and she will of
ten fnd opportunities of impartine
religious knowledge, which, being as
sociated with deeds Of love, will make t
lasting impression.
In this manner ] feel assured that tht
just and humane policy of Presiden
Grant may be successfully carried int
practice, and the Indians not only saved
from extinction, but prepared to perform
the duties and enjoy the privileges o
American citizens.
The Delegates from the several Yearl,
Meetings have, reported the following
amount of funds, and the estimated valu,
of clothing and supplies, sent to tn,
Agents for the Indians under their carr
during the years 1869 and 1870.
! Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, S9,729.10