Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-27
The Indian Agents and Traders.

Frhe Indian has no m ans OF
owing how much in value or
|w many presents of any parti
hr ki',i the Government. the
Ereat Fat aer" "a he tfrms It, has
mt him. For knowledge on this
lint he mus accept the state
INT of the agent. Tne goods seut
the Govern meut are generally
ose which would most please
Indians fancy. The Indian
hdrr usually keeps goods of a
milar character. The trader is
pst frequently a particular
lend of tie agent, often associat-
with him in business. and in
any instances nolds his position
trader at the Instance of the
ent. They are always locat, d
ar each other. The trader is
mlly present at the distribu.
pn Of amnuities. If the agent.
stead of distributing to the In
ms all Of the goods intended
them by the Government. only
kinbutes one half and retains
other half who is to be the
@r ? Not the Indian, defrauded
ougll lie may be, for he is
nnrant Of how muca is coming
him. The word of the agent is
,only guide. He may complain
little, express some di>appOlnt-
lint at the limited am 'unt of
psents. and intimate that the
breat Father has dealt out the
Rnuities with sparing hand;
It the agent explains it by refer
to some depredations which
knows the trihe to h:ve been
billy in times past; or if he is
t aware of any particular in
Ance of guilt, he charges them
(nerally with having committed
ch acts, knowing one can scarce
go amiss. in accusing Il tribe OF
EcasiOnallv Staying n white
jan, and ends up his charge by
lnrming them that the Great
ather." learning OF t:ese lit
irregularities in their condu",
bd being paiBed greatly thereat. .
Flt c0mpeilet to reduce their al
Rwance of blankets. sugar. coffee,
b.. when at the same time the
bissing portion of sal! allowance
safely secured in the storehouse
the agent near by. Well, but
|Ow can he enrich himself
this manner? it NAV he asked
y simply, and unseen by the II .
ans. transferring the uniSsued
rtion of the annuities from his
|overnment stnrehOuse to II G
hiding establishment OF his
iend the trader. There the
nxes are unpacked and their con
Ents spread out fr barter with
be Indians. The latter, IN graft
Elng their wants. are forced t(
archas Sc from the trader at price,
Fhich are scores of times tn.
slue "t the article offered.
ave seen Indians dispnse of buf'
no robes to traders. which were
Nrth from fifteen to twenty dol
Prs each, ami get i'm return only
Fn t" twenty cups of sugar. tie
Allre value of which did not eX
sed two or three IL liars. This is
ne OF the many ways agents anC
sders have of amass;ng sad tel
ealth. have known the heat
Nlefs Of u tribe to rise in cOunri
the presence of other chiefs
M OF officers of the army, AM
suse his agent. then present. o
aese or similar dishonest prac
ses. IL it tn be wondered ut thai
e position Of trader among thu
aaians ia greatly sought after hA
sh determined to become rich
~ not particular as to the man
r"l doing SD? Or. is it to won
sIed ut that army officers. wh'
y often mad aware of injustice
ae The Indian yet are are pow
tssto prevent it. and who trace
ANY "f our Il fhcuities with thu
uahs In these causes. shOul,
~ The abolishment OF II syt"n
"ich las proven itself so fruitfl
rauu and dishonest dealing t.
1I those whose interests j
sn "a'd ~ their duty to protect.-
H. a. q. Custar, In March Gal