The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1873-03-06
Indian Agents and Traders.

In the March number Of the GALAXY
Gen. Gustav relates his personal ex.
psriencs with Indian agents and
traders a. follows
The Indian has no means Of know
ing how much in value or how many
presents OF any particular kind the
Government, tho Great Father" az
he terms it, has sent him. For
knowledge on this point he must ac
cept the statement OF the agent. Tho
goods sent by tie Government are
generally these which would most
please an Indians fancy. The In
dian trader usually keeps goods OF
similar character. The trader Is
most frequently a partic ular friend
OF tho agent, often associated with
him in business, AMI in many Ia.
stances holds his position OF trader
at the insts OF the agent. They
are always located near each other.
The trader Is usually present ., tho
distribution OF annuities. 1t tho
agent, instead OF distributing 10 the
Indians all OF the goods intend Cd for
them by tho Government, only dis
tributes one halt and retains the
other halt, who is to be the wiser ?
Not the Indian. detraudsd though
he may be, for he is ignorant ef how
much is com ny to him. Tho word
OF the agent IS his only guide. IIo
may complain little, express some
disappointment at tho limited
amount OF presents, and intimate
that the Great Father" has dealt
out the annuitles with a sparlng hand
but the agent explains it by rercr-
ring to rome depreaations which lie
knows the tribe " have been guilty
Of Ia times past; or, il he is not
aware of any particular instance OF
guilt, he charges them generally
with having committed suo1 acts
knowing ono can scarcely go amies
in accusing tribe OF occasionally
staying a white man, and ends iup
his charge by informing them that the
Great Father, learning OF these lit.
tie itrs.u. arities in their conduct,
and being panied greatly thsreal, felt
90 4lpellsd to reduce their allowance
OF blankets, sugar, coffee, ate, whom
at the same time the missing portion
Of said allowance 10 safely secured
in the store house Of the agent near
by. Well, but how can be Zurich
himself in this manner :? it may be
asked. BY simply, aud unseen BY
the Indians, transferring the unls.
sued portion of the snnuiti.s from
his Government storohouss to the
trading establishment OF his friend
the trader. There the boxes are un.
packed and their ooutsnts spread
out tor barter With tho Indians
The latter, ia gratifying their wants,
are torcsd to purchase from the ira.
der at pricss which are scores OF
times the value OF the article offered.
I have seen Indians dispose OF robes
to traders which were worth from
fitiern to twenty dollars each, aud
get in return ten to twenty cups .ot
brown sugar, the entire value of
which did not exceed two or three
dollars. This 10 one OF the many
ways agents and traders have OF
amxssinG sudden wealth. l have
known the head chist OF tribe to
rise in council in the presence Of
other chiefs and of OH Gers OF tho
army and accuse his agent, then pre-.
sent, Of these or similar dishonest
practices. Il it to be wandered At
that the position Of trader among
The Indians il greatly sought after
by men determined to become rich,
but not particular ~ to the manner
OF doing 30 ? Or 10 it TO be won.
dered At that army officers, who are
often made aware OF the injustice
done tho Indian, yet are powerlsss
to prevent it; aud who trace many Of
our difficulties with the Indians to
these causes, should urge the abolish
msnt OF . system 90 fruitful in fraud
aud dishonest dealing toward th oso
whose interest It should DO their
duty to protect.
A forlorn wandsrer appeared 1t
Bridgpsrt Conn, the other day III
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