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

In the March numbe Of the GALAXY
Gen. Custar 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 tho
Government, tho Great Father" a.
he terms it, has sent him. For
knowledge on this point he must ac.
ccpt the statement OF the agent. Tho
goods sent by the Government are
generally these which would most
please an Indians fancy. Tho In.
dian trader usually keeps goods OF
similar character. The trader Is
most frequently partic ular friend
OF tho agent, often associated with
him in business, ana in many Ia.
stances holds his position OF trader
at the inst4 nee OF the agent. They
are always located near each other.
The trader Is usually present ., tho
distribution OF annuities. Ii the
agent, Instead OF distributing TO the
Indians all OF the goods intend Cd tor
them by tho Government, only dis
tributes one halt and retains the
other halt, who is to be the wiser i?
Not the Indian. deirauasd though
he may be, for he is ignorant ef how
much is com ng to him. The word
OF the agent IS his only guide. IIo
may complain a little, express some
disappointment at the limited
amount OF presents, and intimate
that the Great Father" has dealt
out the annuitles with sparlng hand
but the agent explains it by re1er-
ring to rome depredations which he
knows the tribe " have been guilty
Of IA times past; or, if he is not
aware Of any particular instance OF
guilt, he charges them generally
with having committed suo, acts.
knowing ono can scarcely 20 amiss
in accusing tribe of occasionally
staying white man, and ends lup
his charge by informing them that the
Great Father, learning OF these lit.
tic itreyu arities in their conduct,
and being panied greatly thsreat, felt
% Alpellsd to reduce their allowance
OF blankets, sugar, coffee, stc., whom
at the same time the missing portion
OF said allowance is safely secured
in the store house OF the agent near
by. Well, but how can be enrich
himself in this manner /? it may be
asked. BY simply, aud unseen BY
the Indians, transferring the unls.
sued portion Of the annuitiss 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 sorcsd to purchase from the ira.
der at prices which are scores of
times the value OF the article offered.
/ have seen Indians dispose OF robes
to traders winch were worth from
fitlern to twenty dollars each, and
get ia 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 manv
ways agents aud traders have OF
amassinE sudden wealth. l have
known the head chist OF q tribe to
rise in council in the presence Of
other chiefs and of OIL csrs OF tho
army and accuse his agent, then pre-.
sent, Of these or similar dishonest
practl9es. 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 so? Or 10 it to be won.
derod At that army officers, who are
often made aware OF the injustice
done the Iu,lian, yet are powerlsss
to prevent il; aud who trace many of
our difficulties with the Indians to
these causes, should urge the abolish
msnt OF system 20 fruitful in fraud
and dishonest dealing toward those
whose interest 1t should DO their
duty to protect.
A forlorn wandsrer appeared st
| Rrid0nart Cam thA nthar dav ~