Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-02-26
THE INDIAN AGENTS AND THE
TRADERS.

/ 1ne Auulau uhS no means OF Know
| ing how much in value or how many
presents Of any particular kind, the
Government, the "Great Father" as
he terms it, has sent him. For knowl.
edge on this point he must accept the
statement of the agent. The goods
sent by the Government are generally
! those which would most please an In
dian's fancy. The Indian trader usu-
| ally keeps goods of a similar charac-
ter. The trader is most generally an
Intimate friend of the agent, often as
sociAted with him in business, and in
many instances holds his position OF
trader at the instance of the agent.
They are always located near to each
other. The trader is usually present
at the distribution of annuities. If
the agent, instead of distributing TO
the Indians all of The goods intended
for them by the Government, only
distributes one half and retains the
other half, who is to be the wiser? :?
Not the Indian, defrauded though he
may be, for he is ignorant of how
much is coming to him. The word of
the agent is his only guide. He may
complain q little, express some disap-
a. AAC AAlAllCu vi
presents. and intimate that the "Great
Father" has dealt cut the annuities
with sparing hand; but the agent
explains it by referring to some dep
relations which be knows the tribe
to have been guilty Of in times past
or If be is not aware of any particular
instance Of guilt, he charges them
generally with having committed
such acts, knowing one can scarcely
go amiss in accusing tribe of Occa-
sionally staying a white man. and
ends up his charge by informing them
that the Great Father learning of
these little irregularities in their con-
duct, and being panied greatly there
at, felt compelled to reduce their al
lOWance Of blankets, sugar, coffee, etc;
when al the same time the missing
portion of said allowance is safely Sc
cured in the stOrehouse of the agent
near by. Well, but how can he enrich
himself in this manner? it may be
asked. By simply. and unseen by the
Indians, transferring the unissued
PARTON of the annuities from his gov
ernment storehOuse to the trading e.
tablishment of his friend the trader.
There the boxes are unpacked and
their contents spread out for barter
with the Indians. The latter, in graf
flying their wants, are forced TO pur-
chase from the trader at prices which
are scores of times the value of the
article offered. have seen Indians
dispose of buffalo robes to traders,
which were worth from fifteen to
twenty dollars each, and get in return
only ten to twenty cups of brown su-
gar, the entire value of which did not
exceed two or three dollars. This is
one of the many ways the agents and
traders hare of amassing sudden
wealth. L have known the head chiefs
OF tribe to rise in q council in the
presence of other chiefs and of officers
of the army, and accuse his agent,
then present, of these or similar dis
honest practices. Is it to be wondered
at that the position of trader amoIg
the Indians is greatly sought after by
men determined to become rich, but
not particular as to the manner of do
log so? Or is il to be wondered at
that army officers, who are often made
aware of the injustice done the Indian
yet are poweTless to prevent it, and
who trace many of our difficulties with
the Indians 10 these causes, should
urge the abOlishment of q system
which has proven itself so fruitful in
fraud and dishonest dealing toward
those whose interests it should be their
duty to protect.-'.Life on the Plains,
By General q. a. Custer, IN March
GALAXY.