The New York herald., 1874-10-31
Surrender Of COmanche, kiOwa
and Yamperlca Lodges.
THE WAR NEARLY CRUSHED.
The Fighting Savases Weakened
and Dem0ralized.
Evils of the System Of Indian
Government.
wAsHrTA AGENCY.

:
came here rom Fort Snl to commence proper
examination into the rumored mismanagemen1
and unfarness carried on IN the distributor o
government rations TO the Indians by those IN
charge at their agencies, their subordlnates ana
the contractors. IL is, perhaps. needless TO say
tnat frequent ano serious charges are made IN
volvlng the honesty aud hdellty OF those TO whom
Is assigned the feeding and clothug OF the In
dams l found the soldiers IN quarters quietly
resting Tor the day, the lively tones OF the banjo
and violin mingled with the harmonious voices Of
the negroes In chorus and at the agency as
passed by bended heads OF Indian children were
lust perceptiole through the windows, engaged in
evening prayer at the scaoolroom.
proceeded at once the next morning, with the
courtesy oil Lieutenant Pratt, Tenth United States
cavalry twno favored me with mis- escort and that
or some scouts as well an In terpreter) to the
camps OF the s1iliaied bands OF Indians. composed
OF the Pawnees, Comanches Penetetnka),
washitas, Towaconies, Kecnies and Wacoes, the
Dclawares, Caddoes and t3nies not being far dis
tant from them. The Journey was about two
hours ride, and We reached their camps little
after MONDAY, pass,ne on the way some little
farm patches ana cora fells, cultivated by the
Indian. We also passed through M st admir-
ably constructed village Of matched huts or Wig
vans, put up by the women OF the affiliated bands,
and made OF prairie grass, tied IN punches and
woven in layers, upon lofty lodge poles conyerging
somewhat in the form OF Slbey tent They
were models OF compile eteness and mechanical
Skill and evidence IN their neat ness. compact
and comfortable looks OF the natural skin,
foresight ana thoughtluiness OF woman and her
improving hand. Lodges OF the encampment an
nounced that we were TO be the spectators OF
grand war dance, at which all the "oeQesn and
female Indian celebrities We're to 90 their best to
honor
THE SUPPLIES GIVEN THE LODGES.
After this savage ceremony was over, the busl-
ness of the hour which brought me here could be
attended TO- wanted TO learn exactly what ra-
tions the Indians received and whether they were
up ~ the standard prescribed oy the government
an quantity and quality. Fortunately for me 1t
was .'ratlonn day and i could meet and examine
many OF the Indians Just as they came into camp
from the agency with their ratlons In parcels, as
they received them. The rest OF them visited in
the r lodges, here and there getting an accurate
statement ana seeing or myself just what was
given them. give the results in detail OF num-
ber OF the many cases investigated lodge is
supposed TO average representation OF five per-
sons, aud every one Is good eater
Wid1ehos. a Towaconie, exhibited for lodges
about so lbs. of meat, TO last one week. or say So
persons.
Sa -ho-ta- hisn, Pawnee, exhibited for Is people
as weeks ratlons lbs. sugar, Ia lbs. coffee, no
cour.
waet-na, Kech, exhibited for people lbs Of
sugar, y lb coffee, IS lbs meat, no nour.
As-quItz, Kecni woman, exhibited for peo-
pie v Id. coffee, x ID. sugar, no four and about S5
lbs. OF meat.
Nul-la-qaitz, a Washlta, exhibited for II persons
IL lbs sugar. q TO- coffee. IL lbs. meat, nour.
Oua-ha-dea, chiel OF the wIchltas, says that for
his people be only gets beeves weekly; tnat the
weekly meat ration only lasts two days. lie estl-
mates the number OF his men, women and children
at 300.
Chaus, wsshita, exhibited for IL people Il lb.
salt. los sugar, about 60 los. beef no hour, no
coffee.
Spotted Horse. one OF the chiefs OF the Pawnces,
In the presence OF his brother chief uhere being
two In the tribe exhibited Tor 10 persons as
weekly rations los. sugar, lb. coffee, no hour, l
ID. salt and ouly enough to last two days, be-
yond which none OF the other ratlons usually
lasted. He has had only sacks OF -four for iour
weeks. The sack weighs 100 lbs.
Wah.a-lupe, one OF the CHEFS OF the Caddoes told
me IN the presence OF Agent Richards that the
weekly rations were eDtirely insufficient, even
with close economy, to last the term for which
taey were intended.
Comancae Mary, who is the purveyor OF a band
acknowledging her as SneT Go-called Queen. says
beyond two days.
Many more wnom have seeu and whose state
ments nave give hike repor-s OF their scanty al
lowances. but these VIII sunice Tor the present,
when add that, making due allowance for the In
dams disposition TO growl and ind ault. there Is
a general ami strong dissatisfaction among the
tribes, and indeed, great ground Tor It, on account
OF the way in which they are dealt with by the
agents. The Indian Is no TOOL but a very close
reasoning cunning, sensible man. and knows his
rights Who, then, is accountable for this and is
there not a real cause that the Indian should be-
come insubordinate and disanectedS
scASTY RATIoss
proceeded to call on Mr.. Richards the agent
here whom found at the cattle pen, overlooking
some issues OF beef which are given out by weight
at issue, but estimated according TO the number
of animals and their size. TINS Will account, in a
measure, for the scant weight OF the meat in the
weekly rations. From Mr.. Richards learned and
noted down that the following is the government
allowance or ra ion, oy reference to whlcn aud
comparison with wnat CLEANED from the Indians
themselves az tseir camps, great disparity ard
lnsuficlency WIN be discovered 10 exist, II the full
quantities are 10 ye given TO the Indians as pre-
scriDed BY law. The legal allowances are:-
Ia lbs. iresh beeI daiy, less Tour days IN each
month or eacn person.
Y Id. bacon on those four days or an equivalent
IN lard tine latter not authorized IN mstructious)
y ~. nour daily Tor eacn person.
lbs. coffee daily Tor each 400 rations.
lbs. sugar daily Tor eacn loo rations.
u ~. salt daily ior each 100 raJions.
10. tobacco daiy Tor eacn 100 ratlons
Mr.. Richards himself says that he Is o. tne opln.
Ton tnat the present full ration Is not enough Tor
the Indian ana that II should be Increased lt ap-
pears tnat nour ali has been issued TO The In
ulans slnce the lst oi september ana tpls Mr.
Richards Acknowledged 10 me, explaining ls ia
thls wise that "the contract had been given to
a new man IN Kansas; that the usuai custom
Oi forwarding the Rour rlgnt along nau not Ueen
observed BY him, tut that he awaited the special
Jequlsitlon oi the agent This Mr.. Richards DID
lot know anything about untlt recently, wnen he
asked the heighter Tor the contractor why the
-four did not arrive at the agency when ne was
asked u ne mao MADE any requisiton, 10 winch ne
replied, NO, as ne dla not know 1t was neces-
cary He SAYS that he proceeded al once TO
remedy the EVIL.
SILLY POLICY
In the meantime the Indians nave suffered and
had no nOur. But 70 ayOid suCh an event tne gov
crnmeIt should not-nor should US agents Qor