The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-06-14
DAILY INTELLIGENCER.
Tuesday, June ii. 1881.
THE nAxAHs ANDQUILLEUrEs.

1eIe arc Two tIlDce 0Ducr the lu~
risdiction of this agency. tae Makahs
and the Quilleutes. the reserve set apart
for their use and occupation being the
extreme northwes. point Of this Terri
tory, and being mostly rough and
mountainous land entirely unsuitable
for cultivation. OF the tribes the Ma
kahs reside on the reserve. while the
Quill utes have never been obliged to
remove within Its limits. These PEG
pie live almost entirely by fishing and
seal-hunting, and are not incliued to
cultivate the ground.
The farm of the agency situated al
Hoo buck, on the sea shore, about
three miles fIom the agency buildings,
has been cultivated continuously since
1862, and was originally nothing more
than bed of sand, with thin layer of
soil. The ground is now nearly worth>
less for the purposes for which it has
been used. The crop of hay, potatoes,
turnips, &c will not even aggregate
that OF last year. although unusual
care has been taken IN every way TO
produce satisfactory results. An esti-
mate has been made and forW arded to
the Indian Office as to the cost of dix
ing and retaining portion of the
Wa-stch Prairie for nse as an agency
farm. Should it he considered advisa-
BILE TO undertake this work, q good
farm would without doubt be secured
for many years to come. During the
year / have cleared q patch of land
Htas nfn oh
ately in the rear Of the agency, which
is planted in potatoes. This, with the
garden patch, and the field and garden
patch at Neah Village, have been cul-
tivated by the boys Of the industrial
school, and good results are anticipated.
About the same number of acres have
been cared for by the Indians as last
year. the chances for money-making by
scale ,tching having kept some other
wise inclined to farm from doing so.
The run of fur-seal on the coast of
the Pacific during the spring and early
summer of this year was greater than
for many years past, and attracted
many vessels to engage in catching
them, which gave employment to all
tnO holC Va OOtA nC
season lasted from early in February
until the latter part June. aud it is es-
timated that about 500 1000 was thus
made and distributed among the two
tribes. Most of the Indians have q
small snm saved up for winters use
The schooners engaged in this trade
take from eight to sixteen canoes on
hoo III asnh cauna r,,or0ad ~, 4xr,o II
dams, and cruise on the sealing
grounds. coming into harbor only when
the weather is bad. their trips ranging
from two to eight days in length. The
vessel receives one-third and the In
dams two thirds Of the catch. On &C.
count of competition, the prices for fur
seal skins have ranged higher than
ever before here. much to the profit of
the Indians.
The industrial boariing-school, stu
ated at the agency, row numbers SO
scholars, having been increased by or
der of the Secretary of the Interior Oh
the LIST of April. At first there was
some difficulty III securing the number
OF new scholars. the parents Directing
10 letting their children leave home,
but they are now satisfied, and the
progress made by all in the school is
gratifying. A few trifling alterations
and additions made TO the school room
has given sufficient accommodations to
all. Parents of the scholars are often
visitors to the school. and care is taken
TO show them the advantages of placing
their children temporarily under the
charge OF the government, and it is
thought no further difficulty will be
had in keeping the school st its present
size. A new house for the accommo-
dalton of the boys has been built DUR
ing the year, the old quarters having
been found 10 be unsuited for the pur-
pose. The boys are now as we'll pros
vided for as the girls. Besides the
sleeping rooms this building contains q
large and comfortable reading and sit
ting room. and two rooms for the
use of the teachers. The Quilleutss
have asked that school be established
at their village $50 miles from the agen.
cyl, and are most anxious for it, and
recommend that their request be COM
piled With. If the appropriations will
admit. o
A new hospital building has been
put up during the year and is now about
ready for occupancy. This is n want
that has been severely felt in the past,
especially during last winter. which was
an extremely hard one. The govern
ment buildings generally have been
kent in rood rpDair on the appronria
tons allowed for that purpose. The
atmosphere is so damp at this point
that timbers easily ret, and constant
repairs are necessary. To show the
dsmpness OF this climate | will state in
this place that the rainfall during the
year, as reported by James G. Swan.
the volunteer observer of the Uuited
States Signal Service stationed here,
Was fl49l inches; mean barometer,
30.ll; mean temperature. 1920 Sew
eral new houses of modern style have
been built by the Indians at Neah Vii.
lage during the year for their own use
and occupation. and several more are
in contemplation.
During the year several marriages
have been performed by ne at the
agency. AMI 1t is gradually beceming q
rule with the Indians that such cere-
mony should be performed in addition
TO the one customary with the tribes. /
do not know of single case where any
member has more than one wife: some.
thing never before known with these
people.