Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-18
WICHITA AGENCY WARBLINCS

WICHITA AGENCY, |. T., Sept. IS.
To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Like the chief city of Kansas. this
agency takes its name from the WITCH.
ita Indians. Ii is situated seventy
miles from the Texas line aud is the
agency for ten different tribes of In
dams, namely: The Wichita, Co
manche, Apache, Kiowa, Waco, To
waconie, Keechi, Caddo, Delaware
and Penetethka. AL of these tribes,
save The kiowas, Comanches and
Apaches, are what might be termed a
self-supporting people. They live in
houses, till the soil aud dress in citi-
zens clothes. The tribe after which
the city of Wichita takes her name is
much farther in advance in this re-
spect than the other tribes, and some
of the finest fields of corn outside
of the Arkansas Valley is
yearly grown by them. 1t
is estimated that this tribe, which
numbers less that one hundred male
persons, has over one thousand acres
of corn this year, which will yield
fifty bushels to the acre. This speaks
well for the Indians Under the pres
eat administration the government
raiions TO the Wichita, Caddo and
Delaware tribes have been discontin-
ued and now they are wholly depend
dent upon their own resources. Their
reservation contains some very rich
land and there is no excuse for them
not fattening from its products. A
new school building has just been COM
pleted for the use of the Wichitas and
they now have eighiy-five children in
il. The Wichita tribe and affiliated
bands are in u prosperous condition
and are in every way trying to live in
conformity with the ways of the
whites. But, oh, we pause for a
breath, when we note the contrast be-
tween their state and that of the
Kiowas, Comsnches and Apaches.
These last three named tribes are still
cliDging 10 the gee-string and blanket,
and il an acre of grain has ever been
raised by them, no one mas ever heard
of it. Drawing weekly from the goy-
eminent l20 head of bceyes, besides
-four, coffee, sugar, etc, they live in
idleness aud indulge in the same bar
barous customs as practiced years ago.
Their chief occupations are dancing,
feasting and gambling, The latter be-
ing a game called monte. At all hours
of both day and night they
can be seen at this favorite game
and the ante varies from two bits TO a
herd of ponies. In many cases where
buck loses his property his squaw
is resorted to as his wager. The
Comanches, Apaches an Kiowas seem
10 have no disposition to advance
themselves in any direction, unless it
be contrary TO that of civilization.
The latter tribe just completed their
medicine dance fifteen miles from the 4
Agency. With them this ceremany
has always been a great occasion and
their most important cere-
mony, they believing it absolutely
necessary fer the preservation OF their
health and success in their undertak-
ings at war, etc. The dance usually
lasts from three TO six days, owing
TO the movement Of the spirit OF
the chief medicine man" as prompted
by superstition. Four bufaloes were
secured for their late dance and they
claim that the medicine was great
success. The buffaloes were brought
from western Texas where the Indians
had much difficulty in getting them,
owing to the scarcity of the animal.
This agency is now in charge of a
Democratic sgent, it having Just been
TO j. l.. Hall, appointed
from Texas, vice p. b. Hunt, resigned. {.
CHEYENNE.