The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-02

The prevalent idea that tss Indian race
is gradually becoming extinct IS erroneous.
according 20 the observation OK Agent ID.
c. CToyan. 81 she Tulas.p Indian agency
''oa the contrsry." ne said at the Ste
vens hotel last night. .there IS an increase
in the Indian population. The men and
women. as they become educated and mix
with whites. are becoming better physi-
ea,ly as well as mentally. Deaths occur
only among the very aged, ana those, aha
type of the pioneer Indian, are dying out.
The younger generation fna q distinct
heneit in this depletion OF the old. super
siitious, haciSs.iding Indians, anu thu
sooner they disappear with their super
elitions the better. They are 40 opposed
10 education that they make all sorts Of
excuses 20 keep their children from at
tending school. With soma families IL -
necessary for a policeman 70 so 20 the
houses and carry the children 70 their
lessons
Mr.. Govan is an interesting personality.
He was the general officer in the South
ern army whose command was captured
In 1854 by Judge Langley, then a colonel
commanding a brigade. In the fan of 1894
the'two men met in the West and had =
friendly talk over their former differences.
As agent Mr.. Govan was appointed in
July. 1884. His presence In the city at this
time is due to the fact that he is making
the rounds Of the FIVE reservations con-
trolied by the agency. 10 make quarterly
payment OF salaries and see 20 the salts
faction of bills. Ills headquarters are at
TulaiIp where the central agency Is To-
Gated. The others are the Lummi. Muckle-
shoot. SwinoTnish and Madison. The last
is the smallest and poorest % the lot. It
was the former home OF Chief Seattle and
there his body now lies buried. The In
dIans live by clam digging. being unable
from the nature of the ground 10 sue>ist
by farming. The lsst yearly census. taken
In October, showed a population in the
Ave reservations Of between l. 400 and l.s0e.
The largest is Tulalip with $50. II Is peo-
Piled by mixed tribe from the Snohom-
ish. Skagit and Stilla guamish rivers. A
government contract school is run there
by Catholics. They teach. board and
clothe the students at 50 a month.
Lummi comes next in numbers and inn
portance with SO Indians and day
school. Swinomish and Muckleshoot fol-
low. with Madison at the rear.
Some of the Indians reach great age"
said Mr. Govan. There are over a score
whose ages must be between 50 and %
years. The oldest couple was 8 scanned
and bent man and wife. lie died last
summer and the woman ten DAYS age
To Judge from appearances they were more
than centenarians Like most Indians OF
the old school they did not know their
ages. They would refer back to the
treaty OF 1856 and give You some idea OF
their age az that time. Then you could
figure out for yourself These old In
dams are wen cared for. The govern
ment issues $500 or $40 year to buy them
-four, sugar and coffee. TO be issued at the
discretion OF the agent, and generally their
own people house and clothe them.
'eThere is seldom the slightest trouble
with the Indians. They are peaceable.
except when drinking They have their
own courts. with Indian judges and police
men. Court Is held twice a month. thu
charges being chiefly drunkenness. Dur
ing the two years ] have spent In the
agency I have never known an Indian 70
he accused OF theft. They are remark
ably honest and that with every oppor-
tunity 70 steal If they wished. But they
will drink. and then they are fined and
made 10 work on the roads. n is useless
now to attempt holding the white dealers
from whom Indians purchase whisky.
Judge Hanford's decision that since the
act OF 1887 granting rights OF citizenship
TO Indians. they cannot be withheld from
buying and drinking intoxlcants II they
desire. may be good thing in law. but
bad fer the Indiana
Indian morality r. higher than gener-
ally supposed. In their relation toward
women the men are no worse than whites
would be under the same surrounding con-
drttons. As parents Gney are kind being
pie COMES the chief obstacle 90 the eduoa-
ton of the younger ones. Speaking Of
the family, there 10 a curious superstition
that 90 have twins fs a disgrace and an 81
omen. A woman gave Htrth TO twins the
ether day and heard one OF the native po-
Iieeoaen express great consempf for her.
In former times mother OF twins would
have been driven from her people and
made an outcRst. One case is known OF a
woman being killed by her trrbe
There 70 great Improvement IN the
homes and personal appearance Of the
young Indians, fsft the Old ones cannot be
moved from fhe ways OF their forefathers.
The chief industry o, tho women fl the
knitting OF wooden socks. They speni
most 81 their leisure time ~ this The
cocks arc in great demand among loggsrs.
Another Gang running contrary 20 pop
u.ar opinion s. found in the use Of TO
bacco. The iSsbft Is far from prevalent
among the cider Indians. who the young
ones 's41o have been brought IN contact
w1th white men, both chew and snoka.s