Year: 1873

u Among the interesting articles il
the Gdlqsy for March, is paper from
General Custar, the brave cavalry
chief, on "Indian Agents and Traders
which will serve to throw some light
upon how Indian affairs are manag ed,
from which we make the following
extract:


The Indian has no means of know
ing how much in value or how many
presents of any particular kind the
government. the g 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 blythe GoVernmentare generally
those which would mostFplease an In
dams fancy. The Indian trader usu-
ally keeps goods of similar charac-
ter. The trader Is most generally q
particular friend of the agent, often
associated with him in business aud
in many instances holds his position
as trader at the instance of the agent.
They are always located near each
other. The trader is usually present
at the distribution of annuiles. If
the agent, instead OF distributing to
the Indians all the goods intended for
them by the Government, only dis
tributes 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 COM
plain little, express some disappoint-
Inent at the limited amount of pres
ents, and intimate that the Great
Father has dealt out the annuities
with sparing hand; but the agent
explains it by referring to some dep
relation which he knows the tribe has
been guilty OF in times past; or, if he
is not aware of any particular iistar-
ces of guilt, he charges them general
iy with having committed such acts,
knowing one can scarcely go amiss in
accusing tribe of occasionally slay-
ing a white man, and ends up his
charge by Informing them That the
g Great Father" learning of these lit
tie Irregularities in their conduct, and
being panied greatly theroat, felt COM
PEELED to reduce their allowance of
blankets, sugar, coffee, etc, when at
the same time the missing portion of
said allowance is safely secured in the
storehouse of the agent near by. Well,
but how can he enrich himself in this
manner? it may be asked. BY simply,
aud unseen by the Indians, transfer
ring the unissued portion of the an
nuities from his government store
house to the trading establishment of
his friend the trader. There the boxes
are unpacked and their contents are
spread out for barter with the Indians
The latter, in gratifying their wants.
are forced to purchase from the trader
at prices which are scores of times the
value of the article offered. l have
seen Indians dispose of buffalo robes
to traders, which were worth from
fifteen to twenty dollars each. and get
in return only ten 10 twenty cups OF
brown sugar, the entire value of
which did not exceed two or three
dollars. This is one OF the many wsys
agents aud traders have of amassing
sudden wealth. L, have known the
head chiefs of tribe TO rise in a
council. in the pI essence of other chiefs
and officers of the army, and accuse
his agent, then present, of these, and
similar dishonest practices. Is it to
be wondered at that the position of
trader among the Indians is greatly
sought after by men determined to
become rich, but not particular as 10
the manner of doing so? Or is it to
be wondered at that army officers,
who are often made aware of the in
Justice done the Indians, yet are pow
erless to prevent it, and who trace
many of our diffiaulties with the In
dians to these causes, should urge the
abolishment of system which has
proven itself so fruitful in fraud and
dishonest dealing towards those whose
interests it should be their duty to
protect.