Year: 1873

the appropriations were so small and so
slowly remitted; so small, in fact, even
now, that it is impossible to carry on the
improvements stipulated in the treaty
to any degree of perfection. And then
the salaries behind, too. At this rate
an Indian Agent may be looked upon
as an underpaid and suffering rather
than q money-making individual. The
duties required of one are anything but
agreeable, the servant of, rather than
the master of his understanding to
every want from a gun-lock to baby's
shroud. An Indian likes or dislikes,
very much like any other ignorant and
narrow-minded person. Everybody
knows how much more difficult to deal
with is ignorance than intelligence.
Add bad propensities and savage ideas
to total lack of all valuable knowl
edge and you have the character of
many of the Indians with whom an
Agent has to deal. But the Govern
ment ignores the wrongs of its employees,
and in its surprising sympathy for the
Indian forgets to ''be just before being
generous" I am satisfied that the af-
fairs of the klamath Agency would
bear the strictest investigation, and
that the tales afloat concerning the
provocation given to Jack and his band
are both false and foolish. Having an
opportunity to observe the administra-
ton Of the present Agent, and being ac-
quainted with the man who formerly
managed affairs on the Reservation, I
feel competent to say that there was not
only no ground of complaint against
them, but that they seem to have acted
with singular manhood and good faith
towards the Indians and the Depart
ment. Yet in California, and even in
Oregon, the contrary opinion is reck-
lessly stated by people totally unin-
formed Of the facts in the case.


I did not set out to defend anybody;
that last paragraph slipped in unawares.
What meant to tell you of was the many
pleasant excursions enjoyed while
stopping at Klamath Agency-from go
ing to take notes of Jacks trial, to Wis
iting the wonderful Crater Lake. But
1 cannot tell you everything in one
number of your paper-I don't know
that want anybody to know the half ]
enjoyed on this summer voyage. Suf-
fee it for the present that to travel i'll
Eastern Oregon requires you to veal
stout shoes, a linen duster, dust-cap, an
immense hat; to carry field-glass and
a carbine; to know how to make hem
lock bed, or sleep on haystack, and to
talk jargon. With these accOutre-
ments and accomplishments, if you are
a good and indefatigable lider, you viii
get along.


NoTE.-Eastern Oregon is settled by
cattle-raisers, and for that purpose the
country is first best-and good for little
else than good beef, 6GtsG,r t6;itter snd cheese.


MORAL-If you are well enough oil; oil;
stay where you are. If you want to
raise cattle, and can find two or three
thousand acres of unclaimed land
with a splendid spring on it, and mag
nifieent pine grove adjoining, why, go
take it; there is nothing to hinder, ex-
eept, perhaps, capital to stock it.


+. F. V.


P. S. 1 had nearly forgotten the
postscript, the most important part of a
true woman's letter-aRd I wish to be
true womanly, of course. Twill just say
here that the only reason do not put
some real information about the coun-
try, ETC., into my letter, is because 1 do
not resemble Mark Twain, who cannot
help being sensible and wise when he
only means to be amusing. If 1 fail of
being either sensible or amusing, SO
much the worse for me. V.