estimated to be five hundred and fifty acres; of this one hundred and fifty acres were planted in wheat. The seed, however, did not arrive in time, and it was not until the 20th of April that it was sown. The wheat crop was consequently a failure. Thirty acres were put in oats, forty acres in peas, sixty acres in potatoes, and eight acres in turnips. The oat crop is comparatively good, yielding forty bushels to the acre. Potatoes and peas do well. A great source of trouble has been the difficulty of preventing the Indians from digging up the root vegetables before maturity. The entire potatoe field has been rooted up, and most of the potatoes stolen. In this way but a partial crop is obtained, and what is thus taken is wasted with the usual improvidence of the Indians.

Agent R. B. Metcalfe took charge of this reservation on the 20th of August, 1856. It was not until December, however, that he was located on the ground. No work was done prior to the 1st of January, 1857. The rain commenced on the 25th of November, and continued, with an intermission of only eighteen days, till the latter part of March following. On this account great difficulties and hardships were experienced, and but for the extraordinary firmness and energy of Agent Metcalfe the Indians would have abandoned the reservation. I consider that great credit is due to him for the manner in which he preserved order among these wild and warlike tribes under so many disadvantageous circumstances; and it is a matter of surprise how they ever got through the winter. When Mr. Metcalfe reached the reservation there were neither tents nor buildings of any kind upon it. There was no provision to support the large bands of Indians soon after congregated there. Dense floods of rain were pouring down day after day without cessation. The whole country was deluged with water. The Indians, naturally averse to being taken away from their homes, not knowing what was going to be done with them, strangers to the arts of civilization, disappointed in the fulfillment of nearly all the treaty stipulations, and suffering from cold and partial starvation, were in a disaffected and dangerous condition. To add to these sources of trouble, a schooner laden with a cargo of flour was wrecked on the 9th of December at the mouth of the Siletz river. In this was centered all their hopes of relief. The flour was packed ashore and carried up on the beach, thirty feet above high water mark. It was piled up there ready to be carried to the reservation, which they were in the act of commencing, when another storm arose, and drove up the waters of the ocean to such a height that nearly the whole amount saved from the wreck was washed away, and lost. In this way fifty-five thousand pounds of flour, one ton of potatoes, and other substantial stores for winter use, were destroyed at this inopportune crisis.

The mouth of the Siletz is thirty miles north of the Yaquima bay and five miles south of the Salmon river station, where most of the Indians were at that time located. There were no houses for purposes of storage north of Yaquima, and no shelter for the Indians against the inclemency of the season.

In a state of great destitution they were promptly moved down to the Yukima, where a cargo of flour had previously arrived. This

they rapidly consumed, having no other stores to supply the cravings of hunger. To prevent absolute starvation, the agent in the meantime contracted for a supply at the King's valley mills, distant thirty miles over the mountains. It was impossible to deliver it by means of wagons, and even for pack mules the mountains were then impassable. On the summits there was from two to four feet of snow. Bands of the strongest and most reliable of the Indians were engaged to cross the mountains and pack this flour to the reservation, which they succeeded in doing often the most incredible hardships. They packed upon their backs in this way twenty thousand pounds of flour. Having no funds to pay for this timely supply, the agent had to make such terms as he could, and the prices charged were, of course, very much beyond the cash rates.

On the 7th of April another cargo of flour reached the Yaquima. What had been received from King's valley was consumed, and by this last arrival it was hoped that further suffering would be prevented; upon examination, however, it was found that the supposed flour was an inferior article of shorts and sweeps ground over, and, of course, only fit for cattle. The contract was for a good article of fine flour, to be delivered at ten cents per pound, or twenty dollars per barrel, a price sufficiently high to insure the delivery of the best quality. Flour at Portland was then worth about eight dollars a barrel. Allowing two dollars a barrel for transportation, it will be seen that even if good flour had been delivered, its cost to the government would have been exactly double its market value. But to deliver ground shorts and sweeps at this rate was a fraud of the most palpable and enormous character. The agent, however, had no choice but to receive it. The Indians were in a state of starvation. In a few days more they would have been driven by the laws of self-preservation to abandon the reservation and seek relief by attacking the settlements. The flour was taken, with a protest against the fraud. Notice was given to the contractor that no more such flour could be received. Relying upon his promise that the next shipment would be of the quality provided for in the contract, the cargo of April 1st was carried up to the agency where it was dealt out under the regulations as long as it lasted; but owing to its inferior quality it made many of the Indians sick. They got the idea that the whites had poisoned it, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the agent pacified them. He ate freely of the flour himself in their presence, and they saw that all the white employés used the same article. This shipment amounted to twenty-seven thousand pounds. On the 29th of April a cargo of thirty-one thousand pounds arrived. This was even worse than the other; but the agent was unable to reject it, having no provisions on hand or any means of obtaining a supply. It is not reasonable to suppose that such a thing could have occurred at any time by accident, or without the knowledge of the contractor; but admitting the possibility of his being ignorant of the quality of the first cargo, the fact that the second was still worse is conclusive evidence of willful fraud; such a fraud, too, as, under the circumstances, must be regarded as evincing cruelty as well as avarice, and is deserving of the se verest penalties of the law. On the 26th of May a third cargo of

the sort arrived, amounting to forty-eight thousand three hundred and ninety-four pounds. This last was nothing but the poorest kind of mill sweeps, worth about two cents per pound. In the meantime every effort has been made to procure supplies from other sources; but government credit, through the non-fulfillment of the promises of its agents, had become so depreciated no person could be found to trust to the remote chances of getting paid. This cargo was also received.

On the occasion of my visit to the reservation, I went down to the Yaquima to inspect the last cargo, viz: of September twenty-third, (under a new contract,) which had just arrived. In the presence of General Lane and the agent, I made an examination of each sack as it was delivered at the warehouse, and found more than half of it to consist of shorts and sweeps, and the remainder a poor quality of flour, worth about five dollars a barrel in Portland. Under these circumstances, I recommended that it should not be received on the contract, but be permitted to lie there at the risk of the contractor until taken away. Also, that no payment should be made out of funds remitted by the department for any of the bad flour received. This recommendation I made both to the superintendent and agent. My opinion is, that upon a suit against them by the contractor, it can be shown that there was an absolute breach of contract, and that no jury of common honesty would award more than the actual value of the article furnished. Subsequently, I saw the contractor at Portland, and notified him of my action in the premises, as also of the apparent breach of faith upon his part. He manifested every disposition to do what was right; stated that he had been grossly swindled by the owners of the mill, (ex-Governor Abernethy & Co.,) where he had purchased the flour; that he was aware some of it was bad, but had only examined a few sacks on board the schooner, and did not suppose the average was of that quality. He professed, however, that a fair arbitration of the value would be entirely satisfactory to him, and whatever it was found to be worth he was willing to abide by. This I communicated verbally to the superintendent, recommending that the proposed valuation should be made, but that no payment should take place without advices from the department.

From what I can ascertain relative to the loss of the cargo at the mouth of the Siletz, a question will no doubt arise as to the liability of the contractors. They were bound to deliver the flour, but, by agreement with the agent, it was to be landed at the Siletz river, which was the most convenient point at that time to the main body of the Indians. The issue will be made as to whether it was not in the hands of the government as soon as it was taken ashore from the vessel. The agent, however, contends that it was saved by the Indians, and that he had not actually received it. My own opinion is, that, although not formally delivered, the flour was safely landed; and that the subsequent loss might have been avoided had it been carried further back from the beach. It was not the fault of the contractor that this was not done; hence, I presume, the loss must fall upon the government. If such be the case, care should be taken in future that no supplies shall be considered delivered until formally receipted for by

the agent, or some person duly authorized to sign the certificate of delivery.

The buildings on this reservation consist of the following: one office and storehouse, built of hewn logs with bed rooms attached; used by the agent, clerk and other employés as a dwelling. One large warehouse, with bed rooms, one issue house, one cook and messhouse for employés; one blacksmith shop, one school house; one slaughter house, one stable, one large barn; one hospital, one warehouse at upper depot on coast; a few shanties for fishermen at the mouth of Yaquima bay; twenty-seven Indian board houses; and timbers and boards ready for thirty more, which will probably be completed in a month. The houses of the agency are all built of substantial hewn logs neatly put together, and with good shingle roofs. They were built partly by the employés and partly by the temporary aid of mechanics hired at $5 per day and boarded. As they were put up chiefly during the rainy season, when constant work could not be done, it is difficult to estimate their cost, sometimes the regular workmen on the reservation were otherwise employed, and sometimes the temporary aid was larger than at others, so that the expense continually varied. All the employés, temporary and permanent, are boarded at government expense. This, I believe, is contrary to a regulation established by the department in other cases; but I do not see how it could well be avoided on the Siletz. The position is so remote from the source of supply that it would be very difficult for the employés to procure their own rations. They could only do it at great expense and loss of time. Besides, constant temptation is presented to them in that way to use the Indian stores, to which most of them have occasional access. It has been found more economical on the whole to hire a man to cook for them and furnish them with the necessary rations out of the general stores. When boarded they are paid accordingly; but should they be required to board themselves their compensation must be increased. This, at least, will apply to men hired by the day. In reference to permanent employés, I have some doubt as to the propriety of their using the Indian stores. Their compensation, however, is notgreater than is usually paid in Oregon to intelligent workmen when boarded at the expense of the employer. A licensed store is kept on the reservation by Mr. Bledsoe, who sells clothing, sugar, coffee, tea, &c., to the Indians upon the certificates of the agent. These certificates are given to the Indians who are hired to work at a compensation of $30 per month. Good Indian woodsawyers earn from two to three dollars per day. Mr. Bledsoe appears to be a correct and honorable man, but the system is, in my opinion, one which might lead to great abuses. If the Indians work faithfully it is but fair that they should receive the full amount of what is promised them. Government is not so poor that it should keep a creditor upon each reservation to supply it with small stores for the payment of Indians. When it becomes necessary to distribute such stores they should be purchased for cash, and delivered at the discretion of the agent, who should have entire control of everything on the reservation.

Of stock, thirty-two oxen have been purchased, at an average of

about sixty dollars a pair. This is a fair price for ordinary teams. A large number will be required next year.

Some presents of horses have been given to the Rogue River chiefs, who complained that they had always been used to these animals, and would prefer them to anything else. This was done to pacify them, in consequence of the dissatisfaction produced by the taking away of their guns. About thirty horses have been purchased and distributed in this way. They are charged to the fund for restoring and maintaining peace.

Wa-Wa, or talk with the principal chiefs and headmen of the tribes on the Siletz reservation.

Having signified to Agent Metcalfe my desire to hear from the Indians themselves their views concerning the policy of the government towards them, he gave notice to the principal chiefs and headmen to that effect, and on the following day, September 21, a large concourse of the tribes assembled at the storehouse of the commissary, amongst whom were present, John, the Shasta chief; Joshua, the chief of Lower Rogue Rivers; Jackson, Lympy, and George, and other chiefs and headmen of the southern Oregon tribes.

The interpreter was directed to communicate to them as follows: In consequence of many conflicting statements which had reached the President in Washington, relative to the Indian tribes in Oregon, and their conduct both before and since the war, it was very difficult for him to determine what were the facts; and as his heart was good towards them, it pained him to learn that, after all he had done for their benefit, they still appeared to be dissatisfied. Now, although he had great confidence in the agents whom he appointed to live with them, and whom he paid to take care of them and teach them how to work like white people, in order that they might no longer suffer for the want of food and clothing, yet, as many people wrote to him that they were not contented and wanted to go to war again, he had thought it best to send an agent to talk with them and take down what they said in writing, in order that he might hear, as with his own ears, how they were disposed towards him, and why they were dissatisfied. The President was powerful and had nothing to fear from them. His heart was good towards them, and he wanted them to be satisfied and live at peace with him and all his people. If the agents did not treat them well, he desired to know it from their own mouths; but until he was satisfied that such was the case, they must obey the agents in all things, and look to them as their friends and teachers. Joshua. It is very good in the President to do this. We are glad to see a messenger from him come among us, that we may state our wants, and have our talk sent to him direct. I want to say for my people that we have not been dealt with in good faith. When we made the treaty, General Palmer told us we were to have a horse apiece; that we were to have nets to fish with; cooking utensils, sugar, coffee, &c., when we came on the reservation. That we were to have a mill to grind our wheat, and make lumber to build our houses; that we were to have everything we wanted for ten years;