stopped at once: it can be done. The scalp-dance should not be permitted; to dance it should be made a punishable offence. This would interfere with no natural right, but only with the wrongs of the human family. God never gave to any man the right, day after day, and night after night, for months, to dance around the scalp of his fellow-man. Last spring this was done at Kaposia, almost within sight and hearing of the capital of Minnesota; and it is being done now at Big Stone lake. It ought not to be borne with. If dancing this scalp-dance were made a penal offence, it would tend powerfully to stop the war parties. It is known that in most cases the taking of scalps is the great motive for killing their enemies. The cause of humanity demands this interference of our government. If we fail to put a stop to such savage customs, we fail of fulfilling the great objects which God and the best interests of the human family require of us.

Very truly, yours,

To Maj. N. MCLEAN,
Indian Sub-Agent.

S. R. RIGGS.

No. 18.

KAPOSIA, September 1, 1850.

DEAR SIR: Since the last annual report of this station, little has been done in the way of education.

The school under my care has averaged six-whole number enrolled, twenty.

The determination on the part of the Indians seems settled not to avail themselves of the means of education until certain difficulties between them and the government are settled.

I must say that I am of the opinion that the present effort to educate the Sioux is little better than a waste of time and money.

No system of education is of much importance to an Indian that does not embrace a knowledge of some useful occupation, and continued training to habits of industry.

I see no want of capacity on the part of Indian youths to acquire knowledge; but, on the contrary, they manifest an exceeding quickness of apprehension.

I am satisfied that, under the influence of judicious manual-labor schools, they may become an industrious, respectable community.

N. MCLEAN, Esq.,

Yours, truly,

Sub-Agent, St. Peter's.

S. M. COOK.

No. 19.

RED WING, August 29, 1850.

SIR: The following report of the Indian school at this station is repectfully submitted:

Since the 18th of July, when I commenced my labors here, above 40

children, of suitable age, have attended school more or less of the time. Of this number 17, viz: 12 boys and 5 girls, have been very regular in their attendance. The girls have been employed in the field during their late corn-gathering, which has been the cause of many of them being absent from school a part of the time.

Very great advancement could not be expected of them so soon, but I am happy to report that those who attend regularly are making commendable progress. At present, all are instructed in reading and spelling. The more advanced are also taught writing and vocal music.

I have made considerable effort to introduce regular school hours, and to secure punctual attendance, and have succeeded to some extent; perhaps as well as I ought to expect for the time employed. With habits of order and punctuality well established, which I shall endeavor by all means to secure, I see nothing to prevent the dear youth in my care from making rapid progress in acquiring knowledge. In intellectual capacity I do not consider the North American Indian inferior to the Anglo-Saxon J. W. HANCOCK, Teacher.

race.

N. MCLEAN, Esq.,

United States Indian Sub-Agent.

No. 20.

OAK GROVE, September 6, 1850.

DEAR SIR: It is with depression of spirit that we review our labors at this station during the past year.

During one third of the year the Indians have been absent from this village.

On account of the opposition of the Indians to education, (which increases just in proportion to the increase of the unexpended sum of money which is due them from our government,) and on account of the absence of apparent good resulting from our long continued efforts in this department of our labor, we have discontinued our Dakota school. We have, however, a small English school at the station, taught by Miss S. A. Wilson. The number of children in regular attendance is ten, four of which are our own; the other six are the children of our neighbors of mixed blood.

Ex

We have continued our efforts to teach the saving doctrines of Christianity, as we have had opportunity, but with very limited success. cept when the Indians have been absent from the station, we have held public religious services in the Dakota language every Sabbath forenoon, with a native attendance varying from two to twelve. The average attendance has been a small fraction less than seven.

Our afternoon services in English have also been continued through the year, and since December (with a few exceptions) we have held our meetings alternately at the station and at or near Fort Snelling. Two white males, who are in the employ of our government as Indian farmers, have been received into the communion of the church on the profession of their faith in Christ.

Early in the spring a few native women manifested a considerable con

rern for the salvation of their souls, and two or three who had never before attended came to our meetings. This fact, I suppose it was, excited anew the opposition of those who hate reform, and several of the chief men of the band in assembly resolved, "That, whereas the missionaries are possessing themselves of the money which is due us from the United States, (the $5,000,) if any of the natives attend the religious meetings of the missionaries, they shall be stripped of their clothes, whipped, and have their names struck off from the list of the band. Soon after this Occurrence two of those who had previously been in the habit of coming to us for religious instruction, as well as those who had lately commenced, forsook us. The native members of our church, however, are still constant in their attendance on the public means of grace, and appear to run with patience the Christian course, in the midst of many temptations and not a little physical as well as mental suffering for Christ's sake. He who carries the lambs in his bosom we trust has held them up.

On the whole, we have felt more disheartened in our labors for those miserable Indians during the past year than ever before; yet, although "hope has long been deferred," we do not entirely yield to despair. Our motto to-day is, "Faint, yet pursuing." It is an encouraging fact that they still abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors.

May a merciful Lord yet cause the light of religion and civilization to shine upon them, and quicken them to civil and religious life. Respectfully yours,

Maj. N. MCLEAN,

No. 21.

GIDEON H. POND.

TRAVERSE DES SIOUX, August 27, 1850. DEAR SIR: The last annual report of this station says, "No war has been among our Indians the past year." But about the time that was written, a party composed of Indians from this place and the Warpekute village, on Cannon river, when hunting near the head of the Des Moines, were attacked and 19 of them killed. By whom this was done, the Dacotas do not certainly know; but they think their father, the President, might ascertain if he wished, and punish the murderers: and they feel that he is under obligation to do this, since he does not allow them to take the tomahawk in their own hands. These Indians have not gone to war for the purpose of plunder, as some of their brethren sometimes do, and if protected they could easily be induced to live in peace.

The health of this neighborhood, during the past year, has been much

as common.

Since our last annual report there has been no spirituous liquor of consequence among the Indians here. Hence they have had no murders or senous feuds among themselves. Some of these red men feel much obliged to the government for preventing the traffic in intoxicating fluid, yet they think they see some inconsistency in their Father in this

* That is, they shall not share in the annuities.

that his white children may make, traffic in, and drink an article which his red children may not touch.

During the year under review, we have accomplished nothing in teaching letters. We cannot yet persuade the people to send their children to us for instruction. We frequently receive mails, and occasionally are able to give the Indians interesting information. We teach our own children, and thereby testify to our high sense of the value of knowledge. Some of the people feel that ours is the wise course, and long for the removal of the obstacles to the general dissemination of knowledge among themselves. But hitherto, although many have taken practically a stand in favor of education, no one has practically maintained it.

The main obstacles to education among these Indians are perhaps two: fear of the supernatural power of the medicine men, and the apprehension that their educators will manage to get the Dakota's money for their services. The former of these obstacles, though declining and destined to perish, is still of considerable strength, and will exert an influence for a long time to come, the training and circumstances of the Dakotas both tending to this result. The pecuniary difficulty is, I suppose, well understood. The speedy employment of the $5,000 annually of the Medawakanton Dakotas in the necessary accommodations for, and support of, a Boarding School, I suppose would remove it to the other side of the scale. The same arguments which influence the Indian against learning to read, are of avail in keeping him from learning anything else that pertains to civilization. But, notwithstanding, in teaching agriculture we have some encouragement. A number of the men are learning to plough. Indeed, some of them think themselves adepts in the work, though none of them are so. Some ploughed new land for themselves last spring, from which they are now gathering a good crop. The corn crop here this year is universally good. One family will put away more than fifty, and several as much as thirty bushels. This, though a small business, is at least five times as much as these same families made seven years ago.

Mazaxa, (the chief) with a few of his men, is preparing to enlarge his field this fall.

This station has a mill, furnished by the kindness of friends, which we hope to put into operation this fall. If the experiment succeeds, we will be able to exchange with the Indians meal for corn, on terms advantageous for them and fair for us. May we not hope that this will increase their interest in agriculture, and stimulate them to improve in it?

Allow me to state a principle or two to which we adhere in our dealings with the Indians: We strive by all fair means to teach them self reliance and self respect. We hold that beggary is always a disgrace, and commonly a crime, and uniformly discourage it so far as we can, whether addressed to ourselves or others. When a number of families have employed themselves in dancing, feasting, ball playing, and card playing, for days and weeks together, with the full knowledge that the consequence will be suffering from hunger, and at the end of the time come in a body, arrayed in arms, trinkets, vermillion and feathers, and ask us for food, we uniformly excuse ourselves from giving. When the needy, from necessity, come for assistance and for relief, we give it if we can. To give in the former case seems to us like conferring a favor on vice; to refuse it in the latter would be inhumanity. There arise, however, a great many cases in which it is hard to know what is expedient.

Indians are very fond of attending at the houses of their neighbors. when meals are expected. We endeavor to discourage their excessive attendance at these seasons. If we should indulge them in this, all our time and strength would be occupied with our tables, and every species of wholesome instruction be prevented. Firmness in the above respects often gives offence, but we esteem it necessary.

It has been our hope, by the introduction of the plough, and teaching the Indians to use it for themselves; by inducing them to build secure granaries, where the fruits of the field may be stored; by persuading and assisting them to erect better habitations and multiply somewhat their wants and comforts; by making them acquainted with books, especially with the Bible, and the plan of salvation through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ;-by offering these to the Indians, "without money and without price," we hope to make a revolution in their character and condition to make them wiser and better, and of course happier.

Many criticisms have been passed on our work; and of this we by no means complain. We only wish those who criticise can assist us by any suggestions their superior knowledge may enable them to make.

KAPOSIA, MINNESOTA TERRITORY, September 25, 1850.

SIR: As I have been under appointment as physician for a part of the Medawakantonwan Sioux during most of the year past, though I am not so at present, perhaps it is my duty to make a report as such, and I beg leave to submit the following:

I have endeavored to attend to all applications for medicines, for Sioux, who were needing medicine or medical assistance. When requested to do so, I have not only furnished medicine, but visited and prescribed for the sick, unless they were attended by the conjurers. When the sick have lacked suitable diet, as is often the case, and have informed us of the fact, my family has furnished that also. have also furnished medicine by the quantity for those residing at a distance, and given directions for using it.

No severe epidemic has prevailed among these Indians for a year past, but the children during the summer have suffered much from diarrhoea and dysentery, and teething, and a number of adults from the former disease; and except when the Indians are out of the neighborhood, on their hunts, the applications for medicine average two or three a day.

One old man died from the intemperate use of ardent spirits, and one, as you know, was killed by the Chippewas. All the other deaths which I can remember to have heard of among the people of this village, within a yea, are of some three or four small children, most of whom died last win