INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 425 
In relation to this state of things, it will be perceived that some arrangements must be made 
between the two superintendencies, to prevent clashing in their government. The Wallah- 
Wallahs proper, and the other bands south of the Columbia and Snake rivers under the Yellow 
Serpent, may very well be separated from the Yakimas, as they already in fact, and together 
with the other two tribes, remain under the jurisdiction of Oregon. The three are intimately 
connected with one another. The Wallah-Wallahs and Nez Perces speak dialects of a common 
language, and the Cayuses have abandoned their own for that of the latter. They have greatly 
intermarried, their countries adjoin, and their separation would be almost as impossible as the 
division of the tribe itself. Their relations with the Oregon agency and people have, moreover, 
been of long standing, and will remain more intimate than with those of this Territory. Except 
the Bannaks and the Snakes, they form the only tribes falling within the eastern division of 
Oregon. 
Treaties should nevertheless be concluded with them at once on behalf of the citizens of both 
Territories, and in the mean time their subsequent jurisdiction be permanently fixed. 
The most judicious, and at the same time the most economical, mode of organizing the depart- 
ment, would probably be to divide the Territory into two districts, one on each side of the mount- 
ains, in both of which there should be a full agent. It should be his duty to visit in person, at 
least once in each year, every tribe in his district, pay the annuities, supervise the farmers or 
laborers employed to assist the Indians, and generally to act as the deputy of the superintendent. 
The agent should be authorized to employ an assistant or clerk, who should live with him, and 
during his absence on tours of inspection, manage the business of the office. When it is recol- 
lected that the Territory embraces eleven degrees of longitude by six in latitude, it will be obvious 
that the superintendent, especially when his duties are united with those of the executive, cannot 
give his personal attention to distant tribes, and that the most responsible duties must necessa- 
rily be discharged by subordinates. Their pay and position should be such as to secure men 
thoroughly qualified, both by character, ability, and familiarity with the Indians. The pay of a 
sub-agent, barely equal to the lowest wages of common labor, cannot be expected to secure the 
efficient service of any man in such a situation, much less of a competent one. As the agent him- 
self cannot personally supervise all the different tribes in learning the use of their tools, the proper 
arrangement of their crops, building fences, &c., it is recommended, further, that the superintend- 
ent, under the sanction of the department, be authorized to allow the pay of a sub-agent to not 
more than one person for each principal tribe of Indians who shall settle among them, and under 
his direction, or that of the agent, assist in teaching them. Should this, however, not be deemed 
advisable, the agent should be allowed to hire for at least three months during each of the first two 
years after the ratification of the treaty, a person suitable for the task. 
Their own cattle would, among the eastern tribes, suffice for their wants in breaking up their 
land, and doing the requisite hauling. In the western agency the work would require to be done 
chiefly by hand, as the wooded country of the coast does not afford sufficient range, and the In- 
dians have but few horses, and no cattle. Another provision ought to be made for the protect- 
ion of their fields in that district. Settlers taking up lands adjoining the reserved grounds 
should be compelled to do half the fencing necessary to exclude their hogs and other stock, the 
Indians, under the direction of the agent, doing the remainder. As it is, they are exposed to the 
loss of their little provision, and government will probably be called upon to remunerate them 
for the damage. 
The location recommended for the eastern agency is the neighborhood of the old Chemakaine 
mission, which affords good land and timber, and is both central to the district and accessible to 
wagons from Wallah-Wallah or Fort Colville. For the western agency, some point on or near 
the southern end of Whidby’s island would probably be the most convenient. 
The Columbia river should be constituted a sub-agency, to have jurisdiction over the scattered 
bands of the Upper and Lower Chinooks, and those of the Klikatats who reside either in whole 
54f 
