INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY. 441 



making a total of five thousand six hundred dollars for the annual expense for keeping up the 

 agency, &c., which, in my judgment, is the smallest possible amount with which the agency can 

 be carried on. T have made the estimates the smallest possible, judging from what experience I 

 have had among the Indians in this valley. With regard to the remaining items referred to in 

 your letter, I will report in my next communication, as there are points which need more consid 

 eration than I have as yet had time to devote to them. 



Truly, your obedient servant, 



J. MULLAN, 

 Lieutenant U. S. Army. 

 Governor I. I. STEVENS, 



In Command of N. P. Railroad Survey, &fc. 



It seems to me that the supply for the agency in this valley might be supplied by steamboat 

 navigation up the Missouri to Fort Benton, thence across the mountains to this point. I will be 

 able, however, to report more in detail on this point on my return from Fort Benton. 



J. MULLAN. 



41. REPORTS OF MR. JAMES DOTY ON THE INDIAN TRIBES OF THE BLACKFOOT NATION. 



FORT BENTON, December 28, 1853. 



DEAR SIR : Enclosed you have additional receipts, omitted to be sent by Mr. Tinkham, for 

 quartermaster s property in my hands. 



As requested in your letter of October 3, 1853, I send herewith a report upon those particu 

 lars concerning the Blackfoot nation which you directed me to examine. It includes the plan 

 of a farm and list of agricultural instruments, and is accompanied by a rough draught of the 

 agency buildings deemed necessary. 



By the enclosed thermometrical register, since October 1st, you will perceive that we have 

 had no cold weather, no snow, and indeed no winter. Can the same be said of the entrance to 

 the South Pass ? 



We are passing the winter comfortably if not pleasantly. The men have conducted them- 

 elves in all respects in a praiseworthy manner. 



Rations will hold out tolerably well, with the exception of flour and coffee. In case an express 

 is sent to this point, I would suggest that a pack-horse or two be also sent, loaded with ilour, 

 coffee, and beans. 



Early in this month I procured, without cost, about 1,000 pounds of fresh meat by sending 

 out pack-horses with the Indian hunters, so there is no danger of starvation. The oxen, horses, 

 and mules are in first-rate condition; many of them are fat. 



I am happy to inform you that the three horses reported to you as stolen have been returned ; 

 so that up to date not an animal in my charge has been lost. 



The recovery of these horses is worthy of notice, as indicating, in the Indians who returned 

 them, an honesty, and moral as well as physical courage, seldom seen among white men, and 

 never expected of Indians. 



On the 1st of November, six Pend d Oreille Indians came to this post and delivered up all 

 the horses that were stolen. It appears that they were taken by two young Pend d Oreilles, and 

 run to the Pend d Oreille camp, then hunting beyond the Muscle Shell, under the command of 

 the chief of that nation, &quot;Alexander.&quot; The horses were recognised by the stamps as belonging 

 to the whites, and the young men confessed having stolen them at this post. A council was held, 

 and it was determined that it was a great sin to steal horses from white men w r ho were friendly 

 to them; that the wishes of the &quot;Great Soldier Chief,&quot; who had been at the St. Mary s, were 

 known to them, and they had promised compliance with them ; that stealing these horses would 

 56/ 



