xviii INTRODUCTION. 



contagious diseases, intemperance, and wars, both amongst 

 themselves and with the whites. The steady and resistless 

 emigration of white men into the territories of the West, 

 restricts the Indians yearly to still narrower limits, and, 

 destroying the game, which in their normal state consti- 

 tuted their principal means of subsistence, reduces them 

 to a state of semi- starvation and desperation. The records 

 of every tribe tell the same story of their gradual de- 

 crease and probable extinction. 



The Indians of the United States are placed under 

 the management of the Indian Bureau, a branch of the 

 Interior Department of the Government, and are go- 

 verned by means of superintendents and agents especially 

 appointed for this purpose, the department being divided 

 into superintendences and agencies. 



There are fourteen superintendencies, viz. Washington, 

 California, Arizona, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, 

 Colorado, Idaho, Dakotah, Montana, Northern, Central, 

 and Southern ; whilst there are several independent 

 agencies. 



In California, Washington, and Oregon territories there 

 are about 50,000 Indians. 



Arizona and New Mexico contain a like number, 

 consisting principally of the Navajoes, Apaches, and Pueblo 

 Indians. 



Nevada, Utah, and Colorado contain about 35,000, 

 consisting of the different tribes of Utes 9 Shoshones or 

 Snake Indians, and Bannocks. 



Dakotah, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, the homes 

 of the Dakotah or Sioux, Black-feet, and Blood Indians, 

 contain about 70,000 of the most warlike and uncivilised 

 Indians of the Plains ; whilst the Indian territory which 

 is situated to the west of the State of Arkansas and be- 

 tween Texas and Kansas, contains about 70,000, con- 

 sisting principally of the semi- civilised tribes, including the 



