24 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 75 
ritory of Colorado as their reservation. In 1874, however, they relin- 
quished a portion of this land, the agreement being made between 
“Felix R. Brunot, a commissioner in behalf of the United States, 
and the chiefs and people of the Tabequache, Muache, Capote, Weemi- 
nuche, Yampa, Grand River, and Uintah, the confederated bands of 
the Ute Nation.’”’* The first-named band is now known as the Uncom- 
pahgre. A prominent chief of this period was known as Tabby. 
A valley in northeastern Utah, comprising the present Uinta and 
Ouray Agency, was assigned to the Uinta band of Utes by proclama- 
tion of the President in 1861.° There they were joined by the White 
River band in 1880, while the Uncompahgre and several other bands 
from the Colorado reservation agreed to settle on the La Plata River 
and on the Grand River near the mouth of the Gunnison. Thus a 
majority of the Ute tribe were divided into 10 parts, which became 
known, respectively, as the Northern and Southern Utes. 
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.—Very little is known of the social organiza- 
tion of the tribe. The writer was repeatedly informed by the oldest 
members of the tribe that the Utes had no societies, and that the only 
divisions of the tribe were bands, each led by a chief. 
THe NortHern Ures.—The present work concerns only the 
Northern Utes, living on the Uinta and Ouray Reservation in north- 
eastern Utah. In addition to the Uinta and White River bands, 
located there by agreement, a considerable number of Uncompahgre 
are enrolled at that agency. The Northern Utes have appeared in 
history chiefly through the journey away from the reservation, 
undertaken by the White River band. The land on the Uinta Res- 
ervation was allotted in severalty in the year 1905. The White River 
band objected to the restrictions this imposed upon them, and, 
failing in a protest, they decided to leave the reservation in a body. 
They started in the early summer of 1906 and went into Wyoming, 
apparently with the intention of going into the country of the Sioux. 
A diplomatic envoy, sent by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 
persuaded 45 of them to return. The remainder were finally escorted 
to Fort Meade, S. Dak., by United States troops. They went 
peacefully and were located on the Cheyenne River Reservation in 
South Dakota until June, 1908, when, at their own request, they were 
returned to the Uinta Reservation in Utah, reaching home in October 
of that year. Red Cap, one of the two chiefs who led this expedition 
away from the reservation, was living when the material comprised 
in this book was collected and lent his influence to the furtherance 
of the work. 
8 Indian Laws and Treaties, compiled by Charles Kappler, Vol. I, pp. 151-152. Washington, 1903. 
9 (Mentioned) ibid., p. 271. 
