194 CALENDAR HISTORY OF THE KIOWA [etii. akn. 17 



past ott'enses, tlio possession of the ureater portion of tbeir stolen property, anil full 

 restoration to the rights and privileges of the plains Indians in general. But the 

 promises of future good conduct will he utterly worthless, and, these terms granted, 

 there will he every prosjieet of a renewal of their depredations as soon as the early 

 grass recuperates their stock and they find themselves able to subsist on the prairies. 



The present position of the Kiowas may not he exactly one of open hostility, but 

 it is certainly nothing less than the most offensive insubordination. Their agent 

 for the past three years, a sincere member of the Society of Friends, a man who has 

 proved himself eminently fitted for the place, di'clarcs this tribe uncontrollable, 

 and states his belief that nothing less than military authority, with perhaps some 

 punishment by troops, will bring them into sucli sulijection as to again render the 

 services of a civil agent of benefit to them. 



The Kiowas have no shadow of excuse for their conduct. For three years they 

 have received their annuity goods, of proper quantity and quality; have drawn 

 their rations regularly until their action last spriug compelled their agent to refuse 

 them; and in no way have they received any injury from the government troops or 

 agents. The arrest of two of their chiefs under due jirocess of law, with their 

 subsequent trial and conviction in the state of Texas, must not he forgotten; but 

 the government at once interceded and secured a commutation of their sentence, 

 and the Kiowas were informed that the fate of their chiefs depended on the future 

 action of the tribe. This can in no way be considered an excuse for them, uncivil- 

 ized as they are, and as a jiretext it but makes their conduct worse. 



It is not only recommended, but strongly urged, that the United States govern- 

 ment no longer receive their profler, but dictate to this tribe its own terms of 

 settlement, making sure guarantees of safety to the lives and jiroperty of its citizens 

 in the future. 



I recommend that the representatives of the Kiowas now in Washington lie told, 

 in the presence of the entire delegation, that the government proposes to dictate 

 its own terms to that tribe, and that they he the following: The entire tribe to 

 encamp before November 30 at some suitable point near Fort Sill (for instance, 

 Crawford's creek), where every movement can be watched by troops. All horses or 

 mules found iu their herds, undoubtedly taken from the government and from 

 private parties during the past two years, to be given up within the same time, and 

 the tril)i^ to make good from tln-ir other stoik any such animals fouud with other 

 tribes, by them obtained from the Kiowas — and tlie tribe to surrender to the proper 

 authorities, for trial l)y I'nited States courts, the three most prominent meu of those 

 engaged iu the greatest atrocities duriug the past year. Also, that they be told 

 that the recent conduct of the tril>e prevents all present hope of the release of their 

 two prisoner chiefs, and that the libei'ty of those and the others to be given up will 

 depend entirely upon future good behavior. Also, that no annuity goods whatever 

 be i.ssued to them for the present year, and that hunting parties be allowed to leave 

 camp only when accompanied by a proper detachment of troops. 



It is recommemled that the necessary arraugements be made at once to have a 

 sufficient body of troops iu readiness to enforce compliance with these terms. If 

 such a force is known Ijy the Indians to be prepared to move by the 20th of Novem- 

 ber, it is believed that the terms will be complied with on time. Otherwise the 

 movement should take place promptly on the 1st day of December, and uuder a 

 judicious officer the tribe can be reached and compelled to yield with very little 

 probability of an actuid conlliit. As elsewhere suggested, it would be desirable to 

 have a proper representative of the Indian oflice accomjiany the troojis. 



Should these recommendations be approved, it would be well also to notify them 

 that, having come or been forced into camp as proposed, they will be closely watched, 

 and any movement, great or small, not fully authorized by whoever has them iu 

 charge, will subject the movers to immediate attack. 



It is deemed especially important that the decision of the department as to the 

 course it will pursue toward the Kiowas be fully explained to them, and to the 



