34 



Marsh at the request of Red Cloud, were of some old issue, or, like the specimens 

 of sugar and tobacco, had been damaged by exposure to the weather while in the 

 Indians' possession." 



Essentially the 'same statement was previously made to me 

 by Commissioner Smith, and this discouraged me from giving 

 him further information about mismanagement in Indian affairs. 



VII. Sugar and Coffee. 



The supplies of sugar and coffee at this Agency, I know com- 

 paratively little about. Red Cloud gave me a sample of each, 

 which he said were such as he was then using, and Red Dog 

 stated essentially the same thing. I saw both of these articles 

 issued to the Indians, Nov. 15, 1874, but only noticed the sugar 

 particularly. It was dark in color, moist, and of low grade. I 

 did not compare this directly with the sample Red Cloud had 

 given me, but I have no doubt the two were from the same lot, 

 and virtually of the same quality. The coffee I did not see in 

 bulk, but drank some of it as prepared at a feast in one of the 

 lodges. This was certainly very inferior coffee, and not unlike 

 such as I imagine Red Cloud's sample would make. 



VIII. Tobacco. 



The character of the tobacco furnished the Indians at this 

 Agency has been a matter of considerable discussion, and justly 

 so, as this article is regarded by the Indians as an important part 

 of their rations. Both Red Cloud and Red Dog complained on 

 this point at the first council I held with them, and one of the 

 samples Red Cloud gave me was a specimen of the tobacco he 

 was then using. This specimen attracted much attention among 

 the officers in our camp, and led us to observe the quality in use 

 among the Indians. All the tobacco we saw was vile stuff, dark 

 in color, and much of it was saturated with a dark viscous liquid. 

 I saw the tobacco issued to the Indians November 15th, but only 

 noticed that it was dark in color. I subsequently saw the tobacco 



