THE GEORGE CATLIN INDIAN GALLERY. 883 



CORRECTNESS OF THE TOTAL OF INDIAN POPULATION BY THE INDIAN 



OFFICE. 



The reservation system, occupancy of the entire country by whites, 

 many of the reservations lying in States, railroads, and quick methods 

 of obtaining and transmitting news, all aid the Indian Office in obtain- 

 ing a correct census of the tribes. The roaming bands of Indians are 

 few, and all are known, both as to hunting-grounds and numbers. It 

 is safe to say that the facilities for obtaining a correct census of our In- 

 dian population are at hand and are exercised ; the only danger being, 

 when left to local influences, exaggeration of numbers. 



