Reports of explorations and surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean: Vol. 1, Pt. 2

INDIAN TRIBES OF WASHINGTON TERRITORY.
In relation to this state of things, it will be perceived that some arrangements must be made
between the two superintendencies, to prevent clashing in their government. The WallahWallahs proper, and the other bands south of the Columbia and Snake rivers under the Yellow
Serpent, may very well be separated from the Yakimas, as they already in fact, and together
with the other two tribes, remain under the jurisdiction of Oregon. The three are intimately
connected with one another. The Wallah-Wallahs and Nez Perces speak dialects of a common
language, and the Cayuses Shave abandoned their own for that of the latter. They have greatly
intermarried, their countries adjoin, and their separation would be almost as impossible as the
division of the tribe itself. Their relations with the Oregon agency and people have, moreover,
been of long standing, and will remain more intimate than with those of this Territory. Except
the Bannaks and the Snakes, they form the only tribes falling within the eastern division of
Oregon.
Treaties should nevertheless be concluded with them at once on behalf of the citizens of both
Territories, and in the mean time their subsequent jurisdiction be permanently fixed.
The most judicious, and at the same time the most economical, mode of organizing the department, would probably be to divide the Territory into two districts, one on each side of the mountains, in both of which there should be a full agent. It should be his duty to visit in person, at
least once in each year, every tribe in his district, pay the annuities, supervise the farmers or
laborers employed to assist the Indians, and generally to act as the deputy of the superintendent.
The agent should be authorized to employ an assistant or clerk, who should live with him-, and
during his absence on tours of inspection, manage the business of the office. When it is recollected that the Territory embraces eleven degrees of longitude by six in latitude, it will be obvious
that the superintendent, especially when his duties are united with those of the executive, cannot
give his personal attention to distant tribes, and that the most responsible duties must necessarily be discharged by subordinates. Their pay and position should be such as to secure men
thoroughly qualified, both by character, ability and familiarity with the Indians. The pay of a
sub-agent, barely equal to the lowest wages of common labor, cannot be expected to secure the
efficient service of any man in such a situation, much less of a competent one. As the agent himself cannot personally supervise all the different tribes in learning the use of their tools, the proper
arrangement of their crops, building fences, &c., it is recommended, further, that the superintendent, under the sanction of the department, be authorized to allow the pay of a sub-agent to not
more than one person for each principal tribe of Indians who shall settle among them, and under
his direction, or that of the agent, assist in teaching them. Should this, however, not be deemed
advisable, the agent should be allowed to hire for at least three months during each of the first two
years after the ratification of the treaty, a person suitable for the task.
Their own cattle would, among the eastern tribes, suffice for their wants in breaking up their
land, and doing the requisite hauling. In the western agency the work would require to be done
chiefly by hand, as the wooded country of the coast does not afford sufficient range, and the Indians have but few horses, and no cattle. Another provision ought to be made for the protection of their fields in that district. Settlers taking up lands adjoining the reserved grounds
should be compelled to do half the fencing necessary to exclude their hogs and other stock, the
Indians, under the direction of the agent, doing the remainder. As it is, they are exposed to the
loss of their little provision, and government will probably be called upon to remunerate them
for the damage.
The location recommended for the eastern agency is the neighborhood of the old Chemakaine
mission, which affords good land and timber, and is both central to the district and accessible to
wagons from Wallah-Wallah or Fort Colville. For the western agency, some point on or near
the southern end of Whidby's island would probably be the most convenient.
The Columbia river should be constituted a sub-agency, to have jurisdiction over the scattered
bands of the Upper and Lower Chinooks, and those of the Klikatats who reside either in whole
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