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Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre fllmto A des taux de reduction diffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seui clich*. 11 est filmA i partir de i'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droits, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcessaire. Les diagrammes suivants iliustrent ia mithode. Brrata to peiure, >n A D 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 I Hf^ T" REPORT OFTHB 8TJPJi;RlNTID]SrX>lfl2SrT or INDIAN AFFAIRS, FOB BRITISH COLCJMBIA, FOR 1872 & 1873. PRINTED BY ORDER OF PARLIAMENT. i OTTAWA : PKiyTEl) BY I. B. TAYLOR, 29, 31 & 38 RIDEAU STREET. 1873. "'^F' II T- mi RETURN To an Address of the IIoitsk op Commons, dated 2Sth April, 1S73 ; For a Copy of the Report of the Superintendent of Induin Afi'iirs ior British Cohinibia. for 1872-73, with any subsequent Correspondence concerning the Indian Affaira of the said Province. By command. J. C. AIKINS, Secretary of Stale. Department of the Secretary of State, * 7th May, 1873. Indian Branch, Ottawa, 6th Mav, 1873. Sir, — I have the honor to forward liercwith, in compliiinoo with tJie Address of tho 28th ult., from tli« House of Ooiainons, '* a Co|>y of tliu Jl jporfc of tlie Siipm-inteiident of Indian Affairs for British Ooluinl)ia, for 1872-73 ;" and also, coiiies of " any subso- '* quent corres|)ondence which has been rocftived at or dospiitohed from this Oliico, " concerning the Indian Affairs of that Province." I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, W. Sprauge, D. S. I. A. The Honorable J. C. Aikins, Secretary of State for Canada, «S:c. inc. Britisu Columbia, Victoria, January 13, 1873. Sir, — I have the honor to transmit herewith my Report upon tlie native tril^es of this Proviuc together with the accompanying map, siicwing their geographical division accoixling to dialect, which will be delivered to you by Mr. McLennan, of the Canadian Pacific K. 11. Survey Corps. The limited time which has intervened since I assiuned the duties of my office has prevented me, perhaps, from entorins,; more fully into details respecting many imnortant subjects of the Report, but I trust it will bo found sufficient, as a basis upon wiiich to inaugurate some wise [lolicy for the future g«vernmont of British Columbia Indians. 23—1 Application bus been made to me for a grant of five liundred dollars, t.o be preiteuted to the Indian^ of Fnist'i- River in prizes, at the celebration of Her Majesty's bh'thday at New Westminster, 1873. This has heretofore been the custom of the Colonial Govern- ment, and I shall be glad to have instructions as to its continuance or othei-wise. 1 have refrained fi-oni pro]H)sing any other money grants, as they will quite depend upon what the future treatment of our Indians is to be, and which, I need not add, a personal explanation in connection with my Report would much facilitate. If consistent with your own duties to afford this by an early visit to our Province, it will, no doubt, be attended with much benefit, and it will give uie great pleasure to extend to you a hearty welcome. Iminodiiitortions of the Province where white settlens are now anxious to pre-empt hcuiosteads, Tlie liOcal Uovernment at iirescnt frequently urge this upon me, with a view of withdrawing i-cserves which havo been put ui>on land in order to allow Indian Reservations to be made previous to white settlement. I havo the honor further to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram, authorizing a credit in favour of this Agency of i!fteen hundred dollars ; and, in my next letter, I will enclose vouchei-s for any payments made from that sum. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. W. Powell, Superintendent Indian Affain. William Spmgge, Esq., D. S. I. A., Ottawa. BRITISH COLUMBIA. REPORT OP THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. I >j British Columbia, Victoria, January llth, 1873. Sir, — In Bubmitting my first Report ujion the native tribes of Dritiah Cohimbia, agreeably to your instructions, I have the honor to state tliat tiie sliort period which has intervened from the date of my appointment as Superintendent of riidian Affairs for tliis Pi-ovince, the hiteness of the season, with tlie consequent ditlioulty of obtaining the required materia], have precluded mo from accompanying it with very desinibltf statistics in respect to the precine number of our Indian iwpulatioii, — only to l)e obtiiined by a careful census, which, 1 need not add, will be a work of time, in respect to the va«t interior and extensive coast-line of the main land and adjacent islands, ail inhabited by numerous tribes of Indians, speaking a variety of different langiiagcs. In order to convey some systematic idea of the native tribes of this Province, I have made for the purposes of this Report a geographical division of the several nation- alities of Indians using entirely different dialects, and whicli you will tind more particu- larly exemplified and shown in the map of the Province transmitted herewith. Genemlly, the generic name of the principal or chief tribe of any nation is that by which such nation is distinguished. The Cliinook jargon, usually alluded to as the coininon language of the coast, and which, according to a celebrated author, "does not baffle all attempts at its mastery," is very little used or understood by natives outside of white settlements, and is generally (I think justly too) despised by them, as being far inferior in every way to their own tongue. COWICHAN NATION. Beginning at Victoria, the capital of the Province, the nation of " Cowichau " includes a large number of semi-civiliced tribes, extending eastward to Beechy Bay, on the Straits of Fuca, and on the east coast northwards to Baynes Sound, Vancouver's Island ; on the main land, fi*om the mouth of Fraser River to Yale ; and northwards to Bute Inlet, including all the islands in the Gulf of Georgia. Southwai-ds, the Cllallum tribes of the Teiritory of Washington, United States, at one time vei-y powerful and numerous, also use the dialect of the Cowichans. These tribes are in a much better condition than many others in the Province, and for many yeai-s have had Roman Catholic missions established among them, and for the last eight or ten yeara missions under the Anglican and Weslcyan Chuiches. They have made considerable progress in agriculture, and many of them, e8[)ecially on the Fmscr River, speak the English language well, and some of them can even read and write. They are most useful aids to the settler, and as a general thing very good workers ; and with the scarcity and high price of white labour, their presence seems almost essential to the development of this magnificent part of the Province. In November, I visited Cowichau, Vancouver's Island, for the purpose of attending an Indian Industrial Exhibition, inaugurated some thi-ee or four yens ago *'or the benefit of the tribes of this portion of the nationality. I observed some wvy good samples of wheat &nd root crops ; but tb.'> exhibition of needle, crochet, and knitted work, by the native women, was both hurpritiiug aud most crcditable. There was a lively competition for tlie prizes, which omHiRtetl of uKrioultiiral imph^montn, Hood grain, onlioo, cotton, woollen goods, yarn, etc., and nuicii intei-oHt wom iniinifcMtud in the conduct of the Exhi- bition gcnemlly. I ufterwHidft addi-cwsorl tlio Indians, congratulating- them on this evidenco of thrift and induHtry which J hud witueHML-d, and HHHurt-d thait, und thrtx; hearty cIikts for Her AliijoMty terminated tlui colliMniy. Tho8«« IndianH wei-e all well dreHHed and well behaved, tho women of tho tribe eniKuially being roniarkubly cleon and ijeat in ajJiKjaranoe. ^ ^ They have a beatitiful reHervo, conUiiidng some twenty-seven hnndred acres of land, the garden jdot of the district, but have nrwle l)Ut little »ise, comparatively, of it. Tho burden of tlusir complaint is tlie nei(!.s.sity of projwr allotment of tho land among them- selves, and the eonstant dread of having some iKirtiim of it taken away from thera. Crime is not unoommon ami)u<^ them, and numbers of the tribe have been executed fi"om time to time for the most atrocious munlerH. The (-'(iwichans include many tribe.s, and number probably some seven^thousand in population. OOMOX NATION'AT-ITY. Further north, on the e:»st coast of Vancouver iHhind and adjoining the Cowiehans, the Comox nation is the8mallo^t in the Province, and conijjosed of two tribes numbering about one hundiwl. Oiiginally, tl.e Comox wen^ driven fiom Valdez Island by the warlike Enelatjiws, and were lios|iital>Iy entertained l»y tho Pundahts or Puntledges, then residing at Comox, and of the same general family of the Cowiehans, The larger tribe has gradually absor'jeil tho sjualler, almost decimated by war and disease. The Comox dialect is quite differeiit from any other in tiia Province, and I am told by an intelligent informant is very similar to that spcjken by the Umpquaws in California. The Anglican Church has a mission among tlieni, but as yet very little can be said of their social or moral progress. Fish of all kinds are most abundant here, and constitute their chief article of diet. Came — such as bear, elk, deer, mink, marten, leaver, wolve- rine, otter, o Flattery, IFniteil States, '''hey arc a nation of savages, and are witliout tho civilizing inlluence.H of any Christian nii.ssion. (^uite a largo trad^* in furs and oil is cauicd on with them, which I am inforujed last y».'»r amounted to .'?;75,(IOO. They have suffered greatly from bloody iiitornecino wai-s, iinerpetrators has more often led to their escape. A notal)le iust.iiice of this kind occurred in 1804, when, in consequence of the murder of tho captain and crew of a trading sloop, Admiral Denman, with two or three of Her Majesty's ships of war, proceetled to Klaoquhat Sound to demand tin* murderers fiom their tribe, the Ahousahts. On this occasion, notwithstanding all their villages were shelled, nmnberli'ss canoes destioyed, and some of the Indians killed, tho guilty chief still delie«l capture. The Admnal gave t!ie tvii)o a month in which to deliver him, promising to return in that time, if tlicy failed to comj>ly. Fortunately for tho chief, but unfortiniately for the execution of the law, the lleet never i-eturned. The chief enjoys his liberty, and the tribe to this day consider theinselve.'j to have been victorious on that oooMion. A wholflHOmo drond, howovor, of Uov Mtijesty'ti war »liii« wm llrnily cstab- liHked. No refiervations of Innd Imvo iw yet bwn imuJtt for tho Alit tiilH»s, and they conse* J|uently claim all tli« Imul on tho const. A portion of liuul tit AllM-rin wes of the coast, and are not more enlightened as to the right and wrong than the Alit nution just described. The fii-s*. murder of a white man in tho country wns by menilieis of one of these tribes (the Newitto or (JlatilHca(piilla). and th(f tiist expedition of white iruMi again.st Tmlians was undertaken by the crew of Hor ^Mnjesty's ship l)iid'iln.t, during the admini.s- tration of Uovernor Ulanchard. Their p;)p)ilati<)n is cjlirnated at ab;>iit two tliou-sand, and the number of tril)es sixteen or sevontticr.. The stil) iriljcs, called Kuclataws, are classed with this nationality, and number about liftecn hundred additional. BELLA COOLA AND MILI.UANK NATIONS. • These nationalities seemingly have no alKnity in dialect with either tho Tsimpshean or Quackewltiis. They inhabit the country and inlet abotit Bentinck Arm and Dean's Canal and Millbank Souiul, as far north as Carter's IJay. They consist of cloven tribes, and a I>opidation of about two thousand. TSIMPSHEAN NATION. The Tsimpshean nation occupies the sea coast of Ijiitish Colinnbi.i, north of the Millbanks, and inland up the Nass and Skcena Iviv«'i's to the vicinity of Habnie Lake, whem they trade with the Tahelies nnd Hiccanies, tho adjoining interior l)ands. This nationality consists of about twenty-live tri!»es, and a population roughly estimated at five thousand. IIVDAII NATION. Tho Hydahs inhabit the Queen Cliai-lotto group of islan;ls. Two tribes of thi.H nation (the Kjgahine Jind Chatsoenie) live in Alaska, on the southern islands of tho Prince of Wales' Archipelago. The Hydahs include some ton tribes, numbering about twenty-live hundred. TAIIKLIE AND SKTAXIE N.VTIOXS. The Takalie or Tahelie nation (signifying i»!oj)le who go upon watei-, from the fact that tliey used to go from one village to anuther in canoes,) em bi aces with the »Siccanies all tho interior triV)es north of a lino iVom Bentinck Arm, by way of Chilcoatm, to Athabasco Pass or Boat Encampment. TT 1 ! The Siccanies nro not very numoroiiN, Imt hnvo .i iliuloot miito diffurvnt from tho Takaliofi. They occ«i»y tho i-cgiun of I'caco llivov uoith of Fort Mcfieod. Tho gt-neral condition of thoso IndianH in wrctchod, iiiid their h>''id, Hocial, and moral character extremely low. An occaMional viHit from one of tho Iloman Catholic niiHsionaries is the only ChriHtian tuncliin);; tlicy have had. One of th(>ii' cliii*f L-haractcristicH in treachery ; ami it waH n tiil"; of the Taknlii'« (tlio ChilcoatiitH) who, in 1803, miuiHacred all but two or three of the luto Mr. ^Vaddingtol.'H party, who worn (>ni|)loyL'd at the time in cou- Rtructing a trail throiigii Iho (Jhitcoatin ])hiinH to ('arrihog«'thcr with tlit> futuio welfare of these Indians, render the iinme- tliate selection of tlieir hinds iniiierative. They number a [Kjpulation of some fifteen hundred. SlU'SWIIAr NATIOV. The teivitory .soutli of a Hue drawn from tlio nioulh of the Chiicoatin Ilivor to Boat Encampment, ('(ilnnd)ia Ifiver, with th(> exception of tiie I'VuNcr Hiver region below Alexandra Uar, is iuliiilntel by a cuiMj):ir,iiively superior nice ot Indians, the ShuswhajH mouch or Shnswhaps ; thuuLtli of a nomadit; ilisju/sitien, they iire industrious, and mtuiy of thi'»u havo accumulated consideraMo wcilth liy packing and boa iiig f>ir tho whites. Ueing of a n-ligiuus turn of mind, successful jnissioiu liavo boon (stalilinhed among them: — at <)kan:igau and William's Lake l)y the Iloman Catholic, and at Lytton by the Anglican Churches. , Their prospects in agricultui-e are most favourable; and in addition to the favourite product of the natives genorally— itotatoes— they have, without mmrh encouragement, produced cereals of all kinds in considonililo oaking, aro most degnidod. Being both thievish and licentious, tlnnr corrupti.in anddepmvity under the present system is promoted by the lower grades of tho nlnte raco, with whom they are mostly brought into contact. Tho charge of canniiir!;' n, as a characteristic of tho coast trilies, I think is without foundation in respect to its true )')rm, but has probably ansen from the .1 v *; of slaves being sacrilicod and devoured at the great mediuine feasts, held by the Tsimpsheans, Quackewlths, and occasionally by tlu^ Bella Coolas. Slaveiy exists auiong these tribes at tho present time, bub I believer tlu* custom of sacrificing them for the purpose just mentioned has generally fallen into disuotude. The mental capacity, however, of tho coast Indians is very great ; and where educa- tion lias been attempted with any kuid of system, as ut Metlakathlah, tho results have been not only surprising, but Jiighly satisfact >ry. The uative mechanical genius of these tribes is wonderful, and a great incentive to the future establishment of Industrial schools. Guns are stocked, mainsprings forged, and household furniture nuuiufa'tured by them with facility and elegance. They are splendid carvers in wood, metal, and slate, and the jewellery fashioned from an ordijiary gold or siher coin by them would do ci-edit to first-class artists. The superb canoes made by tho Hydahs and Alits aro perfections of design and accurate workmanship ; and it might be added, that the lines of the first clipper built by an eminent ship-builder of Boston were taken from a Nootka canoe. Tiie women of tho coast 'tribes are depraved and corrupt — virtue being almost unknown and unappreciated by them. The young girls of the northern tribes, especially the Quackewlths, are sent down regularly to Victoria and various places on Puget Sound for the purpose of prostitution. After a sojourn of three months, they return with canoe loads of whiskey and other proceeds of their ill-gotten gains, which are given over to the chiefs and their tribal relations. Tho disease and drunkenness consequent upon this disgi-aceful mode of life causes the hvrge decrease in the jyopulutiou of these tiibbd. The women also practice abortion and infanticide : among some of the nationalities, the proportion of female children destroyed in this way is probably fifty or sixty jier cent. In appearance, tho general chaiucteristics of the natives of Biitish Columbia do not differ very much. ii Tho salmon-eaters of the southern coast ai-e shorter, with broader and darker features than the Indiiins of the interior. Those living near lakes and streams, who diet on both tish and flesh, are much better featured, with more handsome stature. The Indians living north, especially tho Hydahs, are tall, good-looking, with fair complexions and almond-shaped eyes. They are shrewd tradei-s, and decidedly intelligent. The Shuswhai»a and Koot- aays -ire siijierior in condition and general character to any of the other nationalities in tho Province, and will, no doubt, improve and profit much, almost immediately, by a liberal and enlightened Indian policy. They take well to agriculture, and are industrious in any pursuit which gives a prospect of profit. To show the importance of their trade, I quote tho following item of the British Colonist newspaper of November 2Gth, 1872 : — " Indian Gold Mining. — From $15,000 to )i?20,000 are annually contributed to the wealth of tho Province by the mining on the Thon.pson and Fraser Rivers, which is cjvrried on almost exeliisivoly by the natives at low water. Wherever a bar has collected some gold, a batch of Iiulians may be seen, during the coldest weather, rocking their cradles and ssiving the precious ore. The native trade is at least seventy-five per cent, of the whole trade of the interior." INTERNAL ORGANIZATION. The policy of the late Colonial Government, inaugurated by Governor Douglas in 1858, was to treat Indians as British subjects ; and it had the effect, in a great measure, of doing away with their customary internal organization. The former hereditiiry chieftiun, alike powerfid in war and i)eace, is now tho possessor of merely nominal influence and authority ; and the birthright, unless accom- panied by wealth, gift of oratory, or some very superior trait of character, is a poor inheritance. The distant interior tribes pay much more attention to the internal organ- ization, especially those controlled and influenced by Roman Catholic missionaries ; and their chief has not only his sub-chiefs, but olHcere of a lower grade, who are empowered to execute his orders in every particular. Chiefship is hereditary, descending in both nude and female line. I believe nearly if not cpiite all the nationalties favour nepotism in this respect, and a chiffs sister's son is the heir presumiitive. Should tho line of succession fail, or tho Bucci ding heir not have any of the qualities appertaining to a chief, the whole tribe assembles and elects a man of their choice to assume tljat dignity. Chiefship is generally maintained by a system of free donations, or " patlatches ;" and the more a chief can donate or " ]mtlatch," the greater his jtower ana popularity. To accumulate food, blankets, &c. &c., for this purpose, a chief will often not only deprive himself of the necessaries of life, but allow Ids family to suffer from want, practising meantime the most rigid and ndserly economy. The custom of holding these free-gift festivals is quite common among the coast tribes. The presents generally consist of blankets purchased for the occasion, or preserved from former " patlatches ;" and it is exi)ected that they will be returnwl by some equivalent at a future gathering. Tlio pei-son who gives away or wantonly destroys the greatest amount of proi)erty acquires much praise, and frequently obtains the highest tribal rank. " Patlatches," no doubt, not only retard civilizing influences, but encourage idleness among the less worthy membei-s of a tribe, and will, I trust, by wise administration become obsolete in time. N. B. — Among Northei-s, there is a system of heraldry or crest, which is rigidly respected. MARRIAGE. Marriage among these Indians is effected simply by purchase or some presentation to the relatives of tho ^irl on the part of the suitor. Polygamy is iMsrmitted by all tho bands, but is only resorted to where financially convenient. .J^ 9 MEDICAL AND SURQICAL TREATMF.NT. Beyond practising soixery and the most arrant ■witchcraft, the Indians generally have no system of medical or surgical troatnienc among thoni, and thou;?'! subject to phthisiH, pneumonia, scrofula, sypliilis, &c , nothing has been lieretoforo dono for tlieiii by the (!ovei*nment in respect to any hnmuiio or proper sy.s.om of tirnU lent. The mis- sionaries and some of the old setth'rs have been in the iiabit (>f keeping a few niedicinca for them, and have occasionally, wln-n ai)plicution has been made for it, received a small allowance from the Government Ciiarity Fund for this purpose. A teelingof humanity alune Siiggests the cstablishnieat of a di.<)»ensary supplied witli medicine, vaccine, and a few surgical appliances and instruments, in ditlci-ent parts of tho Province, where it would b« most useful, and where any one could be found capable of taking charge of it. The ei-ection of one or two small and inexpensive hospitals in the most populous Indian centres, would also, I feel tinsured, be highly beneiioial. I i n EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS. Very little proj-ress has been made as yet in educating the Indians of this Province. So fai* all efforts in this way have been contined exclusively to missionaries, and they have received no local aid whatever for this purpose. "Without any system of union among those of different persuasions or joint co- operation, it cannot be said that the labor of educating tlie Indians under these circum- stances has been attended with much practical success. The Roman Catholic, Anglican and Wesleyan Churches have schools established at their several missions in the Province, but apart from tlic want of effective pecuniary aid, the supineness of Indituis in allowing their childi-eu to attend has very greatly obstructed their efforts. The promotion of industrial habits I regard as a necessary adjunct not only to their seculiar but religious instruction, and 1 believe the different missions ot Bi-itish Columbia would be glad, if sutliciently aided, to establish industrial schools under proper Government inspection, as being the most successful mode of ob- taining the future welfare and happiness of the Indian. I am intormed that the indus trial school established on the north-west coa.st of British Columbia, at Metlakathlah (ali-eady alluded to), under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society, has been attended with the most signal success, not only in elevating the moral and social states of the Indians concerned, biit in being a soui-ce of pecuniary profit to them. No doubt a number of such schools in diffei-ent parts of the Province, witli some similar or approximate mode in their conduct, would be of incalculable benefit in making the lising generation of the native race good citizens and useful members of society. ^1 'J 4 f: AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS. The nomadic character of the coast trilies is the greatest obstacle to the develop- ment cf their agricultural interests, as the season of the year most necessary for cidtiva- tion is taken up in wandering from one place to another in search of their winter aup[>ly of fish, berries, roots, «fec., &c. But, a policy calculated to wean them gi-adually I'rcm their migrat<3ry habits, by locating appropriate reservations, and regulating existing ones (which they much desire), will no douL t enco'.ii age their interests in this sulject. TUe agricultural prospect*- of the interior tribes, ;>i the Shuswhaps and Kootenays, ai"c 'uuch more flatteriiig, and a supply ot the best seed grain, agricultural inii)lcmeut8, wagons, harn(!ss, »kc., furnished them at the mere r >st of these articles (and for which 1 am generally informed they would ghvdly pay), v/ould, no doubt, greatly stimulate them to renewed and more success- ful exertions. Among the Shuswhaps many of the reserves require irrigation, which a little assis- tancb in the way of a loan to the industrious and honest, under cerutin restrictions, would easily accomplish. 23—2 1» Among the Siccanies, the Babines and Camera, the Biimmer frosts which ojien pre- vail in these high latitudes, are a great drawback to all faiuiing operations. (For Indian Reserves, vide Appendix A.) TREATMENT OF INDIANS BY PAST COLONIAL GOVERNMENTS. Perhaps the system of treatment of Indians inaugurated by the first Colonial Government of Vancouver Island, and carried out by succeeding Governments, cannot be better described tlian by quoting tha following exurpi from the speech of Governor Douglas, delivered i\i the opening of the first Legislative Asisembly of Vancouver Island, in 1856, notable from the fact of being that in which representative institutions were tiret granted to the Colony : — " The Colony htus been again visited this year by a lAvqf. party of northern Indians, and their presence has excited in our minds a not uureiisonablo degree of alai-ni. " I shall continue to conciliate the good will of the native Indian tribes by treating them with justice and forbearance, and by rigidly protecting their civil and agrarian rights. " Wo know, from oar own exiHjrience, that the friendshij* of the natives is at all times useful, while it is no less certain that their ennaty may beccnic more disastrous than any other calamity to which the Colony is liable" Again, at tlie opening of the tirat Legislative Council, on the mainland at New Westminister, in Janua.y, 18G4, the same gentleman, after alluding to some other matters, said : — " The r^ntivc Indian tribes are quiet and well disposed, the plan of loiining i-eserves of laud, embracmg the village sites, cultivated fields, and favorite places of resort of the several tribes, and thus securing them agauist the encroachment of settlei-s, and forever I'emoving the fertile Qause of agrarian disturbances, has been productive ot the happiest efiects on the minc'>; of the natives. " The aresis thus partially defined and set apart in no case exceed the praportion of ten acres for each family concerned, and are to be held as the joint and common property of the several tribes, being intended for their exclusive use and benefit, and especially as a provision for the aged, the helpless, and the infinn. " The Indians themselves have no jjovver to sell or alienate these lands, as the title will continue in the Crown and be hereafter conveyed to trustees, and by that means secured to the several tribes as a perpetual possession. " That measure is not intended to interfere with the private iights of individuals of the native tribes, or to incapacitate them, as such, from holding land ', on the conti'&.iy, they have precisely tht same rights of acquii-ing and possessing land in their individual capacity, either l)y purchase or by occupation under the Pre-emption Law, as other classes of Her Majesty's subjects ; provided they in all respects comply with the legal condition of tenure by which land is held in this Colony. " I have been influenced in taking these steps by the desire of averting evils preg- nant with dangers to the peiu:e and safety of the Colony, and of confirming by these acts of justice and humanity the fidelity and attachment of the native tribes to Her Majesty's rule." It will therefore be observed that beyond giving Indians the protection of the law, and i-eserving certain lands for them in the settled portion of the Province, which, I have previously stated, have nover been regulated by jvJlotment or indeed any suiterintendence whatever, no particular Indian policy has ever been adopted. Money payments by the Government, on account of the native race, have been i-estricted to expenses incurred by Indian mitrages (in one case, as already stated, from £16,000 to £18,000), and no efforts have been put forth with a view to civilizing them, it having been considered that the beet mode of treatment was " to let them alone. 11 Under Ruoh a policy, I bdlieve it was mainly owning to the kindness, well known tact and firmness with which its author, Sir James Douglas, was accustometl to treat Indians, that more trouble was not at that time experienced with tliem. Naturally they have had little experience in the virtues of the good, but have parti- cipated freely in the vices of the bad with wliom they have been mostly associated. PRESENT OBSTACLES TO INDIAN CIVILIZATION. Among the greatest obstiusles in the way of elevating the Indian there is none more potent than the present illicit lohiskci/ traffic, with a view to removing which, the follow- ing prohibitory Act was passed and made law. An onliuimco to us.siiniliite iuid iimtMul the law prohibiting the sale or gift of intoxicating liquor to Tudians, 'l\u\ April, 1807. Whereas it is expedient to assimilate the law prohibiting the sale or gift of intoxicating liquor to Indians in all parts of the Colony of Uritish Colani])ia, and to amend the same, be it enacted by t.jje Governor of British Columbia, with the advice and consent of tlie Legislative Council thereof, as follows : — 1. "The Indian Liquor Act, 1860," of the Colony of Vancouver T.sland and its de- pendencies, and "The Indian Liquor Ordinance, ISG.'i," of the Colony of British Colum- bia, are hei'eby repealed ; Provide, however, that such rejieal shall not have the effect of reviving any Proclamations, Ordinances or Acts res])iX'tiv<'Iy repealed by the said Act or Ordinance hereby repealed or either of them ; and. Provided also, tliat all liabilities and penalties imposed and accruing due under the said rei)oaled Act or Ordinance, or eitiier of them, and all remedies and punishments for i-ecove^-ing and oiifo:ciug the same shall. Still, notwithstanding such repeal, i-emain in tuU force and etlect, and be capable of being en- forced and inflicted as if such Act and Ordinance wen^ still in force, liut not further or otherwise. 2. Any jierson selling, bartering or giving, or attempting to sell, barter or give, intoxicating liquor to any Indian of the continent of Nortii Ainerica, or of the islands adjacent thereto, shall be liable on conviction for each such oil'ence to a tine not exceeding five hundred dollars. 3. Any i)erson found in possession of any intoxicating li(jiior of any descripuvMi in any house, tent, or place of abode of any Indian, is li!ii)le under i\\\i Oi-diujnce to be det^raed prima facie to be in such house, tent, or i)lace of abode, for the puiposu of giving such intoxicating liquors to Indians, and shall upon conviction be liable to a tine not excetsding five hundred dollars and imprisonment not excwJing six months. 4. When it shall bo proved to the satisfaction ot tlie convicting jn.stice that the person charged has been before convicteil untkn* this Ordinance, or eitlier of the Act or Ordinance hereby repealed, the justice may, on conviction, commit such offender to prison for a term not exceeding twelve months with hard labour, without the option of a fine, should such justice see fit to do so. 5. In any case where it shall be proved to the satisflictlon of the convicting ju.stice that the offender has not attained the age ot .sixteen yoar.s, the justice uiay order such ofllender to be once or twice privately whipped, in lieu of or in addition to the aforesaid penalties, at the discretion of the justice. 6. Any person holding any wholesale or itjtail liquor licen.se in the Colony, who shall l)e convicted under this Ordinance, shall, at the discretion of the convicting justice, be liable to the forfeiture of his license, in addition to tlie other penalties, and shall not be entitled to a renewal of such license in any part of the Colo ly for a te v ni of two years from the date of such conviction. 7. When it shall be proved befoi-e any justice that any vessel, boat, canoe, or con- veyance of any description, whether on the coast of British Columbia, or on any river, or lake, or stream, in the Colony, is employed in carrying intoxicating liquor to be m\> plied to any Indian or Indians, such vessel, boat, or canoe or conveyance so employed shall be declared forfeited ; and eveiy person engaged in the conveyance, sale, or distri- bution of such liquf :\ u. i.iannor aforesaid, on board of such vessel, boat, canoe, or con- II IS veyance so employed shall be liable to all the penalties provided for under this Ordinance for persons convicted of selling liquor to Indians. 8. It shall be lawful, nevertheless, for any justice before whom any charge is brought under this Ordinance, nohvlihstandiug anything herein contained to the contrary, to acquit any ijerson who Iiiis u'i von intoxicating liquor to Indians medicinally, or under such other circumstances as iniiy appear justifiable. 9. Any person giving inl'orraatiou loading to the conviction of any peraon under this Ordinance, shall bo entitled to receive one-third of any pecuniary penalty inflicted under this Ordnance, at the lUsui'etiou of the convicting justice. 10. It shall be lawful for any Officer of Customs, or for iny Supeiintendent or Insiiector of Police, or any otlier officer specially appointed by the Governor for that pui*- ])ose, or for any Officer of Her Majesty's Navy, on full pay, at his discretion to luuimage and seaich for fermented, spirituous, or intoxicating liquor, any ship, boat, canoe, or other vessel suspected of e understood to include and be applicable to several persons and jwrties as well as one person or party, and females as well as males, and bodies corporate as well as indiv duals, and several matters f nd things as well as one matter or thing unless it otlierwise be provided, or there be souuthing in the subject or context repugnant to such construction. 15. In case of any summary conviction under this Ordinance no warrant of com- mitment upon a conviction shall be held to be invalid by reason of any defect therein, if IS it be therein alleged that the person offendbg has been convicted, and there be a good and valid conviction to sustain the same. 16. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as " Tlje Indian Liquor Ordinance 1867." Among the Coast Indians es];)ecially, tlic a1x>ve law has lieeii and is violated with impunity by the unscrupulous classes of the comuiunity, and it has been debated with much force and argument iu political circles whether it might not be prudent to legalize this nefai-ious trafiic under cei'tivin reytrictiuns, since its sup]nessiou under the ))resent law would seem ini])08sible. Under existing regulations a most vile compound is manufacturetl, principally in Victoria, which is not only freelv retailed, but cargoes of it, l)oth by canoe and the oixliiiary coasting sloop, are obtainwl and despatched with tliu greatest facility. It has been urged that the inability of the Indian to procure good liquors *at a moderate rnte, tempts liim to pay a most cxhorbitant price for this wi-etcbed substitute. The very lai-ge piolits resulting from such n trade, induce the priuci))al ofl'eiiders to engage in its manufacture, while the inadequate means employed by the Govornmeut for detection generally allow the minor agents to retail it without punishment. The direct effect upon the Sa^'age is most untoward and disastrous, producing wild riot, fierceness, rage, and the most fmntic excivement. During periods of intoxication, murder, and rapine are rampant among them — horrifying even the participants when the poisonous eflects have [lassed off, and when thy are cognizant for the first time perhaps of having committed some bloody crime. The most depressing languor, sorrow and despair mpidly follow, and infirmity, disease and death soon sweep off the \'ictim. Under the present system, apart fiom the multiplica- tion of difficulties in governing the native tribes, their dosiniatiou and utter extinction is only a matter of time, and before advocating its abrogation, I think the attempt should be made to inforce the provisions of the law — especially since all intended reforms in respect to the civilization of Indians are dependent upon this— the most important one being effected first. In pursuance of this object, the Superintendent should Ije invested (ex-officio) witli the powera oi u Magistrate and Preventive Officer of Her J.Iajesty's C'ustoms. The employment of two or three detectives, anil an occasional " search " for what is known as Indian Liquor, would disclose some of the large stores of it in possession of the principal parties concerned in its manufacture. A small steamer to })0 used as a Kevenue Cutter is an absolute necessity, not only for the purpose of visiting the immerous Coast Tribes, but would be most effectual in over- hauling craft suspected of being engaged in this illicit t>"ade ; such a steamer might also be employed in supplying lighthouses, laying buo3's, and much other work required by the Marine and Fisliery Agent, the joint expense to be borne by the two Departments. Confiscation and fines would materially assist in diminishing the expense of enforcing the law by the Indian Department. In re3[)ect to the trial of these cases, as lociil influences have been known to interfere v/ith the rigid administration of justice, discretionary j)ower on the part of the Sui)erintendent would enable him to transfer any ciise from the jurisdic- tion of one Magistrate to that of another. In connection with the above subject, I have received the following communication from General Milmy, Superint'^ndent of the Indian Affairs for the Territory of Washing- ton, CO ^^ Jning of our Indians who visit his Superintendency, and the want of f.utho»ity to reach them, owing to their claiming to belong to British Columbia. 1 u Of£ICe Sui'ERIOT"endent Indian Affairs, Washington TEnHiToav, Ol\mpia, Nov. 29th, 1872. Dr. J. W. Powell, Superintendent Indian Affairs, Victoria, B.C. Deaii Sir, — During our pei-sonal intervnew at your i-esidence, in Victoiia, on the 27th \ilt., I spoke to you about Indians from Vancouver Island and otli^r points in your superin- tendency, coming over and causing trouble among our Indians around Puget Sound, and on the southern .side of tlie Su-aif/S of San Juan do Fuca. Since then I have visited many points in tneso localities.and learned more about these matters,|and desire more especially to call your attention to them in the hojie tli.'it some efficient measure may be concerted be- tween us, or our respective Governments, that will load to measures that will give each of us the same jiower and control over all Indians who come into our respective Superin- tendencies from each other, as over those who are natives and resident. Both the Con- gress of the United States, and the Legislatui-e of this Territory, have enacted stringent laws against the sale or giving of intoxicating liquors to Indians, but, it has been held by our courts, that these laws are onl.y applioaVjle to Indians subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and residents of the States or Territories, and hence, not applicable to Indians belonging to Britisli Columbia or the British Provinces. These Indians come over and hire out in large numbers to the many Logging Camps and Saw Mills around the Sound ; and having the same rights and piivileges as white British Subjects, they purchase intoxicating liquors with the same impunity that it is sold to white citizens, and sell and give away the same to resident Indians, occasioning much intemperance, degradation, tiwible and often blood.sheil and murder. Another fruitful souroe of evil and df^gredation, flowing from the free intercourae of the Indians of your Superintendency with this Territory is, that large numbers of Indian women come over with their husbands, parents and friends, and lay around our logging camps, saw mills, villages and towns, for prostitution ; several lai-ge brotnels at different points around the Sound are wholly sup])lied by Northern or British Columbia Indian women, a^d are having a most baneful influence upon both whites and Indians of their localities. DoubtU SH the Indians of this Superintendency, cross over into British Columbia and occasion trouble and degradation among your Indians and whites, more or less, as your Indians do here. In view of the evils that now exist on both sides, without any prescribed remedy, I respectfully suggest that an arrangement be made between us (or authority be obtained for making' such arranfjements if not now possessed), by which oiFending foreign Indians of both sides shall b^ arrested and sent home, and delivered to the Superintendent to whom they respectively belong, with the charges aiid proofs against them, to be dealt with as may be thought best, and that each Superintendent defray the expenses of the arrest, «nd bringing home of tlieir respective Indians. I mike this suggestion for your consider- ation, and will be pleased to here your views thereon. The evils siioken of are growing ami must be met. I have the honor to be, with much respect. Your obedient Servant, 11. N. MlLROY, Superintendent Indian Affaii-s, W.T. w In m} which mac treated ali equally su would rcac to the prof if not, I other in women cai I consider the "ReserA Thee Indian W( of the obst the womei miserable provisions trouble he I am maiTied " sooner the Previ thus far) ii great valu large cont and fish oi 20th July Furs- Fish Oil- Expc $10,790 ( consumer! Byt settlemen enabled a labor mal often mat ion surve years for miner has industrio far as po£ our inhal elevating duty of , Govemm and priiD , 15 JOtii, 1872. on the 27th )ur superin- Sound, and isited many e especially mcerted be- give each of i^e Superin- bh the Con- d stringent Jen held by isdiction of iplicable to idians come !ills around bjects, they ite citizens, emperance, lerconi'se of s of Indian lur logging at different ibia Indian ns of their 1 Columbia < or less, as remedy, I le obtained gn Indians teadent to dealt with the arrest, r consider- » nil's. W.T. In my reply, I considered that the fault tested in the law, or iuterpretatioa of it, which made any discrimination between the two NatioiiuiiLies, — that on this side all ai* treated alike — and the man who sells whiskey to any Indian, American cr British, is equally subject to pimishment. No doubt a very slight amendment of the Amerioin law would roach the difficulty the worthy Superintendent comphniiH of. In res^ard, however, to the prostitution of our Indian women, I think the saruo principal should apply, but if not, I would gladly welcome any reciprocal arrangement by whieli we might assist each other in checking this gross evil. I have already alluded to tln^ i)rostitution ol native women can-ied on iri Victoria, witl*out any hinderance whiitevcr, the suppression of which I consider quite possible, were they prevented from living in town for that purpose, and the Reservation for the Shoughees located elsewhere. CONCUUIXAOE. The custom among the lower classes of white men in this Province, of purchasing Indian women (the Indian form of Marj'iage), and keeping them for a time, is another of the obstacles in the way of their social and moral advancement. After a short time the women, with the issue of their concubinage, is return'jd to her tribe to eke out a future miserable existence, and iu this Avay a generation of half-breeds is growing up, for which provisions will have to be made, or sutler them to become a disgrace to society and tiwible hereafter to the State. I am not sure that the i>eople who choose this way of living are not, " ipso facto," maiTied " in the eye of the law ;" but if not, it is a matter of great importance that the i sooner they are made so, by the proper legal remedy, the better. Previous to closing a Report, which (from the brief tenure of my Superintendency thus far) is to a certain extent impei-fect ; I may be permitted to call attention to the great value of Indians to the country as inhabitants. Being large consumers, they are large contributoi-s to the general revenue. The exports from British Columbia of furs and fish oil, nearly if not all, obtained by Indians, from date of Union with the Dominion, 20th July, 1870, to 30th June, 1871, were :— Furs— United Kingdom $121,989 „ UnitedStates , 78,418 Fish Oil—United Kingdom 16,850 „ UnitedStates 10,788 $228,045 Export of cranbemes varies according to favorable seasons. In 1869 it amounted to $10,790 00, in later years less. Of the imports, the Indians are of course the chiex consumers. By the very large quantities of fish, game, bia, will vastly contribute to their welfare and future happiness. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most obedient servant, J. W. Powell, Superintendent Indian Affairs, British Colvmbia, To the Honorable The Secretary of State for the Provinces, Ottawa. Wi If APPlilNDIX A. ii RESERVATION OF LANDS, FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF INDIANS. During tho existence of Biitish CoJumliia as a Colony, the power of reserving lands for tho Indian Tribes was solely vested in tlie Governor, by virtue of his commission ; after being made, the reserves were published in the " Gazette." Under the articles of ftgreement, by which British Columbia wiis united with the Dominion, it will be seen that the ohai'ge of the Indians, and the trastooship and uuinagement of the lands r«served f»r their use and benefit, shall be assumed by the Domiiiiou Government, and a policy as liberal as that hitherto pursued by the British Columbia Government, shall be continued by the Dominion Government after the union. To carry out such policy, tracts of land of such extent as it has hitherto been the practice of the British Columbia Government to appropriate for that purpose, shall from time to time be conveyed by the Local Government to tho Dominion Government, in trust for the use and benefit of the Indians, on application of the Dominion Government, and in case of disagreement between the two Governments, resi)eoting the quantity of suah tracts of land to be so granted, the matter shall be lefarred for the decision of tlie Seci-e- tary of State for the Colonies. The following letter with accompanying schedule of existing reservations in tho Province, fiom the chief Commissioner of lands and works, dated, October IGth, 1871, will explain the system hitherto i)ursued by the Colonial Government, in laying off and locating lands f jr the sole use and benefit of the native tribes : — ♦ Lands and Works Office, Victoria, 16th October, 1871. Sib, — I have the honor to acknowledge tho receipt of your instructions under date of 5th Septembei', to prepare tracings of the Indian Reserves existing in this Province, together with statistics of the natives generally. I have now to transmit herewith a series of tracings, lettered from A to Q inclusive, shewing all the Indian Reserves which have been surveyed, together with a schedule showing the locality, number of section, general description, acreage, name of tribe in whose favor each reserve has been made ; also, an appendix one (1), shewing what portion of any pariicular reserve have been leased to white men, together with the terms of lease. Parts of the Soughees' Indian Reserve opposite to Victoria, have been so leased by Commissioners appointed by Sir James Douglas. These leases have all expired or been cancelled A certain sum of money, nineteen hundred and eighty-four dollars and eighty-two centsis now lying in tho treasury to tho credit of this rosorve, and is constantly iucrea.sing. The leases shewn in the appendix wore executed by me, in virtue of the autliority of the late Go\-cin'>r, .and are only biiuling sa far as tho Govenuncnt msiy have tlie power. The rents siie'vu iu tlie appendix are due from tlio daLe of each respective lease I have no statistics as to the iuunl)er of tndiaiis in oacli tril>o, and lui'.'c no meuns of obtaining them. It would cost a great deal of time and Tnonwy, .nnd would involve a visit to each Indian village thi'oughout the Province. There uic, especially in Vancouver Island, a great many tribes which have no reserves marked out, either on plan, or on the ground. Tho Land Ordinance (1870) under which alone lands can be acquired by intending settlers, specially exempts all Indian lands and settlements from its operation. It haa 23—3 18 generally been thn praotioe to lay out on the ground, the Indian reservoM synohronoualy with the settlement of the dislnct by the whites. TIuh HVHtom htui been found elfectual, and far less costly than thut uf Hurveying the i-eHorvo altogether, us they aiv mateiially scattered, and often at groat diHtances apart. In the latter ctuiu, the |K>8ta and marks on Ihe ground might become obliterated b<^ore the. white men advanced ; as the Indiiins, though teuaciouH of their rights in the lands, when onco surveyed will not take Iho trouMu tu ]>cr[)rtuato these {wsts and marks, or to preserve them in any way. Ap|)endix two (2) shewH the portions of land included in the Quamichan District (sheet B) which have been promised to certain setilei's in the distinct, with the consent of the natives. There are vaiious misHions estivblished in different parts of the Province, but as they nre chiefly located on lands taken up under the pre-emption lawu, I have not rei)orted them as existing, inasmuch as the Indians havu no direct interest in the land. The Metlakutlah Mission on the north-west coast of the Province, is established on lands siHJcially reserved by the Oovornment for the purposes and Jjses of the mission. Other rcHcrves can Imj niadu from time to time aw may be found necessary. No titles to lantls hold by the Indians havo beo'i issuuil. The Executive has always exorcised a gonoral control and supervision over the Indians and their lands, and has always j;revented them from alienating in any way, any jiortion of their reserves. No Indian nwerves Imve \m>.n laiil out on Vancouver Island on the west side, and none 1)eyond Coinox, on the cast side. No Indian Reserves have been laid, out on the coasts of the mainland beyond fiurninl's Iniut. The totid area uf land laid out on the groimd for the use of the natives is 28,437 acres I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) B. W. Pearse, C'Aw/ CominiaisioHer of Laiula ami Workt, Stwveyor Oeiural ,11. .,Ti;-.)i« 2 g «-1 I I •s ■=13 a*" 09 O a 53 a 3 % ■fitn-Sw-Sl-a -§ I c S-^' o -3-3 s J3 90 Schedule of Indian Reserves. — Continued. BlMtt. D E F O H I K L M Diitriot. New Wi'stininHter. . clu . . . , do .do do do do do do do Yalo, do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do Bkort DvMcrititiun of Utititirvc. Kurrai'U'n Inlet, juiirtion r>{ Iht Narrown and Knpiliinil ( reck Durrard'H [niet do do North iilile of Franer'H Kivcr, near lootitli of C'o<|iutlain Itiver Next KeHtTVf. fiiitlier isp ( !i)(|u!tlinn Ulvcr. . . . (!o<|uitlaiii Ki^or, lif^vunlH fronil'i-.k.'es''n River .N'li-tli iiriii of Fni.fi'r'H iiiver WvKt luink of lliirriMiiii'ii Hivtu' Left Imiik FriiHcr'n Kivor, l.j milob from Uurrl- miu'H Itivcr Ri^ht bank of I'raxur Itiver Left liiuik du lo do lo ilo SumaaH River near ( 'hailiieyV Sliiu;,'h Upper Huinafs River Ui^ht l)a'..k Friim-r River, near junction witli Nieouinen SI JUi,'h Xicoaiiiin Slouj^h .riiiictioii of HiirriKoii uml Frnsor River Rii-'ht Itaiik of Nicoaiiien 81ouj,'li • Left l)!ink of Nicoiiim'U Slough, at junction vvitli Small S1o\ik1i . . . ,* Loft bitiik of l'"rjw(ur Jiiver, about 10 miles below Hope • Left bank of J-raHer River, about 'JO uiile«i below iiope I Left bunk of Fraier River, about 18 niilcHJ bcluw Hope Left bank of Frawer lUver, about 13 miles belov/ Hope Greeinvoinl Ltlaiul, opjjosite Hope Left bank Tliouipnou'.s Rivui', at junction with Fraaer River just outside Town 42 U2U r>r>8 02 li'i 108 43 44U .32 Hti ;j.w 100 73 488.60 37» 3U0 380 10 14 12 18 111 207 204.50 40 100 30 58 205 82 81 Nune of Trib*. Munqueain. Cheholis. Whanock . Matw|ue. •Katziu. SnmMR. ClatuafiH. Seowlitz. Nicoamen. Squueam. t C'hamiel. Cbueam. Poi)kuu). SH. litz. linen. sain. uniel. am. lUU). litH. Icpolm. sm. k. jahaurigr. liya. )nieen. >ah. ichickcn. ShMt. Dlitrict. Rhort Dowriiitlon of Proi)«rt3\ AoTMk Name of Tribe. M Y»l« Left I)ank of FroMer Riv«r, alwut \ mlU' iMflow Alexandra llriJge and Hanio diittuut'e inland Right bink of Frater Klvi-r, hetwi-en \\ lOniilf )H)Ht, on watfiJT'^n rond Left bank, 2 niiluit Mow Alexamha Itridtif, aliout 1 nillH inland Riirht bank Hiuiilkainuon Ilivur,, Vennillion Forks 1« no :.i 21 342 1,02»' mi.rio yx, 200 1H.."K) :w..">o 01 sir, 018 m «ro uu 3,112 abtl.dOO abt 1,000 0,000 *, do N do ilo Hpuzxund. do L«ft bank 8iutilkanaellumcheen . do Nicolai. Nicomeen. littft bank of .Spelluincheeu lliver •lunction of Nicolai and ThoniinonV River. . . . L«ft Bank of I'rafter River, between 07, OH niili jKtst waggon roail P Deadnian'H Creek Nicolai River. Junction of Frail, from CookV F rry to Savona'it Ferry Buonaparte River, between ILi ami 111 niili iMwt wa^ifon roail do Nlculai Lake, Kant bunk Buonaparte. do do . . A do Ij&iriHin Hidu ... Q Right bank Thonii>son'8 River, oxtendiny back to Lake do do .ShuHwap. N. W. side of Little Laku, on trail to Adant'n Lake , • .... VVilliiun Dalliy Patrick Kverett Jeremiah Na>?le The Bishop (if Cclunibia Description of ProiMsrty. Lots C and 7—5 . M acres Lot 13— 1.52 acre... Lot 4 A— 1 acre Lots— 3. 08 acres . .. Lot51 Term. 7 years . , do , , do . do . , 21 yeare , Rental. S7i> per annum . HD per annum. •§25 per annum . 577 per annum . ?."> per annum. . How Payable, Half-yearly do do do •Yearly. . Memor.\\di'.m.— Dr. Asli held a lease of a lot on tliis reserve. He is n«iw ni)plying to the Governnien of the Dominion for .inother, or ;i renewal of the oid one, which was forfeited for non-payment of the rent * Indian Miissiini in connection with tlie Church of EuLdand. • APPENDIX No. 2. Schedule of Leases promised, being parts of the Indian Reserve at Cowichan, as shewn on sheet B. Date. To whom promised. Description. 7th August, 1871.... Mrs. Williams by authority of the Governor Harry Warrincr * E part of section 2, range II, Co^v^chan District. Lease of a portion of Cowichan Reserve of no use to Indian-*, t E part of section U, range 11, Cowichan 5th July, 1871 11. White District. • Contents 500 -f- 2,000 links, 10 acre*. 1 10 years at §5 i)er ivnnmn. ||: I 23 Tlie quantity of land intended for each family was (as previously stated) in no case to exceed ten acres, and was to bo lield as the joint auJ ouuimon property of the several tribes. No census of Indians has over beyu taken, aid no surveys of resnr\ui.iona, with a view of allotting to each family concei*ned, the proposed (luantity of land, has ever been made. As a consequence, no system of ctdtivation has been pui sued, and very little of the hind comparatively utilized, though in many of the districts the choicest i)iece8 have been so reserved. In consequence of a want of regulation in tliis respect, it has been too customary for the most powerful Indian to claim the j];reatest (|uantity ; and instances have come to my knowleilge of an individual member of a tribe claiuung one, two, and three hundred acres, though making actual use of perhaps a fraction of an acre — widows, orphans, and the weak among them lieing wholly ignored. No doubt, a properly organized system of nll'^Uiug these lauds and holding them in certiiin quantities open to pre-emption l)y any Indiaii, upon condition of im])rovement and giving the possessor full rights of ownership among niembers of his own tribe, would qwiet prevalent a])))rehensions of encroach mint, now so frequently ijuhilged in by them. Some equable api)ortionment, i am free to add, would in any tncnt be far more satisfac- tory to the ' ditl'orent tribes concerned, and much more ellectual in promoting their welfare, than tl;o i)resent system. In pros}»ect of the early settlement of more remot(! parts of the Province in which reservations have not as yet been nuide, as on the west coast of Vancouver's Island, the coast of the main land, and many parts of the interior, I con.sider it J;igiily desirable, both for the safety of the white settlers and the satisfaction of the Indians, that such reserves should be made as soon as practicable. The plan pursued in the adjoining Territory of Washington — of gathering Indians upon large reservations — I do not think at all feasible nor politic in British Columbia. The native tribes are ardently attached to theii ancient village sites and places of bii'th and burial ; and I opine their con.sen, to our adoj>tion of the American custom, in this respect, could not even be purchased. Indian lands, to l)e hereafter located and reserved, should not only include arable soil, but, where pi-acticable, the village sites and favouiite haunts of the nati^'cs. Salmon and othei' fisheries, from which they draw the principal portion of their focd, should be set ajiart for them along the coast ; and some regulations are necessary, at tlie mouths of the great rivers, whereby salmon will not be prevented from running up to spawn. I am informed that sonie three or four thousand interior Indians suffered greatly during the present year, owing to the absence of any system of this nature at the mouth of Fraser River. Reservations for interior tribes should also be larger than those on the coast, in order to afford fviture and ample stock- runs, of which they are now much in need. CULTIVATION OP INDIAN LANDS. In respect to the cultivation of Indian lands, I may state that no system whatevec has been hitherto followed. With very few cxceptioii.s, from an eighth to two acres are the extent utilized by each family, and these consist of mere potato jjatches. They know nothing of the rotatiom of crops, and very little of the necessity of renewing seed. They possess no agricultural implements, and, except at .some of the most forward Chiistian mi.ssions, do not attomp't to raise grain oi any kind. With a coast celebrated for abimdant fisheries, interior lakes alike productive, i>nd plenty of game among the mountains and wooilland, the native s have neither the desire nor the necessity of paying much attention to agrarian pursuits. The coast tribes, too, are very migratory in their character, leaving their villages i.n early spring after planti ig their i)otato jiatches. They wander during the sumnnei months, collecting such articles of food as tliey are able to obtain for winter use, such as dried berries, kammass root, clams, »kc. &c. At the beginning of autumn, they return, and devote a few weeks to the "catch" of salmon, now filling the bays and river 6. ^r 24 Upon the " run " of this splendid fish depends the staple stock of provisions for the coming winter. The objects to be obtained, by the almost necessary migratory habits, are gradually growing less, owing to the progress of white settlements in the Province ; and it becomes a question of paramount impoi-tance, in view of the future, to encourage them Uj depend mainly for subsistence upon the cultivation and production of their lands. I believe the judicious distribution of seed grain, agricultxiral implements, «kc., would be attended with the greatest benefit. Ingratitude being one of the general characteristics of the native race, I do not thinic the system of free gifts advisable ; besides, the return of a " quid pro quo " would not only make tliese presentations more appreciated, but would beget a spirit of manly independence so essential to their civilization iind happiness. Industrial exhibitions, with prizes of ut iity, should supplant the present " patlatches " (fr«« donations) of molasses and biscuits ; and the encouragement of Christian missions to organize and establish industrial scliools, should succeed the ])resent custom of allowing the coming generation of native children and half-breeds to become worthless and vagrants. The most imirortant Indian reserve in British Culunibia is the Sou^liees, in the suburbs of Victoria, which, though comjiarativeley useless in an agric\iltural point of view, is valuable on account of its proximity to the city. Some two or three thousand dollars have already accumulated from the portions of this land which have been leased , and in view of the prospective and importint growth of Victoria, no d ubt a handsome sum could be realized by further rental or its absolute disposal. The land itself — ^being composed mostly of i-ock — is quite ''nfitted for cultivation, and at present, without any proper superintendence, is simply ., disreputable rendezvous. A reserve, procured a little farther from the city, for the Soughees (numbering about 120), and a regulation compelling all Indians coming to the place to camp upon it, or some adjoining one, during their sojourn, would materially assist in preventing prosti- tution, already referred to, and the illicit whiskey traffic at present cai'ried on without any apparent or effective interference. APPENDIX B. STATUTES OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, NOW IN FORCE, RELATING TO INDIANS. 1. Act to prevent the violation of Indian burial places, imposes a penalty of not exceeding one hundred dollara for removing anything from Indian graves ; second offence — lieble to six months' imprisonment, with hard labour. 2. Act for the admission of evidence in certain cases provides for the reception of Indian unsworn testimony. How such testimony shall be taken. Preliminary caution. Indian declaration of evidence. False declaration, perjury, tfec. «fcc. 3. Act for prohibiting sale of intoxicating liquors to Indians (already quoted). 4. Act to regulate Tudi mi Reserves, and give certain powers to magistrates to settle disputes ; also, to remo* e trespassers from said reserves. 25 APPENIDX 0— D. MEMORANDUM OF TREATIES MADE VriTII INDIANS FOR PURCHASE OF THER LANDS. . I may staW that the Colonial Government has never acknowledged, by any treaty, the pre-existing right of the Indian (us sucli) to the lands of the Province. The Hudson's Bay Company previously, however, made several treaties with natives of Vancouver's Island, an abstract of which —although published last year in the able report on British Columbia, by Hon. H. L. Langevin, C.B. — is hereto appended, in order to complete the history of the past treatment of the Indian tribes of the Province. No treaties have ever been made with natives of the main land. MEMORANDUM OF TREATIES MADE WITH INDIAN TRIBES FOR PURCHASE OF THEIR LANDS. I append hei-etoan a'>stract made by the authorities with the Indians, for the purchase of their Lands in order that the same might be thrown open to scittlement Dy the whites. These treaties embrace the country from Victoria to a few miles beyond Sooke Harbor, and from Victoria to Ncvth Saauich, also the lands around Nanaimo. The total area might probably be one-fortieth of the whole Island. I am not aware of any similar treaties having been made with the natives of the mainland. B. W. Pearse, Chief Commissioner of Lands and Works, and Surveyor General, British Cohimbin, Return of Treaties made by Hudson's Bay Company ^ith Indian Tribes, showing Lands conveyed and sums paid. Date. April 29, 1850, April 30, 1850. Name of Tribe, &c. 23- " TeechamitBa, " Bigned by Lee Sachasis and ten others. ' Kosamiwon," signed by Hookoowitz and twenty others. The whole of the fend situate and Ijing between Es- quimau Harbor and Point Albert, inchiding the latter on the Straits of Juan de Fuca, and ex- tending backward from thence to the range of mountains (;n the Saauich arm, about ten miles distant Tlie whole of the lands situated and lying between the Island of the Dead, on the arm or Inlet of Camoson .and the head of said Inlet, embracing the laud on the west side and north of that line to Esquimalt beyond the Inlet, three miles of the C'olquits vftlley and tho land on the erfft side of the arm enclosing Christmas Hill and Lake and the lands ^?est of those objects • ■ £ 8. d. 27 10 00 52 10 OO If 26 Rbtu«m of Ti-eaties Made by Hudson's Bay Company with Indian Tribes, «5:c. — Continued' Date Ap* 30, 1850. Name of Tribes, &c. April 30, 1850 ' Swengwhuii;,','' si^rncil b; Snuwmicit aiid.twL'ii- t>-nine others. Description of Landu Conveyed, April 30, 1850. April 3(h 1850. ' Cliikowith," .signed liy (Jiiaaun and elm'en others. TliRuliole of tlio lands sitnate and lying between the Island of the Dead and the arm or Inlet ol l!anios(>n,\vliere the Kowampson lands terminate, extending ea.st to the I'onntain llidge and followint; it to its tcrinination cm the Straits of Fiicji, in the hay innnediately ea.st of Clover J'oint, including all the country between that line and the Inlet of ( Jumoiion The whole of the lands "Sitnate and lying between, the Sandy Hay east of Clover -Point at the ter niination of tlio Swen!,'Avhunf5' line to point Gon- zales, and thence north to a line of equal extent ] lasHiug through the north side of Miuiw plain. . seventeen otheri*. Wliyoniilth," signed lj|'|The whole of the land bituate and lying between the llol whulu t.'itin and nortli-wost comer of Ew|uimait ; .say, from the I.dand iii< hisivo at the mmith of the Sawmill Stream imd thtMinountainH lying due west ^d north of that point. This district being on flie line !sid(! bouniieil iiythe lauds of the KcchamitsA and on the other by the lands of the KosampsoN family Chekoneiu," iiigned by The wliole of the land."^ situate and lying between Chaythlnm anll,185S^ Feb'yS, 1851. Feb'yS, 1851. Dtc. 83, 1854. Name of Tribes, &c. ' Saatiich, " signed by Hotutatun and others. ' Q u e a c kit r 9, " signed by Wale and el-jven others. Description of Lands Conveyed. The whole of the lands situate pndlyinj; as follows, viz :— CommBnein^f a\; Cowichan Head, and fol' lowing the Coatit of the Canal de Haro noctli- west.nearly to Saanich Point or (iuana8ung,fr(»m thence following the oourije ^f the Saaiiich arm to the point where it tcnninates.and from thenoe by a lino aoros.s country to said ('owichan Head, the jtoint of ciminifiieMnent, ho as to include aili thecountry and land betwcfn those boundaries. The whole of the lauds situate and 'lyiug between McXeilV Harbor anf these ports, and extending two miles into tliei interior o; the I:dand Price Paid.* £ 8. d. " Quackewltks, " signeibThe whole of the land situate and liVing betwooul by Wawattie and fif- McNeil's Harbor and Havdy Bay, inclusive of | teen others. " S.arlequun," signed by Squouiston and Kvi others. these ports and extending two nules into tiio interior of the Island (Country extends h-ofi Corawercial Inlet twelve miW up Nanairao Hi ver C4 00 00 8fi 00 00 3.W 00 00 TWO OF THR THEATFES CONCLUDED WITH IXDIAN TRFBES. Know all men, we, the chiefs and pno[)le of the Te.^chiiuslt.sa tril)?, who have .signed our names and made our marks to this detMl, on the 29th d:iy of Apnl, 1850, do consent to surrender, entirely and for ever, to .James Douglas, the Agent of the Hudson's Bay Company in Vancouver Island, that is to say, for tlio Govenior, D^puty-G vernor, and Committee of the same, the whole of thfi hmda situate and lying Ijetween Esquimalt Harbour and Point Albert, including tin; latter on the Straits of rtan Juau de Fuca, and extending backward from thence to tlie range of mountains on the Haanach Arn\ about ten miles distant. The condition of or undeistanding of this .sale is this : — That our village siti« and enclosed fields are to be kept for our own use, fesi(les itinerant missionaries. TIkmc are at St. Mary's a convent and industrial boarding Rcliool, with ar. iittendunoc of from f > legitimatize the previously bom issue of such concubine. The act was, however, rese'-vou by the Executive here for the approval of the Governor General, and tlnit a]>proval was refused. 2. It is, of course, quite unnecessary to go into the reasons for that refusal. I shall only say that I cannot conceive myself arguiiig in favor of such an Act, much less ap- proving or suggesting. 3. At the same time I should wish to be allowed to point out that the suppoi-tera of the measure in the House here had a very real grievance and public hardship to allege, for which they proposed their measure as a remedy ; and which 1 also should wish to see remedied, but in a very different way. 15 T^ 4. There is in this Province a Iirgo claw of vorj useful, luvrclwoiking, but not highly e estate, oxoei)t when it is of small amount; nor at ail, unless all creditors be stitisiied ; nor unless the ileceased has i-ccognlzed the connexion. 10. It is not u sentimental hurusliip alone, or even cruelty, but only some concrete evil to the community- wLicli can call for the intervention of the Legislature. I venture to think I have pointed out such, especially in paragraph (5) sub-jinem ; and there is the same geneial reason for some such measure as there is for the general statutes for the distribution of intestate's estates at all ; and the parties who alone coiiM complain of the measure I i)ropose — the heii-s or next of kin — could only complain that their windfall was diminished. They are generally, besides, distant collateral relatives, of whose very existence the deceased is often ignorant — and who often are roused to enquiry, not by the promptings of blood or the voice cf natural aCection, but Ly the correspondence of some consular Agent. I enclose a rougli sketch of a Fill. All Indian matters being, by the British North America Act, 18G7, exclusively reserved to the Dominion, I venture to trouble the Do- minion authorities v^ith this communication. (Signed,) Matt. B. Begbie, Chief Justice, B, C. PROVINCE OF BPvITISH COLUMBIA. Sketch of a Bill for providing for Indian Concubines, and Destitute Half-breed Children o/persons dyiitj intestate and leavimj pffoptrttj in the Province. WHEREAS, in the [Province of British Columbia] or [remoter parts of divera Provinces in the Dominion,] it sometimes happens that divers persons die intestate and possessed of consideraljlo pro])erty, and without any legal relatives in the Province, but leaving native Indiau women their concubines, and children, the issue of such concubines, or of other concubines, them surviving. And, Whereas, no provision can now be legally made for such concubines and children out of the assets of the dectased, and such coucubiue and children being thrown on the charity of their neighbours for support, the community are put to undue expense, and the children are (ixposed to physical and moral deterioration, t) the further injury ol the community. And, Whereas, it is just and reasonable that some provision should in some cases be made out of thb assets of such intestate, for the maintenance and education of such concubine and offspring 37 (to some 1 in some cution pf Be it enacted, (fee : — T. Where any man shall die intestate in tJie said [Province of British Columbia or " remoter Districts "| leaving him, siu-viving, an Indian concubine, who may ftt the time of his death be actually maintained l)y him, or under his protection, or leaving him any illegitimate child or children under the age of (16) years, reputed to be by him begotten on any Indian woman, for the support, maintenance, or advancemnt oi which child he shall have made any provision within the twelve mouths next before his decease ; then and in such case it shall be lawful for the Supreme Court, or any Judge thereof, in their or his discretion, to order that there be retained, allottetl and applied for the support, maintenance and benefit of such concubine, and of every such child I'espectively, so much of the net, real and personal estate, or either of them, of such intestate (after payment of all his debts) as to such Court or Judge shall seem fit, not howovor allotting to such con- cubine, or to any such child, a sum greater for each than $-50, or than the amout of 5 percent, on said net residuaiy, real and personal estate, whichever limit may be the largest. TI. Any application for an allowance and provision under this Act, may bo made to the Supreme Court of the Province, or to any Judge theroof, by petition or motion in a summary way by the administrator, or by any person acting as n .'xt friend for such con- cubine, or any such infant child. And any such Judge, either on any application for letters of administration, or on any application under this Act, may if he thinks proper, direct enquiries as to the existence and mode of life of any such concubine or infant child, and as to the rate and descriptiouR of the maintenance allowed to her or them respectively by the intestate ia his life time, and such Judge may, if he thinks fit, appoint some person to act as next f'iend for such concubine or infant cLlld. III. If such intestate leave a widow, him surviving, within the Province, no order shall be made on any such application, without the consent of such widow. IV The amount directed to be allotted and retained by any order on such application as aforesaid, shall be expended and laid out in such way as such Court or Judge shall by the. same, or any other order from time to time direct, for the maintenance of such con- cubine, or for the maintenance, education and adva. "eraent in the world of any such child. (Copy.) * ^ British Columbia. ' Departitent of Indian Affairs, Victoria, March 8th, 1873. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose for your consideration, a memorandum and sketch of a Bill for providing for Indian concubines and destitxite h.alf-bieod children, of persons dying intestate, and leaving property in the Province, by the Hon. M. B. Btgbie, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Eiitish Columbia. Judge P.egbie's long service in this Province, enables him to understand thoroughly, the many evils of Indian concubinage^ and I have therefore great pleasure in forwarding hi.s views upon one of them. In theahserce of some Act lo kgitinmlhe the ismc of Induin concttbinnrje, Mr. Begbie's proposition is most desirable, and would be, if adopted, both useful and popular in this Province. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) J. W. Powell, Superintendent Indian Affairs, The Honorable Joseph Howe, Secretary of State lor the Provinces, Ottawa 81 (Copy.) Indian Branch, OTTAWA, 18th March, 1873. Sir, — I have the honor to transmit herewith copies of a letter of tha 28th ult., from J. W. Powell, Esq., Superintendent of Indian Aft'airs in British Colu'iibia, also of a copy of a letter of the 5th ult., from tht. Provincial Secretary's office of that Province, ad- dressed to Mr. Powell, shewing tliat a sum of $1,984.^2, realized in connection with the Soughees' Indian Reserves, has been turned over to the Dominion Government from the Colonial Treasury. And I ha^'d the honor to i-equest, that the amount in qitestion may be placed to the Credit of iiie Receiver General on account of Indian Funds for British Columbia, and tliai this Department may he notified thereof, in order to the proper Ledger entry being made in this off w. I beg also to request, that the sum of $.')27.24, subsequently paid on the same account, may be credited to British ColumbiH Indian Funds ; and likewise, a further sum of $37.60, paid by Superintendent J. W. Powell into th'. Bank of British Columbia, on the 27th January last, to the credit of tlie Receiver General, may be credited to the same Indian Fund. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) Joseph Howe. Honorable S. L. Tiiley, C. B., Minister of Finance, Ottawa. 1 (Copy.) Indian Branch, Ottawa, 18th March, 1873. Sir, — I have the honor to enclose herein a copy of an incouat of disbursements made in British Columbia by Indian Superintendent J. W. Poweil, out of the sum of $1,500, for which a credit was given to that gentleman on the 4th January, 1873. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) Joseph Howe. J. Langton, Esq., Auditor General, Finance Department, ^ Ottawa. (Copy.) Indian Branch, Ottawa, 22nd March, 1873. Sir, — Reverting to your letter of the 28tli Xcvember last, relative to difficulties ap- prehended with British C!ohimbiii Indians at Alborni, I enclose liorein, a Copy of an Order in Council of the 2lst instxut, and I have to notify you that, as ]»rovided by tho said Order in Council, the sum of $2,000 will be placed to your credit on account of e.xpenses in connection with the pr!,)[)'jsecl survtys of Indian Resyi ves. 1 am, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) Joseph Howe. Dr. J. W. Powell, Visiting Superuitendont and Commissioner, Indian Office, Victoria, B. C. 89 1873. lilt., from of a copy vince, ad- with the I from the 9(1 to the oabia, and itry being y paid on kewise, a ►f British e credited OWE. 873. tnts made $1,500, >WE. &73. Itiea ap- m Order the said ?.xpenses (Copy.) The Committee have had before them a memorandum from the Deputy Superin- tendent General of Indian Affairs, submitting a letter from J, W. Powell, Esq., local Supeidntendent at Victoria, relative to difficulties apprehended with British Columbia Indians at Alberni. The Deputy Superintendent states, that the apprehended troubh; appears to arise, as shown by correspondence, copies of whicli the Superintendent has furnished, in con- sequence of sales of land in that locality having been made by the Local Government to Messieurs Anderson & Co., and a contention on the part of two settlers who had at- tempted to pre-empt lands at that place. * That it would seem that no reservation for the Indians had been made there, nor other satisfactory arrangements entered into with them. That they objected to surveys being proceeded with, and that Mr. Taylor, a farmer at Alberni, had been driven off the Post with knives, and that no proj^erty is safe with them at present. That this and other communications transmitted by Superintendent Powell, prove the absolute necessity oi his being empowered to confer with the Local Govei-nment. with the view to sufficient reserves, on a liberal and just scale, being set apart for the various bands of that Province. He accordingly suggests that each family be assigned a location of 80 acres of land, of average quality, which shall remain peru.?nently tlic property of the family, for whose benefit it is allotted. That it is a matter of urgent importance to convince the Indians of that Province !' I the Government of the Dominion will do full justice to the rights of the Indian population, and thus remove the spirit of discontent, which in various quarters appearsto prevail. Tliat Superintendent Powell pioposes to make a general visit to the Coast Indians, at an early day, with a view to a settlement of their land disputes, for which purpose he would require the use of a Government vessel, and ho names the Dominion Government steamer " Sir James Douglas " for that service. The consideration of this proposition, the Deputy Superintendent suggests, may probably occupy time, he submits therefore, that authority be at once g' /en to Mr. Powell, to confer with the Local Government in regard to Indian i eserves already set apart, which may require to be extended, and the outlines marked out in survey ; also, for the setting apart such additional E eserves as in his judgement he may deem to be important foi- the purpose of fulfilling the just expectations of these Indians. That Jt will be requisite to supply the Superintendent with sufficient funds to carry out the p^ una proposed, and he therefore suggests that from the amount voted by the Legisla* iu 2> the sum of $2,000 be placed in Dr. Powell's hands, to be accounted for in due c .u*-S' 11 ^; 1 f^'-ommendation of the Honorable the Secretary of State for the ProAnnces, the CornvH' v-j i. Ivise that the suggestion submitted in the foregoing memorandum of the Deputy Sup^'i^'' fudent be apjn'oved and acted on. WE. (Copy.) ' ^ British CoiiUiiBiA. Department of Indian Affairs, Victoria, March 27th, 1873. • t.,H^ — I have the honor to suggest for your consideration the desirability ^in making ari iu;,r(,viiCDts for the Government of British Columbia Indians) of procuring a number of ni'. ■■'. ; ad Dominion flags for presentation to the various chiefs who may merit the same far good conduct and loyalty. Our Indian chiefs are exceeding fond of any symbols ■■> :i ■■/, F 40 of authority or distinction, and invariably evince their gratitude for them by fidelity and attachment. The late Governor Seymour had a number of bronze tips for flag stufis sent out from England, the presentation of which, with the accompanying flag, was highly prized by the recipient of such an honor. The medals might be made of bronze or silver, vrith. some appropriate Canadian device, and would tend much to attach them to the country and Government aflbrdiag them justice and protection, and of which their khowledge is at present very limited. I had the honor of addressing you on the 26tu of February, respecting the balance xsmaining to the credit of the Department here on that date. The vouchers for this sum, now about exhausted, owing to the^alls made upon me by sick and destitute Indians, will be transmitted in due course. I shall be glad to be advised of a further credit, which may anticipate future re- quirements of the Department in this Province. I have the honor to be. Sir, Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) J. W. Powell, Superintendent of Indian Affairs. The Hon. Joseph Howe, Secretary of State for the Pi-ovinces, «&c., &c. \Oopy.) Ikdian Branch, Ottawa, Apiil 16th, 1873. Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th ulto., and to mquest that you will state the number of flags, and the size you would recommend, for presentation to the chiefs, and likewise the number of medals- for distribution among them. I am, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) Joseph Howe. Dr. J. W. Powell, Indian Commissioner, Victoria, British Columbia. * I (Copy.) Indian Branch, Ottawa, 19th April, 1873. ^ Sir, — I beg to inform you that an appropriation of $2,480 has been made frora Indian funds for general expenditure by you, and for assisting British Columbia Indians, and to be accounted for by you in due course. A letter of credit for the above has issued on ihe Bank at Yictoria. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, (Signed,) Wm. Spragoe, Deputy Superintendb.it of Indian Affairs. - Dr. J. W. Powell, Visiting Superintendent and Commissiojier, ' Indian OflSce, Victoria, British Columbia. t idelity and t out from prized by mth some tuntrj and adge is at be balanoe 8 for this [ destitute future re- BTairs. H. 1873. 0., and to mend, for on among OWE. 873. lade from f. Indians, Fairs.