tions and settling down, abandoning their depredations on the surrounding country, and becoming dependent on the Government for their rations, and are content to live quietly.

Question. Had you any opportunity of conversing with any of the leading men among the Apaches?

Auswer. Yes, sir. In every place I visited I saw the leading men of the different reservations.

Question. So far as you know, have they changed their dispositions toward the whites, in consideration of the treatment which they are now receiving?

Answer. Yes, sir; they have materially changed; and that change is particularly observable on the White Mountain reservation, which includes the San Carlos, so much so that the Indians at the White Mountain reservation and at San Carlos are manifesting a disposition to work, which they never did before. Over at Verde I found the Indians employed by the agent at cutting hay and doing farm-work, which they never had done before.

Question. What have you to say as to the condition of the Indians in New Mexico?

Answer. There are two reservations of Apaches in New Mexico. The same observations that I made in reference to the Apaches in Arizona will apply to those in New Mexico. It costs about 20 cents per ration to feed them on these two reservations at Tulerosa and Fort Stanton.

Question. Are the Indians in New Mexico as hostile and mischievous as ever?

Answer. At Tulerosa and Fort Stanton they are far from being as hostile as formerly.

Question. Have you visited any other Indians in New Mexico?

Auswer. Yes. I visited the Navajoes. They are partly in Arizona and partly in New Mexico. They number 8,000 or 9,000, and their reservations contain from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 acres.

Question. Is there any danger from them?

Answer. I think not.

Question. Have you seen any Indians north of Santa Fé ?

Answer. There are two small agencies north of Santa Fé, composed partly of Utes and partly of Apaches. There are 500 or 600 Indians subsisted at each place.

Question. Is there any danger from the Pueblo Indians?

Answer. No; they are peaceable and self-sustaining. They are not fed by the Government; they receive a small amount of annuity goods. They live in houses and cultivate the fields.

Question. Would you say that there is sufficient military force in Arizona and New Mexico to take care of the Indians?

Answer. I think so.

Question. Do you think that any of this military force can be safely withdrawn?

Answer. I do not know that I am qualified to express an opinion on that point. There is no military post within fifty miles of the Navajoes. Fort Wingate is the nearest military post to them. They are a working set of Indians, though they receive rations from the Government. They are entirely peaceable, and will work wherever they get an opportunity. The quartermaster at Wingate, when I was there, had some fifty or sixty of them employed as laborers, making adobes and putting up buildings for the garrison. The Navajoes own large flocks of sheep and a good many horses. They raise wool and manufacture blankets. There is not a great deal of tillable land on their reservation. A good

deal of it is mountainous and barren. The general impression which I got from my observation with the Apaches was that there was a decided improvement in their condition, and that the effect of feeding them on reservations was inclining them to peace and friendliness toward the Government. They appeared to be going on smoothly. Of course, if any depredations were committed on them, or if any particu lar cause for offense should occur, through the indiscretion of some settlers, it might produce trouble; but I did not see any disposition on their part to engage in general hostilities again; certainly not so long as they receive rations.

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 23, 1874.

Examination of J. D. BEVIER, United States Indian Inspector.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. State what Indian tribes you inspected in your official capacity during the last year, and state their condition.

Answer. I first visited the Utes in Colorado. They are friendly, and I think always have been; they have a treaty with the Government and a large reservation. But little progress has been made as yet in civilizing them. There are between 3,000 and 4,000 on the reservation, and there are some floating bands which are not on the reservation yet. Question. Are they armed?

Answer. Yes, sir; somewhat. They are armed with rifles, a good quality of arms. I do not think they are all armed. Some have arms for hunting purposes. There are some Utes about Deuver who have never been on the reservation, and there are some in New Mexico. Travel is considered safe everywhere near the great Ute reservation in Colorado. You may meet teamsters and pleasure-parties camping by the roadside, hunting and fishing for weeks, with Indians about, and no apprehension is entertained by anybody.

Question. Are there any soldiers about there?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. What other tribes in Colorado did you visit?
Answer. None other in Colorado; there are none other.

Question. State whether you visited any tribes in Wyoming.
Answer. I visited the Shoshones in Wyoming.

Question. State the condition of the Shoshones, physically and mor ally.

Answer. They are making some progress in civilization. They are learning to plant and reap. They have a good school, and are gradually working into agriculture. There are about 1,500 of them. They are on a reservation. They are armed partially with rifles. I think a very considerable proportion of them are armed.

Question. Do you know anything about their supply of ammunition? Answer. They obtain their ammunition from the traders.

Question. Are they armed with breech-loading guns?

Answer. Some of them.

Question. Is there any apprehension of these Indians on the part of settlers?

Auswer. None at all. Their friendship is reliable and the people have the utmost confidence in them.

Question. Are those the only Indians you visited in Wyoming?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Did you visit any in Idaho?

Answer. Yes; I visited the Shoshones and Bannocks, at Fort Hall. They are friendly. There are 1,500 of them.

Question. Had you a good opportunity to find out the number of them?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Are they becoming civilized?

Answer. Somewhat. The Shoshones are inclined to work pretty well; the Bannocks less so.

Question. Are they armed?

Answer. Partially.

Question. What are the feelings of the whites toward them; is there any apprehension of danger from either side?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did any of the Indians that you inspected complain of the inroads or intrusions upon them?

Answer. No, sir; white men do not intrude on their reservation, and they do not apprehend any except in a few instances where mines have been discovered.

Question. Did you visit any Indians in Utah ?

Answer. Yes; the Uintah Utes. They are in the northeastern part of Utah, 200 miles from Salt Lake City. There are about 500 of them on the reservation. They are more inclined to work than the Utes in Colorado. They belong to the same family, speak the same language, and visit each other. They are armed imperfectly. There is no apprehension of danger from them. In Nevada I visited the Pah-Utes, in the western part of the State. They are on two reservations-Pyramide Lake and Walker River. There are 700 of them on the reservations and many outside. They are scarcely armed at all. These Pah-Utes of Nevada are well advanced in civilization-present the appearance of a respectable and orderly community. They are dressed like other men. They go about their work regularly, and work daily. They are engaged in agricultural pursuits and will soon be self-sustaining. They have dug many miles of ditches and put up many miles of fences. The agent issues no rations or clothing to any except the men who work; no idle Indian gets anything. The sick and infirm and aged are cared for.

Question. So far as you can judge from your own stand-point, as a civilian and inspector, can you express any opinion as to the necessity for a military force near these tribes?

Answer. There is no use for any military near them, and the presence of military will do harm. The Indians feel restless, uneasy, and disturbed by the presence of soldiers. They have a dread of them. They have confidence in their agents and look to them for advice and direction. They feel secure and comfortable and satisfied in the absence of military.

Question. Did you visit any of the military posts in that region? Answer. I visited Camp Stambaugh, Fort Russell, and Camp Brown, in Wyoming, and Camp Douglas, in Utah.

By Mr. MACDOUGALL:

Question. What was the object of your inspection?

Answer. As defined by the law, we were to visit all the agencies twice a year, examine into their accounts aud financial transactions, judge of the agent's fitness for the place, his efficiency or inefficiency,

as well as his employés; examine the reservations, its soil, climate, products, the progress made in civilizing Indians, the schools, &c., and make such suggestions to the agents and the Department as we could to promote the good of all.

By Mr. HUNTON:

Question. What is the moral effect upon the Indians of contact with the soldiers?

Answer. I think it is unfavorable.

By Mr. NESMITH:

Question. Did you have intercourse with the chiefs and principal men of the tribes?

Answer. Yes; they generally assembled wherever I made a visit. Question. How did you hold intercourse with them? Was it with an interpreter of your own, or an interpreter at the agency? Answer. Through the interpreter that I found at the agency.

By Mr. MACDOUGALL:

Question. In what condition did you find the accounts of the agents? Answer. We had heard a good deal said about the dishonesty of the men connected with the Indian Bureau, but I could not find anything wrong. I think that some of the agents might be more efficient; generally they are good, efficient men.

Question. Did you find the Indians, as a general thing, satisfied with the treatment by the agents?

Answer. Yes.

Question. What time did you make this inspection?

Answer. I commenced in July and finished the last of November. Question. Did you hear of any trouble in Wyoming from the Indians last fall?

Answer. Yes; I had learned through the papers that there had been a raid in the Wind River reservation, in Wyoming, by hostile Arapahoes, in July, and that two women had been killed. I went there in August, and then there was another raid by these same hostile Indians, and the cavalry was in pursuit of them. There was a good deal of excitement at Wind River, but we felt secure so long as we had the Indians there who belonged to the reservation. It was the hostile Indians from abroad that we were afraid of.

Question. Do you pretend to say that it is entirely unnecessary to have a military force in Wyoming?

Answer. At that point it is necessary; not on account of the Indians that belong there, but on account of Indian intruders that come there. The military is necessary to prevent hostile Sioux and Arapahoes from coming in on plundering expeditions.

Question. Where did these hostile Indians come from?

Answer. From the north; from the Powder River country, as I understood.

Question. In your judgment, is it not necessary to keep military all along that western frontier for just that same reason-to prevent raids? Answer. Not ordinarily. Other parts of the country are not subject to such raids. Incursions have been frequently made into these parts by these same Indians. They are old, hereditary enemies; they come in occasionally, steal horses, and shoot at people.

Question. Little trifling matters of that kind?

Answer. Yes.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. Something was said by a former witness about the Mormon bishops having charge of the supplies furnished by the United States for Indians in Utah; does that practice prevail now?

Answer. No, sir. The Mormon bishops now have nothing to do with Indian affairs. Brigham Young was formerly superintendent of Indian affairs in Utah.

By Mr. NESMITH:

Question. How many Indian inspectors are there?

Answer. Five.

Question. What is their compensation?

Answer. Three thousand dollars a year.

Question. And traveling expenses?

Answer. Not to exceed 10 cents a mile. I commenced about the middle of July, and continued until the 29th of November.

Question. Are you still in office?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You spoke about obtaining information about the Indians. Are you conversant enough with the Indians and their language to be able to obtain any sort of information, except what the agents and their interpreters choose to communicate? Had you any other means?

Answer. No; except by talking with people that lived in their vi cinity, and several military men.

Question. Did you make any count of the Indians that you inspected? Answer. No, sir; I could not count them, but I would talk with the chiefs of each separate band, and would learn the number of the band, and by grouping all together I could approximate to the true number. Question. Had you any familiarity with Indian affairs before you made this tour of inspection?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. You never had been employed among the Indians before? Answer. No, sir.

By Mr. GUNCKEL:

Question. You communicated with the whites and with the Indians also?

Answer. Yes; I found white people everywhere, and through the white people and the Indians, and the agent, and all that I came in contact with, I would learn about the true state of affairs.

Question. And you made up your opinion from what you heard from the agents, whites, and Indians?

Answer. Yes; and from my own observations.

By Mr. MACDOUGALL:

Question. What was your former business?
Answer. I formerly practiced medicine.

Question. What did you find the character of the white people to be in the regions where you went?

Answer. I was pleased with the white people; they were generally intelligent, and I thought pretty honorable men. There are many that are said to be free from restraint, and rough. I did not come in contact with many of such. I was favorably impressed with the white people.

By Mr. ALBRIGHT:

Question. Did you hear that the agents gave supplies to be distributed to the Indians through the Mormon bishops?