diffieulty and intricacy; but the final report of the commis- sioncrs has just been received, and steps will be taken at once to cause the scrip to issue to the parties entitled thereto.")

A little farther on in this same notable document is a men- tion of another tract, of which it is now "desirable to extin- guislı the title." This was set apart by the tenth Article of that same old treaty for the half-breeds of the Omahas, Otoes, Iowas, and Yankton and Santee Sioux. This contains about 143,000 acres, but is " that on Lake Tepin " much less value than valueless;" bnt the "amount to be paid for it is left to the diseretion " of the supposcd to be of much less value than commissioncrs.

At this timo the bands of the Medewakanton Sioux wcre oe cupying a tract of over two hundred miles along the west ehore of the Mississippi, reaching also some twenty-five miles up the St. Peter's. The Yanktons, Santees, and other bands lived higlı up the St. Peter's, reaching over into the lands west of the Mis- souri, out of reach of ordinary facilities of intercourse. These bands werc often in great distress for food, owing to the failure of the buffalo. They never lost an occasion to send imploring messages to the Great Father, urging him to help them. They particularly ask for hoes, that they may plant corn port for 1850 the superintendent of the territory cmbracing these Indians says: "The views of most of those who have lived the longest among the Indians agree in one respect-that is, that no great or benefieial change In his re can take place in their condition until the General Government has made them amena- ble to local lawslaws which will punish the evil-disposed and secure the industrious in their property and individual rights."

Superintendents, agents, commissioners, seeretaries, all re iteratedly recommending this one simple and necessary step toward civilization-the Indians themselves by hundreds imploring for titles to their farms, or at least "hoes -why did