printed the record of the fact in the reports of two of its Departments), this was certainly a strange phraseology of invitation for it to address to Sitting Bull His replies and those of his chiefs wete full of scathing sareasm soil, they had for once safo freedom of speech as well as of ae- tion, and they gave the United States Comumissioncrs very con clusive reasons why they chose to remain in Canada, where they could "trade with the traders and nake a living," aud where their women had time to raise their children."^[1]

The commissioners returned from their bootless errand, and the Interior Department simply entered on its records the state ment that "Sitting Bnll and his adherents are no longer con Secure on British sidered wards of the Government." It also enters on the same record the statement that in the months of September and October, 1876, the various Sioux agencies were visited by a commission appointed under the Act of Congress, Angust 15th of that year, to negotiate with the Sioux for an agrecment to surrender that portion of the Sionx Reservation which included the Black IIills, and certaiu hunting privileges outside that re serve, guaranteed by the treaty of 1868; to grant a way across their reserve; and to provide for the reinoval of the Red Cloud and Spotted Tail bands to new agencies on the Mis- souri River. The commission were also authorized to take steps to gain the consent of the Sionx to their removal to the Imdian The commission were successful in' all the nc- right of Territory. gotiations with which they were charged, and the Indians made every concession that was desired by the Governinent, althougl we were engaged at that very time in fighting their relatives and friends,9 The only comment needed on tis last para graplı is to suggest that a proper list of errata for that page should contain: "For although' read 'because !" half of the United States the agreement thns entered into pro-

On be-