of this cession, the United States Government agreed "to pro- teet the Poncas in the posscssion of this tract of land, and thcir persons and property thereon, during good behavior on their part; to pay them annuities annually for thirty years- $12,000 for the first five years, then $10,00O for ten years, then $8000 for fifteen years; to expend $20,000 for their sub- sistence during the first year, for building houses, etc.; to es- tablish schools, and to build mills, mechanics' shops, etc.; to give $20,000 for the payment of the existing obligations of the tribe."

to take charge of

Two years later the agent newly appointed the Poncas reports to the Department the amount of improve inents made on the reservation: "One saw and grist-mill; two agency houses-story and a half houses-without inside lining plastering, 16 round log-houses (three with a small shed for a stable), a liglit log-coral for cattle, and a canvas shed for storing under; and about sixty acres of gronnd, broken, comprised all the improve- mcnts. by 26 and 18 by 32 fect in size; six small or

Evidently a very small part of the $20,000 had been spent IHe did not find an Indian on the reservation. From as yet. fcar of the Sioux (who in 1860 had stolen from them more than half the horses they owned) they had moved down the Niobrara River, some twenty miles nearer the Missouri. It was with the greatest diffienlty that the agent induced them to re turn; and after they did so, they huddled their tents close about the agency buildings, and conld not be indnced to go half a mile away unless accompanied by some of the white employés.

As the ageut had no food to feed them with, and no money to buy any (spite of the appropriation of $20,000 for subsist- ence aud house-building), he induced them to go off on a hnnt; but in less than a month they came straggling back, "begging for provisions for their women and children, whom they had