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students from Chemawa and Carlisle Schools who had read the Act of Feb. 8, 1887.

I have held two talks with the people. At the one today I had the law translated to them in full, but it is hard for them to set aside the statements of men whom they know and who have been warned not to believe me. This distrust is strengthened because of the appointment of a man as their Agent whom nearly every member of the tribe seems to hold as an enemy. His appointment and my advent coming about the same time are classed together as indicative that the Government means to oppress and wrong the Nez Perce. This belief maked my position one of delicacy and difficulty, and seems likely to promise complications in the future.

Another cause of trouble lies in the fact that the reservation boundaries have been encroached upon. The stones and stakes have been set further and further in with each new wave of settlers. This trespassing has been going on for the past 7 or 8 years I am informed. The Agents have been notified by the Indians but the w[[hite]] men have remained, and advanced further upon the Indian lands. As the Act of Feb. 8, 1887 requires the Agent to assist the special Agent these Indians claim that although I may wish to remove the intruders the Agent who in the past failed to act against the white men will do the same thing again.

I hold another Council on Monday June 10, 1889.