Viewing page 128 of 485

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]] 126 [[/preprinted]]

In Camp South Fork of Clearwater Nez Perce

Sept 16  9

Hon. Commissioner of Indian Affairs

Sir,

Since my last report of Aug 26 I have been in camp upon this South Eastern part of the Reservation having traveled some hundreds of miles over the mountains and canyons that comprise this portion of the land.  Some of the best land which may be classed as agricultural lies in these South Eastern townships altho. the country is broken and gashed here and there by impassable canyons.  One not far from my present camp is over 1800 feet deep and about 600 feet wide at the top that is, from edge to edge.  These canyons are of little or no value, their sides are too steep for grazing and it is also difficult to secure the timber that is scattered along its banks. Indeed they render grazing near some of them dangerous in the rainy season as I am told by both White Settlers and Indians that [[insert]] a [[/insert]] large number of cattle fall over the edges while feeding and are dashed to death on the rocks. The only arable land is that on the benches that stretch from one canyon to another &