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remove, and finally agreed to look at the Indian Territory, but were informed that the expense of sending a delegation could not be incurred without consent on their part to a surrender of their Dakota lands. Such consent was given by the Poncas in formal Council on the 27th of  January 1877, with the understanding that after the return of the delegation, final negotiations should be completed at Washington.

Accordingly a delegation of ten chiefs visited the Indian territory, but on account of the failure of the Osages to show hospitality and other causes, they became disheartened and eight of the ten left for the Ponca agency. The other two with their agent, the Inspector and Rev. H.D. Hinmon, selected the northern part of the Quapaw preserve which was set apart in 1875 for the location of the "Captive" Indians of the Territory.

On their return they found the tribe divided in sentiment, the more civilized portion favoring the removal, the others opposing it. The adverse feeling so far prevailed, through the unwarrantable influence of outside parties, that only one hundred and seventy crossed the Niobrara on the 17th of April, who were afterward located on the Quapaw reservation. The balance of the tribe were subsequently removed to the reservation.

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