Perhaps the most gratifying feature of the work here is the successful opening of a fully equipped boarding-school in November last. Ten boys and as many girls were taken, clothed and fed; the girls were taught to wash, mend, knit, cook, keep house; and the boys were taught to cut and prepare fuel, to plow, plant, grub, do fence and farm work. In addition to the twenty boarding pupils, there were some twenty day-scholars, so that the present capacity of the school is filled. The results are very gratifying.
The missionary work has been under the auspices of the Protestant Episcopal Mission, who sent last year two native clergymen to labor here; one died in September, 1877. This year, three others have been sent to labor here and across the Lake, where no missionary work has been done, and where the Indians oppose any work of the kind. A church edifice is in process of building, to be completed by December 1st.
Progress is seen in the extent of land in cultivation, in largely increased crops, in fencing made, better dwellings, more stoves, tables, chairs, crockery, better clothing, greater cleanliness, more wash-boards and wash-tubs in use, more comfortable homes; more stock each year; a growing desire to have their children educated; more knitting and sewing done than formerly. Owing to a general lack of snow and water, less has been accomplished this season than usual in the way of building houses, as we had little lumber to build with, although logs were cut, preparatory to driving to mill, to the amount of over 100,000 feet.
Arrangements are about completed for putting in here a substantial little flour-mill this fall, to convert their wheat into nice flour. This will prove a great incentive to increased labor in clearing up land and raising more wheat. This again, will conduce to improved health, as much of their sickness arises from insufficient food, and that of poor quality.
During the last year a new source of revenue has been developed, which is Senega root. Of this, they have dug nearly $4,000 worth, and the supply is not exhausted.
This tribe is not decreasing in number, the births fully equaling the deaths. What we need is to cultivate individuality; to treat the Indians as men and women, not as parts of a tribe; to allot lands in severalty, giving them titles to their homes.
THE CHINESE.
“CALIFORNIA CHINESE MISSION.”
Auxiliary to the American Missionary Association.