Our Friends Chas. J. and Martha D. Allen, being willing to act as Superintendent and Matron for the next session, their services have been accepted. Bills for Board and Tuition and other debts, may be paid as heretofore at No. 304 Arch Street, and received by a Friend selected to assist temporarily in the duties of the Treasurer.

Signed on behalf and by direction of the Committee, SAM'L MORRIS, Clerk.

Phila., Fourth mo. 18th, 1868.

Twenty-Second of the month and Fourth of the week. A report of the committee for the gradual civilization and improvement of the Indian natives, was read as follows: exhibiting their present condition. It is very satisfactory to the Meeting to be informed of their improvement, and especially of the favorable influence the Boarding School under the care of Friends appears to be exercising over their children, and the Committee were encouraged to persevere in their endeavors to benefit them, viz:

To the Yearly Meeting.

The Committee for the gradual civilization and improvement of the Indian natives, Report, that they have given the usual attention to the objects of their appointment during the past year. The condition of the Indians on the Allegheny reservation has not materially changed. They clear up some land every year, and with a few exceptions, raise crops sufficient to support themselves and their stock. A few of the more enterprising and industrious generally have a surplus, and thus increase their means more or less every year. Efforts are used by the committee when they visit them both publicly and privately-to incite them to industry and careful attention to their business: they

also encourage them to send their children regularly to school, and endeavor to convince them of the paramount importance of leading virtuous lives. Some of their chief men are fully impressed with the necessity of this course, and co-operate with Friends in their efforts to promote a reformation, and especially to induce their young men to cultivate the land in preference to other pursuits, and avoid the use of intoxicating drinks. The temptation to the residents of the reservation to enter upon the business of rafting lumber is very great, on account of the high wages given for such services, which with the opportunity it affords for seeing other places, induces many to engage in it; and they thus neglect the timely planting of their land, which often results in this class having poor crops, and sometimes none at all. On the Allegheny reservation, through the influence of a large white population, many of whom are of a low order, inducements are given to indulge in practices which are of a demoralizing character, and lead to indolent habits, so that the Indians do not make the same relative progress on this, as they do on some other reservations. Salamanca, at the junction of the New York and Erie, and Atlantic and Great Western Railroads, is steadily increasing in size, and has now probably 1000 white inhabitants. Many expensive buildings have been erected by the railroad companies for depots, machine shops, &c., all of which are on the Indians' land. Induced by the revenue obtained, the natives have disposed of the land within the limits of this town, on leases running from 10 to 12 years. The improvements made by the white people, who have taken it in this way, are in some instances quite costly, and so numerous, that no other course will be left to the Indians but to renew the leases when they expire, as it is not likely, those who have made

them can be induced either to abandon or remove the buildings they have erected, and the Indians have not the means of purchasing even if they desired to do so. There are already many more white people in and around Salamanca, than there are Indians on the whole reservation. There are also a few steam saw mills, and some dwelling houses on other parts of their territory occupied by white families. It appears likely that the large white population now residing on their land will find it to their interest, as it doubtless will be their inclination, to get permanent possession, at least, of that portion of the reservation on which they have settled, as soon as they can. This, however, cannot be done, without the consent of the Ogden Land Company, and the government of the United States. Many of the Indians see the danger of efforts being used for this purpose, and have remonstrated against letting their lands; but it appears to have become the settled policy of those in authority to continue to dispose of it, in this way, whenever a favorable opportunity offers. The revenue derived from the leases is partly appropriated by those of the tribe who formerly cultivated the leased land for their own uses, and part of it is employed for paying the expenses of the nation, thus relieving the Indians from contributions for those purposes.

The same Friends who had charge of the school and farm at Tunessassa, at the time of the last report, continue there, with the exception of Catharine Battin, who after several years of acceptable service, resigned her station, and was succeeded by Elizabeth Clement, who entered upon her duties early in the Tenth month last.

Of all the efforts hitherto made by the Committee for the benefit of these interesting people, the influence of our Boarding School promises under the Divine blessing, to be

the most effectual. By boarding the children, and thus retaining the control over them for several months at a time, without the interference of their parents, an opportunity is afforded for regulating their conduct, and forming industrious habits-by giving them suitable employments; and at the same time their literary instruction is attended to far more efficiently. The knowledge moreover which the girls obtain of household duties, and the boys of work adapted to their sex, will exercise a salutary influence, and be practically useful to them in after life. The desire to avail themselves of the benefits conferred in this school, on the part of the Indians, has greatly increased, so that the applications for admission have been at least four times as ma ny as could be accommodated. For the past year there has been an average of 24 boarding scholars,-20 girls and 4 boys, and a part of the time two other children attended from the neighborhood. The conduct of the pupils while at the Institution, both in the school, and in the house, and their progress in their studies, have been unusually satisfactory. The daily reading of the Holy Scriptures, and other religious books is continued. It is encou

raging to believe that many of the children and some of their parents seem to appreciate the great advantages they enjoy under the care of Friends, and are grateful for them. The expenses attendant upon the establishment as it is now conducted, it will be perceived by the financial statement, are greater than the income from all sources, and has resulted in reducing the principal of the invested funds $1,500. This seems to preclude the increase of the accommodations, so as to admit of more pupils, however desirable that would be, unless the necessary funds can be obtained from other sources.

There have been six schools besides those of Friends in operation on the reservation during the past year, and one

of them was taught by an Indian woman. They were attended by a larger number of pupils than usual.

The benevolent care and liberal policy extended by the State of New York to the different tribes within its limits, as respects the establishment of schools, has no doubt been very beneficial to them, in producing effects upon their mental progress, social comforts, and industrial development. Those schools are maintained at a cost to the State of upwards of $5000 per annum,-the Indians not being required to contribute any other part of the expense, than the necessary fuel. The State also contributes to the support of the Asylum for Orphan children at Cattaraugus. The condition of those tribes is believed to be steadily improving. Information has been received that the Ononda gas have lately organized a government, the officers of which are elective. How far it has superseded that of the chiefs we are not informed. The superintendent of the public schools on the Allegheny and Cattaraugus reservations remarks in a late report respecting the condition of the Indians on the latter: "A stranger passing through the Cattaraugus reservation would see but little in the costume of the people or the general appearance of the country to remind him that he was in an Indian settlement; a good road, some ten miles in length, passes through farms, with good houses, some of which have cultivated flowers in the front yards, cultivated fields, and vegetable gardens, and a good supply of all kinds of domestic animals. On this one street there are six good school houses, three excellent meeting houses, a flourishing asylum for orphan and destitute Indian children, and a court house. At the annual fair of their agricultural society, they make a respectable show of stock, fruit, farm and garden products; and the women make good display of butter, bread, cakes, dried and canned fruits, pickles, fancy and plain needle work," &c.