14 FEBRUARY 1891, Page 2

The total number of Red Indians in the United States,

as ascertained by the new Census, is 314,650, of whom 249,273 are more or less uncivilised, 52,065 belong to the five civilised tribes, 5,034 form the quiet relic of the old Six Nations of New York State, and 8,278 are classed as "Pueblos " of New Mexico. This should yield, by the ordinary calculation, 60,000 arm- bearing males ; but the Indians begin fighting early and continue it late, and 85,000 would be nearer the actual truth. Since the war ended, we note a strong disposition at Washington to employ the " braves " as auxiliary soldiers, the War Department agreeing to add two companies of Indian scouts and hunters to each regiment; and the rations paid to the men on the reservations have been materially increased. There is, too, more readiness to inquire into grievances, tragedies like the massacre at Wounded Knee Creek being publicly investigated. It really appears, from the evidence of the chiefs, that the soldiers engaged in that affair, who had been treacherously slaughtered after an apparent sub- mission, went mad with fury, and killed even babies in arms. The chiefs, however, may be exaggerating, as they must be relying on others' testimony.