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that no more beef be furnished by the contractors. It is only a very few in the immediate vicinity of Fort Gibson who can draw the beef thus furnished while the great mass of our People, living at their homes cannot share it. I also notice large quantities of Tobacco and salt has been brought here by the contractors. Salt we can make ourselves at our own labors and prefer that the expense of furnishing it be not incurred. Markham's Salt Works will be put in operation by the national authorities in the course of a few days. Tobacco is one of these useless articles upon which enormous profits are realized. And those who are foolish enough to use it ought to pay for it. It is so far from being a necessity that I do earnestly protest against incurring expense in procuring it and ask that Tobacco be excluded from the unclear And in general I request that only absolute necessities be furnished. We would greatly prefer that the entire expenditures for furnishing destitute Cherokees, with food be devoted to the procuring of Flour and corn on the most favorable terms possible. So far as food is concerned breadstuff is the only