4. When it becomes necessary to pay annuities, instructions will be given by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the proper agent or sub-agent, and also to the officer designated to make the payment. The agent or sub-agent will fix upon the time and place, and will advise the officer of the same, and such officer will make his arrangements to have funds ready at the time and place fixed upon. 5. The proper agent or sub-agent will take care that the Indians receive the necessary information, in order that they may assemble at the time and place designated; for that purpose he is authorized to send messages to the tribe, and the expense of such messages will be defrayed upon his certificate by the officer designated to make the payment. It is presumed, however, that the necessary information may be communicated generally without expense; and in no instance will the expenses for this object, for any one agency or sub-agency, be allowed to exceed the sum of one hundred dollars, unless a previous representation of the necessity thereof be made to the War Department and approved. 6. From the situation and circumstances of the various Indian tribes, a uniform rule respecting the issuing of provisions during the payment of annuities cannot be prescribed. Some of the tribes will require no such assistance, while it must be rendered to others. In the instructions issued on the subject of the annuities, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs will designate those agencies or sub-agencies where it will become necessary to provide assistance during the time of payment. In all cases, however, where the payment is made in the vicinity of a military post, the necessary provisions will be issued from the army stores, upon the requisition of the proper agent or sub-agent, and upon the order of the commanding officer, and accounted for in the manner heretofore practised. 7. Where provisions are required for the payment of annuities, at places where there are no military posts, the agent or sub-agent will form a contract, to be based upon proposals, giving at least twenty days' public notice, specifying the quantity of provisions, and the day, and place, and circumstances of issue. In determining the quantity, the agent or sub-agent will estimate, from the best means within his power, the number of Indians that will probably attend; but no contract will be made for a larger amount than may be previously directed by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. 8. The ration to be issued will consist of one pound of fresh beef, if the same can be had, but if not, then of three-fourths of a pound of salt meat, and three-fourths of a quart of corn or of corn meal, or of one pound of wheat flour, to each person, and of four quarts of salt to every one hundred persons; but no salt will be issued when the Indians receive salt meat.