§ 98. Illegal sales of timber and trees. Every sale or disposition
without the consent of such chiefs, by any individual Indian or Indians,
of any tree or timber on any of the tribal lands, or of any manufacture
therefrom, shall be void. The chiefs may sell for the benefit of the
nation any timber or trees on the wild lands of such nation, the
proceeds of such sale to be paid to the chief whom the council shall
appoint as treasurer. Such chiefs may bring an action against the person
to whom such trees or timber are sold to recover the purchase price
thereof, or against any person who shall have received any tree, timber
or the manufacture therefrom, unlawfully sold, to recover the value
thereof for the benefit of the nation. Any person who shall sell, take
or carry from the lands of such nation any trees, lumber or articles
manufactured therefrom, without the consent of such chiefs, in any other
case than is provided for in this section, shall be liable to a penalty
of twice the value of such trees, timber or manufactured articles,
recoverable by such chiefs.