2 14 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



Water Spirit to fill itself with water and make trip after trip 

 over the mountains until it had emptied all the water into the 

 ocean, after which it was imprisoned in the base of the tree, and 

 the small lake left for its drinking water. It must remain there 

 until the end of time. Only once each year, in January, is the 

 spirit allowed to look out from its prison, and woe to the Indian 

 who is unfortunate enough to be seen by this monster, which pos- 

 sesses a fascinating power that can not be resisted I The Indian 

 is drawn down into the prison and devoured. 



This is a crude legend, but many Indians still believe in its 

 truth, and could not be hired to camp near or fish in Homer Lake. 



This tribe is fast disappearing. The younger generations have 

 intermarried to a large extent with other tribes, and in some in- 

 stances with other races. Their enforced association with a supe- 

 rior race has also had the usual effect. These conditions, together 

 with their total disregard of the ordinary rules of health, have 

 brought about the usual result, and it is doubtful if more than 

 one hundred and fifty Indians can be found to-day in the Sacra- 

 mento Valley who are descendants of this once powerful tribe, 

 and one tenth of this number would easily include those of pure 

 blood. 



In Plumas County, which lies in the mountain district and 

 affords somewhat different conditions from the valley in the mat- 

 ter of climate and sparse white population, the proportion of sur- 

 vivors is very much larger, although the same conditions of 

 intermarriage, etc., prevail here as well. It is a significant and 

 perhaps hopeful fact that the population of this mountain region 

 has been increasing within the last decade. Whether this be 

 owing to intelligent appropriation of hygienic ideas gained from 

 association with white people, or to the chance for a slower evo- 

 lution, or whether it be the expiring flash of the candle in its 

 socket, remains for further examination. It is apparent that they 

 have made a successful effort to lift themselves from their low 

 condition of savagery to a higher plane of civilization, as is in- 

 stanced by their adopting proper clothing, living in more com- 

 fortable houses, using civilized food, and properly cooking the 

 same. They also evince an inclination to Christian worship and 

 education, but with rare exceptions the Indian seems incapable of 

 acquiring a complex education. Beading, writing, and spelling 

 are readily learned by them, and they particularly excel in the 

 imitative studies, writing and drawing. 



Whether on the whole these Indians will become civilized be- 

 fore the race becomes wholly extinct remains a problem which 

 time alone will be able to solve. 



^^ 



