RACIAL, GROUPS — HOUGH. 637 



dry, and characterized by sparse, thorny vegetation and restricted 

 animal life. 



The Cocopas are in a limited way agriculturists, raising corn on 

 the flood plains of the Colorado, and besides, securing much food 

 from grasses, the mesquite, agave, screw bean, and cactus. They also 

 fish in the Colorado and in the sinks formed by overflows of the 

 river, and hunt rabbits and other small animals. 



Their manufactures are of the few articles required for their simple 

 needs, such as water-cooling jars of porous pottery, cooking pots, 

 etc. ; simple cord work and weaving for nets and clothing ; and orna- 

 ments in shell, feathers, etc., for the head and neck. Important house- 

 hold occupations are illustrated by the two women, the one cleaning 

 seeds with a basket, and the other pounding grain in a wooden mor- 

 tar. Water for drinking is cooled in a porous pottery jar set in the 

 crotch of a tree where the air circulates freely, and the returning 

 fisherman has his cup filled by the willing boy. 



The pastimes of uncivilized peoples tend to some useful end like 

 the instruction of the boy in archer}^, which also furnishes amuse- 

 ment to the whole family. The sun shelter at the back of the group, 

 made of rude sticks, serves also for the safekeeping of the wicker 

 grain storage basket, jars for seeds, digging sticks, and other imple- 

 ments of husbandly. (See pis. 46 and 47.) 



TRIBES OF CALIFORNIA. 



California possesses a considerable diversity of climate and topo- 

 graphical features and more different stocks of Indian languages 

 than any other region of North America. As a group of ethnic 

 provinces California is more isolated and isolating, in reference to 

 human occupation during the Indian regime, than any other portion 

 of the United States. There are really three ethnic provinces in Cali- 

 fornia: Northern, central, and southern. The central and southern 

 provinces are inhabited by tribes influenced by the desert culture of 

 the Great Basin, the southern province by desert tribes along the 

 Mexican boundary, while the northern province presents a diversity 

 of tribes. 



Agriculture was practically nonexistent among the California 

 tribes. Maize Avas unknown except to the southeastern tribes. The 

 abundant and varied natural food supply was more than sufficient 

 for the native population. One of the more important food resources 

 was acorns, which supplied the need for starchy food. 



While there are various degrees of culture among the many tribes 

 of California, in general the California Indians show considerable 

 progress. The coast tribes were farthest advanced. Though archi- 

 tecture was not important, the California Indians excelled in the 

 minor arts, evidencing great taste and skill in everything they made. 



