CALIFORNIA. 4? 



California, have ceased to exist ; and the con- 

 verted people may be considered as nearly extinct. 

 There is no medical assistance here, except bleed- 

 ing, which is said to have been taught them by a 

 ship's surgeon ; and this remedy being since applied 

 on every occasion, is more fatal than advantageous. 

 Particularly one disorder, which, though the opi- ^ 

 nions are divided, has probably been spread by the 

 Europeans, carries off its victim without opposition. 

 It likewise prevails among the savage tribes : these 

 latter do not, however, disappear from the earth 

 with the same dreadful rapidity. The number of" 

 whites, on the other hand, increases. 



The contempt which the missionaries have for 

 the people, to whom they are sent, seems to us, 

 considering their pious occupation, a very unfor- 

 tunate circumstance. None of them appear to 

 have troubled themselves about their history, cus- 

 toms, religions, or languages : " They are irrational 

 savages, and nothing more can be said of them. 

 Who would trouble himself with their stupidity ? 

 who would spend his time upon it ?" 



In fact, these tribes are far below those on the 

 north coast, and the interior of America. In 

 their general appearance, they resemble each 

 other, except the Tcholovonians, whom we soon 

 learnt to distinguish by their marked physiog- 

 nomy, which the fathers could not do. They 

 have all a very. savage look, and are of a very dark 

 colour. Their flat, broad countenance, with large 

 staring eyes, is shaded by black, thick, long, and 



