NEVADA FORESTS 



this in the way of food, none so little appre 

 ciated. Fortunately for the Indians and wild 

 animals that gather around Nature s board, 

 this crop is not easily harvested in a monopol 

 izing way. If it could be gathered like wheat 

 the whole would be carried away and dissi 

 pated in towns, leaving the brave inhabitants 

 of these wilds to starve. 



Long before the harvest-time, which is in 

 September and October, the Indians examine 

 the trees with keen discernment, and inas 

 much as the cones require two years to mature 

 from the first appearance of the little red ro 

 settes of the fertile flowers, the scarcity or 

 abundance of the crop may be predicted more 

 than a year in advance. Squirrels, and worms, 

 and Clarke crows, make haste to begin the 

 harvest. When the crop is ripe the Indians 

 make ready their long beating-poles; baskets, 

 bags, rags, mats, are gotten together. The 

 squaws out among the settlers at service, 

 washing and drudging, assemble at the family 

 huts; the men leave their ranch work; all, old 

 and young, are mounted on ponies, and set 

 off in great glee to the nut lands, forming cav 

 alcades curiously picturesque. Flaming scarfs 

 and calico skirts stream loosely over the 

 knotty ponies, usually two squaws astride of 

 each, with the small baby midgets bandaged 

 171 



