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 hi a monopol- 

 izing way. If it could be gathered like wheat 

 the whole would be carried away and dissi- 

 pated hi towns, leaving the brave inhabitants 

 of these wilds to starve. 



Long before the harvest-tune, which is hi 

 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 hi 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 hi 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 



