294 OVERLAND EXPEDITION TO SAN FRANCISCO. 



stream, being not more than thirty feet broad and two feet 

 deep. 



The weather, with the exception of that of a single day, was 

 cool, clear and bracing, and we all enjoyed much better health 

 than while traversing the plains. Nor was there any want of 

 game ; indeed, some days our hunters killed more than it was 

 possible for the company to consume. The scientific gentle- 

 men made large collections in their respective departments. 



We saw many Indians, and as we knew they were friendly ; 

 we permitted them to enter our camp. They are a large, 

 fine-looking race, and of a sociable disposition. They do not 

 compress their heads, and they allow their hair, which is fine 

 and glossy, to hang down to their shoulders in natural ringlets. 

 Their food consists of game, fish, and acorns, which they make 

 into bread. Their huts are small, and devoid of comfort. 

 They have bows and arrows, with which they shoot admirably. 

 An ordinary sized button was set up as a mark thirty yards 

 off, and they hit it three times out of five ; they can also kill 

 birds on the wing. The arrows are nearly three feet long, 

 and feathered from six to ten inches. In shooting, the bow is 

 held horizontally, braced by the thumb of the left hand, and 

 drawn by the thumb and three fingers of the right hand ; and 

 to obviate the disadvantage of drawing to the breast, the chest 

 is thrown backwards on discharging the arrow ; they throw 

 out the right leg, and stand on the left. 



The few women we saw were much inferior in personal ap- 

 pearance to the men, which we attributed to hard work, for 

 they seemed to be constantly employed, while the men did 

 nothing but eat, drink, and amuse themselves. The artist of 

 the party had much difficulty in taking their portraits, as they 

 imagined that he was a medicine-man, and desired to practise 

 some enchantment upon them. 



