NORTHWESTERN AMERICA. 199 



Nez-perces and Wallawallas), the Waiilatpu (Cayuse and Molele), 

 the Shosh6ni (Snakes, Bonnaks, &c.), the Lutuami, the Shasties, the 

 Palaiks, and probably other tribes towards the south and east. They 

 approach, both in appearance and in character, the Indians east of 

 the Rocky Mountains, though still inferior to them in many respects. 

 They are of the middle height, slender, with long faces and bold 

 features, thin lips, wide cheek-bones, smooth skins, and the usual 

 tawny complexion of the American tribes. They are cold, taciturn, 

 high-tempered, warlike, fond of hunting and of all exercises requiring 

 boldness and activity. To one ascending the Columbia, the contrast 

 presented by the natives above and below the Great Falls (the Chi- 

 nooks and Wallawallas) is very striking. No two nations of Europe 

 differ more widely in looks and character than do these neighboring 

 subdivisions of the American race. 



4. The Calif ornian division. The natives of this class are chiefly 

 distinguished by their dark color. Those of Northern or Upper Cali- 

 fornia are a shade browner than the Oregon Indians, while some 

 tribes in the peninsula are said to be nearly black. In other respects 

 they have the physiognomy of their race, broad faces, a low forehead, 

 and lank, coarse hair. They are the lowest in intellect of all the 

 North American tribes, approaching to the stupidity of the Austra- 

 lians. They are dull, indolent, phlegmatic, timid, and of a gentle, 

 submissive temper. The experiment, which was successfully tried, 

 of collecting them, like a herd of cattle, into large enclosures called 

 missions, and there setting them to work, would probably never have 

 been undertaken with the Indians of Oregon, and, if undertaken, 

 would assuredly have failed. 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The Indians west of the Rocky Mountains seem to be, on the 

 whole, inferior to those east of that chain. In stature, strength, and 

 activity, they are much below them. Their social organization is 

 more imperfect. The two classes of chiefs, those who preside in time 

 of peace, and those who direct the operations of war, the ceremony 

 of initiation for the young men, the distinction of clans or totems, 

 and the various important festivals which exist among the eastern 

 tribes, are unknown to those of Oregon. Their conceptions on reli- 

 gious subjects are of a lower cast. It is doubtful if they have any 



