SOCIETY. 393 



eye or agreeable to the palate, and mixed through with leaves 

 and dirt. For grinding the acorns a stone mortar is used. 

 This mortar is sometimes nearly flat, with a hollow not more 

 than two inches deep ; and occasionally one will be seen fifteen 

 inches deep, and not more than three inches thick in any part 

 of it. The pestle is of stone, round, ten inches long and 

 three thick. 



Horsechestnuts are usually made into a gruel or soup. 

 After being ground in the mortar, they are mixed with water 

 in a waterproof basket, into which redhot stones are thrown, 

 and thus the soup is cooked. As the stones when taken from 

 the fire have dirt and ashes adhering to them, the soup is not 

 clean, and it often sets the teeth on edge. 



Grass-seeds are ground in the mortar and roasted or made 

 into soup. 



Grasshoppers are roasted, and eaten without further prepara- 

 tion, or mashed up with berries. 



Fish and meat are broiled on the coals. The intestines and 

 blood are eaten as well as the muscle. "^ 



Clover and grass are eaten raw. The Indians go out into 

 the clover patches, pull up the clover with their hands, and eat 

 stalks, leaves, and flowers. They consider clover a great 

 blessing, and get fat on it. 



The Indians rarely have salt and never spices, and most of 

 their food is such as a white man could not eat, unless reduced 

 to near starvation. In eating they use no plates, cups, knives, 

 or forks, nor do they use any utensils in preparing their food, 

 save the mortar and waterproof basket. The pine-nuts, edible 

 roots, and berries are eaten raw. Bugs, lizards, and snakes 

 are all considered good for food. In those places where the 

 tules grow, the roots of those rushes are eaten. Except one 

 or two tules in the Colorado Desert, the wild Indians of Cali- 

 fornia never tilled the soil. 



They use very few tools. The bow was the only weapon 

 for killing quadrupeds. It is made of a reddish wood said to 

 be the western yew, and on the back the bow is strengthened 

 17* 



