MOUNTAIN TREES 



It is to this tree that the Southern 

 Indians look for the best acorns for 

 meal-making. Rivaling in picturesque- 

 ness the pinyon gatherings among the 

 desert Indians are the acorn hunts of 

 the valley and mountain dwelling In- 

 dians found nearer the coast. When 

 the lovely golden days of late October 

 come and the ground lies thickly strewn 

 with scarlet, frost-tinted leaves and the 

 rich brown nuts of the oaks, parties of 

 two to a dozen Indians mounted on 

 ponies and followed by Indian dogs, 

 make their way up the steep trails to the 

 oak groves. If the rancherias are far 

 from the nutting orchards pails, kettles, 

 and other necessities for making camps 

 are fastened to the saddles and several 

 days are spent in the open, the length of 

 the stay depending largely upon the 

 rapidity with which the chattering 

 squaws and children fill the sacks and 

 burden baskets with acorns. Since 

 acorns which have been on the ground a 

 few days soon spoil with mildew, only 



85 



