29 



equalled the boys in swimming or diving, and also used the paddle 

 with skill sometimes even beating the boys in their canoe or foot 

 races. Their winter quarters are dry and warm, but are rarely free 

 from smoke, which the Indians do not seem to regard as an incon- 

 venience. The outside is covered with earth and at least a half of 

 the hut is below the surface of the ground. The inside shows strong- 

 posts supporting an arched roof made of poles bound with grape- 

 vines, and these covered with reeds and coarse grass secured by 

 cords. A small hole in the roof serves as a chimney, and a low door, 

 usually on the south side, is kept open excepting in stormy weather. 

 A raised platform of poles and reeds holds the skins and blankets 

 used for bedding. The hunting and fishing were done wholly by men, 

 and some of the fishing was done at night when the women were 

 sleeping at home. Much of the drudgery came to the women and 

 seemingly with their consent. They said that a hunter needed a 

 keen eye, a firm hand and a fleet foot ; if he became stiff" from hard 

 work or lost his skill, his wife must suffer with him in his misfor- 

 tunes, and it was best for each to do what each could do best. 



An Indian to be judged fairly must be regarded as an Indian. Cus- 

 tom with them, as with civilized people, is law, and many of their 

 customs have probably been transmitted with but little change from 

 remote ages. Their religion is probably little changed from that of 

 an earlier age. A Good Spirit is invoked to provide food and gj^e 

 prosperity, and evil spirits are to be propitiated. The oldest chref 

 prays at certain seasons, morning and evening, outside of the council 

 lodge, and sings in a monotone a few sentences only. This is not 

 in words taken from their language, but is supposed to be intelligible 

 to the Great Spirit. When special prayers are made for success in 

 fishing or hunting the request is made in plain Indian. Although he 

 prays constantly for success, he uses wonderful craft and skill to en- 

 sui'e it. 



To illustrate the ease with which an Indian can provide food for 

 himself, I saw one come to the bank of Feather River one afternoon 

 and start a fire. Turning over the sod and searching under the logs 

 and stones he found some grubs. Pulling up some light dry reeds of 

 the last year's growth he plucked a few hairs from his own head and 

 tied the grubs to the bottom of the reeds, surrounding the bait with 

 a circle of loops. These reeds were now stuck lightly in the mud and 

 shallow water near the edge of the river, and he squatted and 

 watched the tops of his reeds. Not a sound broke the quiet of the 

 place now; the Indian was as motionless as the trees that shaded 

 him. Presently one of the reeds trembled at the top and the Indian 

 quietly placed his thumb and finger on the reed and with a light toss 

 a fish was thrown on the grass. The reed was then put back, another 

 reed shook and two fish were thrown out ; then still another and the 

 fellow was soon cooking his dinner. 



The Indians hunt for one kind of ganfe only at a time, and each 

 kind at a time that they can be taken most advantageously, When 1 

 saw every kind of game represented together at the Indian encamp- 

 ment in Bierstadt's painting of the Yosemite, I knew the camp had 

 been introduced for effect, from the evident ignorance or disregard 

 for the habits of the Indians. 



It would consume too much space to describe all their implements, 

 and many of them do not differ materially from those that were used 

 by Indians in this section; among them were awls of bone, thread 



