FAMILY INFLUENCE POWERFUL. 221 
cottonwood. In making a wigwam they excavated about two feet, banked 
up the earth enough to keep out the water, and threw the remainder on the 
roof dome-shaped. In a lodge thus covered a mere handful of sprigs would 
heat the air agreeably all day. In the mountains where wood was more 
abundant they frequently put on no roofing of earth. It has been thought 
by some that they used wood in the mountains in order to make a sharper 
roof as a precaution against the weight of snow, and in the Sierra this con- 
sideration had its weight also, but the real explanation is that they simply 
used the material which lay nearest to hand. 
With the Lolsela bride often remains in her father’s house and her 
husband comes to live with her, whereupon half the purchase-money is 
returned to him. Thus there will be two or three families in one lodge. 
They are very clannish, especially the mountain tribes, and family influence 
is all-potent. That and wealth create the chief, with such limited power as 
he possesses. The chief of the Lolsel was and is Klai’-ty, but his brother 
at one time became more powerful than he through his family alliances, 
created an insurrection, involved the tribe in civil war, and expelled nearly 
half of it with Klaity to the head of Clear Lake. They remained there 
several years, but when the Americans arrived they intervened and secured 
a reconciliation. A man who is wealthy sometimes purchases ‘‘relatives” 
in order to augment his family influence; and one who has none at all 
does the same to secure himself protection. 
This clannishness begets conspiracies, feuds, and secret assassinations. 
The members of a powerful Korusi family have been known to assemble in 
secret session, during which they appeared to determine on the death of 
some person who was considered dangerous, for immediately afterward that 
individual was shadowed and soon disappeared. The Lolsel and Chenpo- 
sel are noted for the savage family vendettas which prevailed between them, 
some of which have been kept alive to this day. 
In war the Patwin employed bows and arrows and flint-pointed spears, 
and often fought in open ground with much bravery. No scalps were taken 
from the slain, but the victors often decapitated the most beautiful maiden 
they had captured, and one held up the bloody head in his hand for his 
companions to shoot at to taunt and exasperate the vanquished. Men who 
