382 THE YOKUTS. 
man, physician to the Tule River Reservation, gives me the information 
that both males and females, though bathing quite apart, never enter the 
water without wearing breech-cloths at least; and this is corroborated by an 
old resident on King’s River, who observed it of them in their native con- 
dition. Mr. Charles Maltby, agent of the above reservation, and at one 
time Indian agent for the whole State, and well acquainted with aboriginal 
habits, also affirms that the Yokuts are purer than the northern tribes, and 
that the Indians throughout Southern California are less given to the 
infamous practice of selling the virtue of their women to white men than 
those of Northern California. They may not have been any better origi- 
nally, but they have not been so shamefully debauched by miners. That 
is probably the explanation. 
Their language has what is generally considered a good indication, 
separate words for “woman” (mo-kel’-la), and wife (mo-ki’); also, for “‘man” 
(no’-no) and ‘‘ husband” (lo‘-wit). 
We find also the singular custom noticed in some other tribes, that a 
man marrying goes to live at his wife’s or father-in-law’s house, though he 
still has power‘of life or death over her person. 
Infanticide is practiced in case of deformity. 
Many years ago the Indians dwelling on the lake at the mouth of King’s 
River were carried away captives by the Spaniards, and taken to San Luis 
Obispo. After along residence there, upon the breaking up of the missions, 
they returned to their native land; but meantime a new generation had 
grown up, to whom the old mission was their home. They yearned to 
return, and to this day they make an annual pilgrimage to San Luis, where 
they remain a month; and they would by preference live there all their 
remaining days, only their children, born on the shores of Tulare Lake, 
will not consent. By some this may be considered a convincing proof of 
their attachment to the old Jesuit padres, who used to lasso them in the 
name of the church; but it is not necessary to resort to this explanation at 
all. It is easily enough accounted for by the California Indian’s proverbial 
love of his birthplace, just as the slave-born children of Israel lusted for 
the flesh-pots of that Egypt which had scourged them. 
If an Indian dies on atrail far from home he is buried beside it. Every 
