TO WARNER'S SPRINGS 233 



rattler a few yards away on first going out in the 

 morning, whereupon McSandy declared that after 

 this he was going to shoot whenever he heard " them 

 sons-of-guns snooping round." 



The dayhght view of San Ygnacio confirmed its at- 

 tractiveness. The Uttle valley was deliciously green, 

 water was abundant, and the surroundings were 

 almost Alpine in boldness and novelty. The air was 

 superb, and the summer climate delightful. Eight or 

 ten families make up the little settlement. Perched 

 on the rocks beside Mary Jane's adobe was the 

 may'-a-not or storage basket in which Indian house- 

 wives keep their stores of acorns, pirion nuts, or 

 other wild provision. In the house were a number of 

 handsome baskets for various uses; jars and ollas of 

 native pottery, without decoration but excellent in 

 form ; bows and arrows, with which Dionysio, as he 

 told me, was able to kill rabbits at forty or fifty 

 yards; throwing-sticks for the same purpose; and 

 much of the paraphernalia of the old Indian ways 

 of life. The rumor having spread that a man was 

 taking pictures, the children of the village assembled 

 for this thrilling experience. When I sent them for 

 their bows and arrows, with a view to a character- 

 istic group, some of the young warriors returned 

 with weapons taller than themselves. 



Down a steep road that followed the windings of 

 San Ysidro Creek we took our way for Warner's 

 Springs. This wooded country of oaks, pines, and 

 cedars was enchanting to me. It seemed incredible 

 that one day's travel could so change every aspect 

 but that of the sky; though even that was a more 



