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THE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA. 133 
toe leaves its impress on the dust or sand, the imprint of 
the little toe being as straight, perfect and distinct as that 
of the largest. In summer the Indians are fond of travelling 
from place to place as fish or game, sunny nooks, or shady 
glens offer their attractions in turn, and this living in differ- 
ent places accounts in part, for the intimate knowledge they 
possess of localities and also of trails leading from one sec- 
tion to another. 
In the event of exposure to a severe storm when out hunt- 
ing, or on a journey, the Indian does not risk his life by ex- 
hausting his strength. He selects the best shelter near him 
while he is comparatively fresh, and with bark or boughs, or 
under an overhanging rock, seeks protection from the wind. 
A hole sunk in the ground, and a small fire kept burning by 
an armful of sticks, will keep him warm till he can resume 
his journey. The Indians use great skill in their selection 
of fuel, and also in the disposition of the sticks in burning. 
They say of the white man "big fool, make heap fire and 
smoke, stand far off, look at him burn, while freeze." The 
Indian rejects green or wet wood and puts a few dry sticks 
together, with the ends towards a centre. This gives a free 
circulation of air between the brands, with but little smoke, 
and a large proportion of heat for the size of the fire. 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 in- 
side shows strong posts supporting an arched roof made of 
poles bound with grapevines, 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. These blankets, made from geese feathers 
woven so as to bring the feathers overlapping each other, are 
ingeniously made, and are a protection from wet or cold. 
