142 THE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA. 
earth or ashes over night and taken out hot for breakfast, 
does not need a hunter’s appetite for its appreciation. 
Marriage among the California Indians was similar to that 
of other tribes in other parts of the country. Presents of 
sufficient value were given by the man to the girl’s parents, 
and the bride might be given away without her knowledge 
or consent. From my own observation I know that the 
Indian uses the best of his judgment in making a selection, 
and desires neither family strife or misery in his lodge. 
Girls are married at thirteen or fourteen years of age, and 
no woman of marriageable age 
remains single long. Most of 
the Indians, who became per- 
sonally well known to me, were 
very happy in their family rela- 
tions, and the custom of dividing 
food equally among them, al- 
== lowed no family to suffer from 
TT want. 
Stone die ad Bola from the Museum When the whites first came 
ee TEM into the country the Indians 
were virtuous and happy, and if whiskey had not demora- 
lized them they would have retained mueh of their original 
independence and self-respect. They were naturally cheer- 
ful and attached to each other, and although polygamy was 
permitted I knew only one chief who had two wives. 
These seemed to agree, although Waketo said of his family 
that it had "too much tongue." 
In earlier days dancing among them was confined to cere- 
monies of different kinds. In some of these the women 
joined, forming themselves into a circle; but as only one 
step was used in a solemn way, accompanied by a half turn- 
ing of the body, a stranger might be in doubt whether 
it was rejoicing or mourning. Within this circle the men 
danced with great activity, leaping across a fire burning 
in the centre, and yelling and singing whilst the women 
Fig. 41. 
