CALIFORNIA. 180 



short time procured half a bushel of them. They had also larger 

 nets, which very much resemble our own ; but on close examination, 

 the manner of forming strands of the cordage was found to be dif- 

 ferent. 



Their language is soft compared to that of the northern Indians, 

 and as much so as that of the Polynesians. In but a few cases was 

 the guttural sound of tch observed ; and the repetition of syllables is 

 frequent, as "wai-wai," and " hau-hau-hau." Lieutenant-Comman- 

 dant Ringgold obtained a small vocabulary of the language from a 

 chief, and Captain Suter furnished much information respecting it. 

 According to him, although there are many tribes, yet they speak no 

 more than two distinct languages, one of which prevails on the east 

 and the other on the west side of the Sacramento. This information, 

 however, was contradicted by other authorities; but as this subject 

 belongs to the report on philology, I must refer the reader to Mr. 

 Hale's book on that subject for further information. 



According to the best authorities, these Indians, so far from being 

 cannibals, will not eat any kind of animals that eat man. They 

 carry burdens in the same manner as the northern tribes, with a 

 strap round the forehead. They live upon various plants, in their 

 several seasons, besides grapes, and even use the Artemisia. A species 

 of lobacco is found on the sandy beaches, which the Indians prepare 

 and smoke. 



Their bows and arrows were carefully made, and the latter were 

 kept in quivers made of fox-skins, young bears, &c. In each of these 

 they had about forty arrows, pointed with flint and neatly made. 



The vegetation throughout the whole course of the Sacramento 

 showed evident traces of salt, and in some places the prairies seemed 

 to be incrusted with it. 



At the place where the survey ended, the river was two hundred 

 feet wide, its banks being twenty feet above the river; but it was 

 evident that its perpendicular rise exceeded this, as there was every 

 appearance of its overflowing them ; and, according to the testimony 

 of the Indians, the whole country was annually inundated. 



On the afternoon of the 31st of August, the party turned to go down 

 the stream, and with the aid of the current made rapid progress. 

 Towards sunset they entered the small stream called Bute, on whose 

 banks they encamped. Here they were much disturbed, both with 

 bears and musquitoes. 



On the 1st of September, they made an early start, and about noon 

 reached the village where the theft of Dr. Pickering's pistol had been 

 committed. 



