262 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



The Wakash, on the Island of Nootka, speak a language distinct from 

 the idioms of all the neighboring nations. 



L. The California Indians dwell along the coast of the whole of New 

 or Alta California, as also on the peninsula of Old California as far as the 

 southern extremity, Cape St. Lucas, in 23° north latitude. Whether the 

 Old Californians are actually tribes akin to those of New California, is a 

 fact not yet ascertained with certainty. All the Old Californians have for 

 a long time been under the influence of Spanish missionaries, which is also 

 the case with regard to the coast tribes of New California. But those 

 Indians, united in missions, have been only apparently won over to the 

 occupations of stationary and civilized life ; whilst the inhabitants of the 

 interior of California are devoted, as formerly, to a savage hunting exist- 

 ence. According to Chamisso, they stand much below the tribes of the 

 north-west coast and interior of America, in point of civilization. All are 

 of an extremely savage appearance, and very dark color. Their flat, broad 

 faces, from which gleam large fierce eyes, are overshadowed by long, 

 thick, even, and black hair. Modification of colors, tattooing, painting for 

 the war dance, weapons, and customs, differ according to the various 

 tribes. (PI. I, fig. 21, a California Indian.) 



M. The Shoshonees, or Camanches, fill up the entire space bounded on 

 the one side by a line extending from the Columbia, in latitude 45°, to the 

 Rivers Colorado and Gila, in latitude 34°. From this boundary, their 

 territory extends eastwardly across the Rocky Mountains, and to the Gulf 

 of Mexico, in 30° north latitude. All the tribes speak the same language 

 and of them the Shoshonees and Camanches proper are the most numerous. 

 The former dwell upon the west side of the Rocky Mountains, in the north- 

 western section of the district described above ; the latter are found upon 

 the east side of the range, in the south-eastern portion of the territory ; the 

 southern regions are inhabited by the Apaches. The Shoshonees live on 

 fish or game ; those on the Colorado keep also a large number of swine as 

 domestic animals, and many horses. Their dwellings are portable, and 

 consist of skin tents. They are peaceable, not cruel, and very hospitable ; 

 highly intelligent also, and good in their morals. The Camanches (Hietans, 

 Jetans, Paducas) are at present perhaps the most powerful nation of the 

 Indians of the continent of North America ; and their matchless equestrian 

 skill, their formidable mode of attack, their unsurpassed rapidity in loading 

 and discharging their guns, as well as their inextinguishable hatred of the 

 whites, make the enmity of these Indians more to be dreaded than that of 

 any other tribe of natives. They also have portable tents for dwellings, 

 and never remain long in one place. 



The Arrapahoes, who are allied in language to both tribes, live south of 

 the Shoshonees. 



N. Independent Nations have concentrated themselves in the prolonga- 

 tion of the Sierra Madre of Mexico, in order to carry on a war of exter- 

 mination against the Europeans. They have re-conquered this region from 

 the Spaniards, and maintain a complete independence. To them belong 

 the Piros, Xumanos, Lanos, Zuros, Moquis, Tiguos, Pecuri, Keres, Yahi- 

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