102 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



Straight, while that of the Polynesian is waved, or more or less in- 

 clining to curl ; a difference, that may not be very easy of explanation. 

 In both nations, the quantity of hair was manifestly greater than in 

 the Oregon tribes. 



There was novelty in hearing a half-breed Hawaiian maintain, that 

 " the Spaniards of California, fell below his countrymen in education, 

 intelligence, and everything pertaining to civilization." He was, how- 

 ever, unwilling to adniit the least affinity with the aboriginals, whom 

 he termed "a most insignificant set of beings." 



The ' Mission' villages, in which the aboriginal population was col- 

 lected by the Catholic Fathers, have been much neglected since the 

 admittance into the country of colonists from Mexico. The natives, 

 however, appeared to be the only artisans; though I saw little room 

 for variety in trades. The houses were low, and built of sun-dried 

 brick, and both Spaniards and natives lived miserably enough ; but 

 much in the style prevailing in the interior of Peru. Whether owing 

 in any degree to their state of tutelage and abject condition, the Mis- 

 sion natives, certainly had not the good-humoured expression of the 

 Polynesians. 



A class-mate and early friend of mine, Mr. John Marsh, after spend- 

 ing eighteen years on our western frontier, traversed New Mexico, and 

 became the first settler in the interior of North California. He esta- 

 blished himself beyond the Mission villages, among the unreclaimed 

 San Francisco tribes, where the Spaniards were unwilling to ven- 

 ture. A year afterwards, he was followed by Captain Sutter, a Swiss 

 gentleman, last from Missouri ; who had fixed his residence on the 

 tide-water of the Sacramento, near the head of navigation for sea- 

 vessels. One of ' his natives' accompanied our boats, and although 

 he had not previously made the journey by water, was of some use in 

 guiding us to the spot. 



I was here interested in observing some thirty natives engaged in 

 making sun-dried brick, standing up to their knees in mire, and work- 

 ing steadily the whole day ; so unlike our eastern tribes. Other na- 

 tives had charge of the cattle ; and as great attention was given to 

 adjusting the accounts for w^ages, all seemed cheerful and well satis- 

 fied. "The labourers had been sent in by the chiefs of different vil- 

 lages ; and some had come from as far as the vicinity of the moun- 

 tains." A profit was even derived, from reletting their labour to the 

 settlers on the coast. 



I remarked that the mode of carrying burdens was the same as with 



