THE MALAY RACE. 



Ill 



abounding in saline efflorescences, and encamped on a small stream." 

 The encampment was " visited by several natives, who sold bows and 

 arrows :" and Mr. Achate likewise obtained a sketch of one of these 

 individuals. 



Both Mr. Agate and Mr. Brackenridge, think the Shasty should be 

 associated with the Oregon tribes; and they were first struck with 

 the physical change, on arriving at the Sacramento. I would observe, 

 however, that the complexion in the drawings, is too dark for the Mon- 

 golian race: and among other variations in habits, that "the bundles 

 of rushes for canoes, in the form of a lashed-up hammock" (mentioned 

 in the Narrative), entirely correspond with Choris's representation of 

 the Californian canoe. 



On the 3d, the party crossed the commencing ridge of a moun- 

 tainous tract of country, "and encamped on a small stream, which 

 was said to be one of the tributaries of the Sacramento. On the 4th, 

 the forest was at first rather open, the undergrowth having been re- 

 cently burned by the natives; and the trunks of some of the large pines 

 were still on fire. Fires were also remaining at some native camps, but 

 the people kept out of sight ; and in one instance the retreat had been 

 so precipitate, that a woman's basket and bag had been left behind. 

 According to one of the Canadians, ' these natives subsist principally 

 on seeds and small fruits ; have no huts, but take shelter behind rocks 

 and trees ; and clothe themselves in undressed deer-skins.' The 

 route for the two following days, continued through a rugged moun- 

 tainous country, full of deep ravines, and covered with boulders and 

 angular fragments of rock; the natives still avoiding the party, al- 

 though from the frequent occurrence of trails, they must be nume- 

 rous. The horses having suffered from the want of food, the party 

 encamped early at a patch of grass; and remained there during the 

 7th. The journey was resumed on the 8th, and during this and the 

 succeeding day, the country continued much of the same character. 

 On the 10th, however, the ridges were observed to be less steep, witli 

 the general surface declining gradually towards the south and west;" 

 and on the same day, as already mentioned, the party reached the 

 main Sacramento. 



On reviewin<T now this account, it would seem that the natives 

 who avoided the party, may have been women collecting food. The 

 description, however, of the Canadian, seems to indicate the existence 

 of a separate tribe. 



