402 
VOYAGE TO THE 
CHAP, sinews at the back of the bow, but here one sinew, the size of the wood, 
occupies the whole extent of the back, and embraces the ends, where 
Dec. they are turned back to receive the string ; the sinew is fixed to the 
bow while wet, and as it becomes dry draws it back the reverse way to 
that in which it is intended to be used. The Indian manner of string- 
ing these bows is precisely similar to that practised by the lovers of 
archery in England ; but it requires greater skill and strength, in con- 
sequence of the increased curvature of the bow, and the resistance of 
the sinew. 
The religion of all the tribes is idolatrous. '! he Olchone, who 
inhabit the seacoast between S4n Francisco and Monterey, worship 
the sun, and believe in the existence of a beneficent and an evil spirit, 
whom they occasionally attempt to propitiate. Their ideas of a future 
state are very confined ; when a person dies, they adorn the corpse with 
feathers, flowers, and beads, and place with it a bow and arrows ; they 
then extend it upon a pile of wood, and burn it amidst the shouts of 
the spectators, who wish the soul a pleasant journey to its new abode, 
which they suppose to be a country in the direction of the setting sun. 
Like most other nations, these people have a tradition of the deluge : 
they believe also that their tribes originally came from the north. 
The Indians in their wild state are said to be more healthy than 
those which have entered the missions. They have simple remedies, 
derived from certain medicinal herbs, with the property of which they 
have previously made themselves acquainted. Some of these roots are 
useful as emetics, and are administered in cases of sickness of the 
stomach: they also apply cataplasms to diseased parts of the body, and 
practise phlebotomy very generally, using the right arm for this purpose 
when the body is affected, and the left where the limbs. But the 
temiscal is the grand remedy for most of their diseases. 
The very great care taken of all who are affected with any disease 
ought not to be allowed to escape a remark. When any of their re- 
lations are indisposed, the greatest attention is paid to their wants, and 
it was remarked by Padre Arroyo that filial affection is stronger in 
these tribes than in any civilized nation on the globe with which he 
was acquainted. 
