376 
scenes in the pacific. 
are a branch of that tribe, but considered by the latter as 
mere dogs, the refuse of the lowest order of humanity ; and 
they certainly are; for living in a country where vegetation 
is so scarce, that nothing but the diminutive hare can exist; 
where the water is of the poorest character, and famine an 
everyday occurrence ; thus being nearly deprived of even the 
plainest nourishment fit for the support of the body, and al¬ 
most entirely destitute of clothing to protect them from the 
inclemency of winter, what more could be expected of them 
than an equality with the brute creation 1 They are superior to 
them only in possession of a soul; but of this they seem to be 
totally unconscious. They have an idea of some superior 
being, whose presence they appear to recognize only in the 
raging elements. As to a future state they are utterly igno¬ 
rant : their life being one of brutal sensuality, and death a 
supposed annihilation. They do not even manifest the mu¬ 
tual affection of parents and children, so universally observed 
in the brute. There are instances to the contrary, but these 
are very rare. 
“ The food of these Indians is in conformity with the charac¬ 
ter of the country they inhabit. They collect the seeds of 
grasses, growing on the margins of the springs and salt ponds, 
roast and pulverize them between tw T o stones, and then boil 
them into a thick mush. Upon this they subsist tolerably 
well while the gathering season continues; but being too 
stupid and improvident to make provision for the remainder 
of the year, they are often in the most wretched condition of 
want. Sometimes they succeed in ensnaring a hare, the flesh 
of which they eat, and the skin of which they cut into cords 
with the fur adhering; and braid them together so as to form 
a sort of cloak with a hole in the middle, through which they 
thrust their heads. The bark of pine trees growing on some 
of the trap mountains, is also a general article of food;'so 
are roots! Ants, grasshoppers, and lizards, are classed 
among their choicest dainties. There are no relentings in 
favor of these little unfortunates; for no sooner are they 
grasped by the hand, than the teeth consign them to the tomb 
