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Show A TRIP ACROSS THE PLAINS'. The rivers abound in fish, of the salmon family, varying from two to four f~et. in l.ength. The markets .of this-: eountry are well supplied w1th nearly every vanety of flesh, fish, or fowl~ . . . 'fhe time for making rap1d.fo1·tunes, by gold m1n1ng, has gone by;· but· those who .desire a pleasant home in the farwest, will be as well satisfied. with this country, as any 0?\ her west of the Rocky 1nountains. CHAPTER XIII.. ':1'1•~ ''DiggcJ.•s"-Habits-Rcligion, &c.,-!Uexicnns-n Fan,.~ danKo- ()bicf 'I'o\Vns. The Indians of Cl\lifornia belong to what is called tHo Digger tribe. They live upon roots, grass, bugs, grasshoppers, acorns and fish. Aeorns· are gathered in great quantities, pounded into a kind or menl, and baked.. "rhis, with dried fish, constitutes their principal food. They go entirely naked-their bir.th-day suits lasting all t;heir lifetime. T hci !' houses a!·e little bette r than large ovens, built in the followutg manner : A hole is dug fron1 twenty to fifty feet in diameter, and about four feet deepa frame work placed over this, and the whole covered with dirt. An opening is left a.t one side, to crawl in and out at. They are almost entirely destitu.te of horses, dogs, or· any other domestic animal. 'fhe bow and spear are their only weapons. A predatory warfaa·e is carried on between the differen t tt·iues, genera-lly between the "mountain" and uvalley" tribes. As they are not blessed/ with much property, real Ol' personal, squaws are about the only spoils of victory. Numbers of these are carried away, as captives, when· a. "ranchere" o1· Indian village is taken. Thei.r religion is pagan, worshiping trees, water, earth, &c. 'fheir fa,ndangoes are religious ceremonies. Sevcl·al are held during. each year, and are considered ve1y important occasions. During the day numbers of them, collect nt some particular rancltere to make preparations for the ''scene" at night. Their naked bodies are painted in every variety of sty te, AND LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. and their hair tied up, and covered with feathers, pieces of cloth, beads &c. About dark a small .fil'e is built in the centre of a large hot, giving just enough light to n1ake darkness v-isible. Around this fire, fifty or sixty coll ect, and the dance or tramp begins-, keeping time with their banes, arms, head and nearly every part of the body. The music is a short chant, kept up by the dancers·, though the gt·eatest noise is produced by the iraanp of thei.r bare feet on the soft earth. They have a musical instrument, which is· simply a tube, having a couple of holes in it, flute l ike, to producethe modulatio·ns. It resemble~ neither a bugle, flute, c laJ"onet, flage let, or any t~ing else, except anotlter one of the ~ame kind. I think the playing of thi-s in~trutnent is a lmost beyond ~ the "ken" of any thing connected with ci vilization. \Vhen the temperature of the "Oven" is a t about 150o, and the perspiration running 1n streams off the bodies osf the actorc, the whole thing resembles more t•he midnigl~t orgies of dem0ns, than any thing human. when an individual dies, a ho~e is dug at the mouth or his hut, the body put in and covered, after which, his prop .. e rty is laid on the grave and burned. , The mourners keep up a disma l howli·ng for severa l days. This i~ the general custom·, though some· tribes burn the body and scatte1· the ashes to the winds. They are passionately fond of gambling, and never quit the game, until one of the parties is dead broke. Tbe game is played in the following manner. Two .having seated themselves on the ground opposite each othe1·, the one takes a small pebble, and passing it frorn one hand to the othet· requires the other,. to teH in which hand it ia. If he fails to tell, one is counted on the garne, if otherwise the other takes the pebble. Seven constitutes the gatne. They are· fond of int()xicating ch·inks, are great eowar~s, and generally dishonest. Many have been kept at the catholic missions and have in this way acquired sotne knowledge of the Spanish language. 'l'ho ~exicans are indolent and superstiti0us. They have two or three p.h.L·ases whieh nrc almoat constan·tly i.e; usc. |