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Show 144 PERSONAL ADVENTURES guard-house, and a sentry stationed to keep watch over them. These Y akees of California forrned a large ortion of a very numerous tribe of Indians p d . in Mexico, who, attracte -as we were m-formed- by the prospect of plunder, and by the liberal promises held ont to them by the Californians at the commencement of the war, had crossed the head of the gulf, and joined the native forces. They are a fierce, darf{· complexioned race, though some shades lighter than the Indians of the upper country, to whom they are superior in natural intelligence. Their eyebrows and hair are very black, and the latter hangs in disorder about their head, though it is not permitted to grow to any O'reat length, as is the custom with many ~ther Indian tribes, nor do I believe is it often subjected to the process of combing. Their cheek· bones are high, their nostrils flat and wide, and their mouths large, but a1nply fu:· nished ,vith brilliantly white teeth. Thetr physical strength is immense ; and, notwith· standing that they are not at all partial to IN CALIFORNIA. 145 work-in which respect I do not think they differ very tnuch fron1 the labouring classes of more civilized countries-the amount of fatigue and labour they can endure and accon1- plish is surprising. Their dress is of course adapted to the climate, and is of the lightest description, but not remarkable for cleanliness; a fact I believe to be as much owing to taste as to poverty. I 'vas informedthough I do not vouch for the accuracy of the information-that thus far their cond net in the war had been barbarous in the ext.reme for they bad proved alike faithless to their new' friends, and ungenerous to their enemies : indeed, the rancheros have frequently declared that they dwelt not less in dread of their Indian allies than of the Americans; the outrages and the violence of the latter beino- of O' the two, perhaps more endurable than the depredations of the former. I have smiled on such occa::3ions, for I passed, of course, for an American, and the equivocal cotnpliment was a little on our side. I cannot help thinking, however, that treachery and dou hie-dealing VOL. I. H |