The Works of Hubert Howe Bancroft Part 49

[462] Carl Meyer, after describing the bow, adds: 'Fernere Waffen der Allequas sind; das Obsidian-Beil oder Tomahawk, die Keule, die Lanze und der Wurfspiess.' _Nach dem Sacramento_, p. 218. This statement, I think, may be taken with some allowance, as nowhere else do I find mention of a tomahawk being used by the Californians.

[463] Schumacher, _Oregon Antiquities, MS._, speaking of an ancient spear-point, says, 'the pointed teeth show it to have been a very dangerous weapon.' _Roseborough's letter to the author, MS._ On the Klamath River, 'among the skins used for quivers, I noticed the otter, wild-cat, fisher, fawn, grey fox and others.' _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 141. Near Mt Shasta, 'bows and arrows are very beautifully made: the former are of yew, and about three feet long ...

backed very neatly with sinew, and painted.... The arrows are upwards of thirty inches long.' _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. v., p.

255. At Port Trinidad, 'arrows are carried in quivers of wood or bone, and hang from their wrist or neck.' _Maurelle's Jour._, p. 20. On Pigeon River 'their arrows were in general tipped with copper or iron.'

_Greenhow's Hist. Ogn._, p. 110. The Pit River 'arrows are made in three parts.' _Abbott_, in _Pac. R. R. Rept._, vol. vi., p. 61. The Allequas at Trinidad Bay, described by Carl Meyer, carried their arrows either 'schussfertig in der Hand oder in einem uber die Schultern geworfenen Kocher aus Fuchs- oder Biberpelz. Der Bogen ist aus einer starken, elastischen Rothtannenwurzel verfertigt, etwa 3 Fuss lang und auf der Ruckseite mit einer Barensehne uberklebt.' _Nach dem Sacramento_, p. 217.

See _Mofras_, _Explor._, _Atlas_, plate xxv. Speaking of the quiver, Mr Powers says: 'in the animal's head they stuff a quant.i.ty of gra.s.s or moss, as a cushion for the arrow-heads to rest in, which prevents them from being broken.' _Overland Monthly_, vol. viii., p. 532. 'Their arrows can only be extracted from the flesh with the knife.' _Cutts'

Conquest of Cal._, p. 170. 'Am oberen Theile (California) ist der Bogen von einer Lage von Hirsch-Sehnen verstarkt und elastisch gemacht. Die Pfeile bestehen aus einem rohrartigen Gewachse von ma.s.siger Lange, an der Spitze mit Obsidian ... versehen, ihre Lange ist 2 Zoll, ihre Breite 1 Zoll und die d.i.c.ke 1/3 Zoll, scharfkantig und spitz zulaufend.'

_Wimmel_, _Californien_, p. 180.

[464] _Powers' Pomo, MS._; _Schumacher's Oregon Antiquities, MS._; _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._

[465] _Hist. Mag._, vol. iii., p. 214.

[466] _Johnson_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. ii., p. 536. At Trinidad Bay 'zuweilen werden die Pfeile mit dem Safte des Sumachbaumes vergiftet, und alsdann nur zum Erlegen wilder Raubthiere gebraucht.'

_Meyer_, _Nach dem Sacramento_, p. 218. 'Einige Stamme vergiften die Spitzen ihrer Pfeile auf folgende Weise: Sie reizen namlich eine Klapperschlange mit einer vorgehaltenen Hirschleber, worin sie beisst, und nachdem nun die Leber mit dem Gifte vollstandig impragnirt ist, wird sie vergraben und muss verfaulen; hierin wird nun die Spitze eingetaucht und dann getrocknet.' _Wimmel_, _Californien_, p. 180. The Pitt River Indians 'use the poison of the rattle-snake, by grinding the head of that reptile into an impalpable powder, which is then applied by means of the putrid blood and flesh of the dog to the point of the weapon.'

_Gross' System of Surgery_, vol. i., p. 321. 'The Pitt River Indians poisoned their arrows in a putrid deer's liver. This is a slow poison, however, and sometimes will not poison at all.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._; _Schumacher's Oregon Antiquities, MS._

[467] Among other things seen by Meyer were, 'noch grossere Bogen, die ihnen als bedeutende Ferngeschosse dienen. Ein solcher ist 6 Fuss lang, und der Indianer legt sich auf die Erde, um denselben zu spannen, indem er das rechte Knie in den Bogen einstemmt und mit beiden Armen nachhilft.' The bow and arrow, knife, and war-club, const.i.tute their weapons. In one of their lodges I noticed an elk-skin shield, so constructed as to be impervious to the sharpest arrows. _Palmer_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1854, p. 262. Miller mentions a Modoc who was 'painted red, half-naked, and held a tomahawk in his hand.' _Life Amongst the Modocs_, p. 20.

[468] _Salem Statesman_, _April, 1857_.

[469] Hence, if we may credit Miller, _Life Amongst the Modocs_, p. 373, the name Pitt River.

[470] The Hoopas exacted tribute from all the surrounding tribes. At the time the whites arrived the Chimalaquays were paying them tribute in deer-skins at the rate of twenty-five cents per head. _Powers' Pomo_, _MS_. The Hoopahs have a law requiring those situated on the Trinity, above them to pay tribute. _Humboldt Times_, _Nov. 1857_; _S. F. Evening Bulletin_, _Nov. 23, 1857_.

[471] The Sa.s.sics, Cahrocs, Hoopahs, Klamaths and Rogue River Indians, take no scalps, but decapitate the slain, or cut off their hands and feet. _Pfeiffer's Second Journ._, p. 317.

[472] The Veeards on Lower Humboldt Bay 'took elk-horns and rubbed them on stones for days together, to sharpen them into axes and wedges.'

_Powers' Pomo, MS._ On the Klamath river they had 'spoons neatly made of bone and horn.' _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 146.

[473] 'For basket making, they use the roots of pine-trees, the stem of the spice-bush, and ornament with a kind of gra.s.s which looks like a palm leaf, and will bleach white. They also stain it purple with elder berries, and green with soapstone.' ... 'The Pitt River Indians excel all others in basket-making, but are not particularly good at bead work.'

_The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._, _Fremont's Explor. Ex._, p. 204; _Johnson_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. ii., p. 536; _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 134; _Powers' Pomo, MS._

[474] _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. v., p. 253; _Emmons_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 218.

[475] The boats formerly used by the Modocs were 'quite rude and unshapely concerns, compared with those of the lower Klamath, but substantial and sometimes large enough to carry 1800 pounds of merchandise.' _Powers_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. viii., p. 532, vol.

x., p. 536. 'Blunt at both ends, with a small projection in the stern for a seat.' _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 142.

'Those on Rogue river were roughly built--some of them scow fashion, with flat bottom.' _Emmons_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p.

218. The Pitt River Indians 'used boats made from pine; they burn them out ... about twenty feet long, some very good ones.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._

[476] _Chase_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. ii., p. 433. 'A kind of bead made from a sh.e.l.l procured on the coast. These they string and wear about the neck.... Another kind is a sh.e.l.l about an inch long, which looks like a porcupine quill. They are more valuable than the other.

They also use them as nose-ornaments.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._ 'The unit of currency is a string of the length of a man's arm, with a certain number of the longer sh.e.l.ls below the elbow, and a certain number of the shorter ones above.' _Powers_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol.

viii., p. 329. 'A rare sh.e.l.l, spiral in shape, varying from one to two inches in length, and about the size of a crowquill, called by the natives, _Siwash_, is used as money.' _Hubbard_, in _Golden Era_, March, 1856.

[477] 'The ownership of a (white) deer-skin, const.i.tutes a claim to chieftainship, readily acknowledged by all the dusky race on this coast.' _Humboldt Times_, _Dec., 1860_.

[478] 'Property consists in women, ornaments made of rare feathers and sh.e.l.ls, also furs and skins.' _Hubbard_, in _Golden Era_, March, 1856.

Their wealth 'consisted chiefly of white deerskins, canoes, the scalp of the red-headed woodp.e.c.k.e.r, and _aliquachiek_.' _Wiley_, in _Ind. Aff.

Rept. Joint Spec. Com._, 1867, p. 497.

[479] 'Have no tribal organization, no such thing as public offence.'

_Roseborough's letter to the author, MS._ A Pitt River chief tried the white man's code, but so unpopular was it, that he was obliged to abandon it. _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._ Among the Klamath and Trinity tribes the power of the chief 'is insufficient to control the relations of the several villages, or keep down the turbulence of individuals.' _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., pp. 139-140.

The Cahrocs, Eurocs, Hoopas, and Kailtas, have a nominal chief for each village, but his power is extremely limited and each individual does as he likes. Among the Tolewas in Del Norte County, money makes the chief.

The Modocs and Patawats have an hereditary chieftainship. _Powers' Pomo, MS._ At Trinidad Bay they were 'governed by a ruler, who directs where they shall go both to hunt and fish.' _Maurelle's Jour._, p. 18. 'Der Hauptling ist sehr geachtet; er hat uber Handel und Wandel, Leben und Tod seiner Unterthanen zu verfugen, und seine Macht vererbt sich auf seinen Erstgebornen.' _Meyer_, _Nach dem Sacramento_, p. 223. The chief 'obtains his position from his wealth, and usually manages to transmit his effects and with them his honors, to his posterity.' _Hubbard_, in _Golden Era_, March, 1856. Formerly 'the different rancherias had chiefs, or heads, known as Mow-wee-mas, their influence being princ.i.p.ally derived from their age, number of relatives, and wealth.'

_Wiley_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept. Joint. Spec. Com._, p. 497.

[480] The Cahrocs compound for murder by payment of one string. Among the Patawats the average fine for murdering a man is ten strings, for killing a woman five strings, worth about $100 and $50 respectively. 'An average Patawut's life is considered worth about six ordinary canoes, each of which occupies two Indians probably three months in making, or, in all, tantamount to the labor of one man for a period of three years.'

'The Hoopas and Kailtas also paid for murder, or their life was taken by the relatives of the deceased.' _Powers' Pomo, MS._ 'They seem to do as they please, and to be only governed by private revenge. If one man kills another the tribe or family of the latter kill the murderer, unless he buy himself off.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._

[481] _Drew's Owyhee Reconnaissance_, p. 17.

[482] The Cahrocs, Eurocs, Hoopahs, and Patawats, all acquire their wives by purchase. _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._; _Powers'

Pomo, MS._ 'Wenn ein Allequa seine kunftige Lebensgefahrtin unter den Schonen seines Stammes erwahlt hat und sich verheirathen will, muss er dem Mauhemi (chief) eine armslange Muschelschnur vorzeigen.' _Meyer_, _Nach dem Sacramento_, p. 223. The mountain Indians seldom, if ever, intermarry with those on the coast. _Wiley_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept. Joint.

Spec. Com._, 1867, p. 497; _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 127. Buy wives with sh.e.l.l-money. _Pfeiffer's Second Journ._ Among the Modocs 'the women are offered for sale to the highest buyer.' _Meacham's Lecture_, in _S. F. Alta California_, Oct. 6, 1861; _Miller's Life Amongst the Modocs_.

[483] Polygamy is common among the Modocs. _Meacham's Lecture_, in _S.

F. Alta California_, _Oct. 6, 1873_. On Pitt River a chief sometimes has five wives. 'The most jealous people in the world.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._; _Roseborough's letter to the author, MS._ 'Among the tribes in the north of the State adultery is punished by the death of the child.' _Taylor_, in _California Farmer_, _March 8, 1861_. 'The males have as many wives as they are able to purchase;' adultery committed by a woman is punished with death. _Hubbard_, in _Golden Era_, _March, 1856_. Among the Cahrocs polygamy is not tolerated; among the Modocs polygamy prevails, and the women have considerable privilege. The Hoopa adulterer loses one eye, the adulteress is exempt from punishment.

_Powers' Pomo, MS._ The Weeyots at Eel river 'have as many wives as they please.' _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 127. At Trinidad Bay 'we found out that they had a plurality of wives.'

_Maurelle's Jour._, p. 19.

[484] All the young unmarried women are a common possession. _Powers_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. viii., p. 330. The women bewail their virginity for three nights before their marriage. _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 173. If we believe Powers, they cannot usually have much to bewail.

[485] Boys are disgraced by work. _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._ Women work, while men gamble or sleep. _Wiley_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept.

Joint Spec. Com._, 1867, p. 497; _Parker_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1857, p. 242; _Roseborough's letter to the author, MS._

[486] _Kane's Wand._, p. 182.

[487] For the G.o.d Chareya, see _Bancroft's Nat. Races_, vol. iii., pp.

90, 161.

[488] _Pfeiffer's Second Journ._, p. 318. The Pitt River Indians 'sing as they gamble and play until they are so hoa.r.s.e they cannot speak.'

_The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._

[489] _Chase_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. ii., p. 433.

[490] 'They used tobacco, which they smoaked in small wooden pipes, in form of a trumpet, and procured from little gardens, where they had planted it.' _Maurelle's Jour._, p. 21.

[491] The Pitt River Indians 'give no medicines.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._ 'The prevailing diseases are venereal, scrofula and rheumatism.' Many die of consumption. _Force_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1871, p. 157. At the mouth of Eel river 'the princ.i.p.al diseases noticed, were sore eyes and blindness, consumption, and a species of leprosy.'

_Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 128. They suffer from a species of lung fever. _Geiger_, in _Ind. Aff. Rept._, 1858, p. 289. 'A disease was observed among them (the Shastas) which had the appearance of the leprosy.' _Wilkes' Nar._, in _U. S. Ex. Ex._, vol. v., p. 255.

[492] 'The only medicine I know of is a root used for poultices, and another root or plant for an emetic.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._ 'The root of a parasite fern, found growing on the tops of the fir trees (collque nashul), is the princ.i.p.al remedy. The plant in small doses is expectorant and diurtetic; hence it is used to relieve difficulties of the lungs and kidneys; and, in large doses, it becomes sedative and is an emmenagogue; hence, it relieves fevers, and is useful in uterine diseases, and produces abortions. The squaws use the root extensively for this last mentioned purpose.' _Hubbard_, in _Golden Era_, _March, 1856_.

[493] A Pitt River doctor told his patient that for his fee 'he must have his horse or he would not let him get well.' _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._; _Powers_, in _Overland Monthly_, vol. viii., p. 428; _Gibbs_, in _Schoolcraft's Arch._, vol. iii., p. 175.

[494] _The Shastas and their Neighbors, MS._; _Rector_, in _Ind. Aff.

Rept._, 1862, p. 261; _Ostrander_, in _Id._, 1857, p. 369; _Miller_, in _Id._, p. 361.

[495] _Temescal_ is an Aztec word defined by Molina, _Vocabulario_, 'Temazcalli, casilla como estufa, adonde se banan y sudan.' The word was brought to this region and applied to the native sweat-houses by the Franciscan Fathers. _Turner_, in _Pac. R. R. Rept._, vol. iii., p. 72, gives 'sweat-house' in the Chemehuevi language, as _pahcaba_.