Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-08-22
TIE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA.

From HE Sacramento Transcript Of Jme 29.
Foars sometimes expressed that difficulties may
with the Indiana in this country until general
and org ,nizeJ system o hnstirs be ragged against
These lars ,bo to b. creased in tho States.
where the condition of things here is not und'tsood, and
hence we deem II our duty tn place such scs before
the public have been able ga'her IN regard IL
tho pohPbli,s oi the ater.
The ahpdgines ol California perhaps the IN at fee
bile, and incapable Of carrying on it nldabe system
If watlite, oi any ut the North American lodi ,ns
Cefai II ia. they have never shown any of that skill
and brdn'ss that have clarac erizrd the lnd ars IN
other puns n the continent silce the discovery.
They different in tlelr m1dr OF life, more impari'ct
IN then PLY zeal dovel pmeni, md in Whatever light
We yiew lhem inf iioy 10 m'st 9t III Indian race Is
stamped npln Their character. They have eNi,ied IN
hs conoy WI hont any evidence of nat onav, vi hon,
establishing bundafcs. without clamiuga right even
in the soil. vi h ltd knowledge If property of
any knd, aid III iacl disorgonixed though dis met
people.
Game. although abounding IN the country has never.
81 far hnyr been able 10 barn. constituted any
leabe part Of their diet, for the only apparent
tn II is oo much trouble ki and prepae il fl food.
with lheir rude w,apons and Implements Thus. what
the great We.tsrn tribe glory IN the Cal rnia Indians
ara Ton ildalent scarce 10 attempt.
To give correct ida Of th' people, it will be neces-
sary 10 enter mem hat int pii unrs 10 the summer
they lead rowing life, and are fund In greatest
numbers along he borders OF the wes'en size of tho
Sierra Nevada. In lhyse regions they find berres.
grapes seeds acurns va kinds Of It's and insects,
Which Thy principally suhsis'. The rank herbaes
and rrassas t,a spring up dnng the later part of lha
rany season, and come 10 maturity IL sninmer W ther
and d the suffice of he ear during the latter part
Of the dry season, and sSatms sShoppers, large aud
fat abound among IT, Tie Indians sci fTc 10 this dried
up vegetable matter when the wind is favorable. aud
bum VIII lie Districts The grasshoIpers cannot escape.
their wigs burnt of aud after the fire has consumed
the grass the burnt di uic is yered with the less
bodies Of these insec Then comes the Indians h'r
vest. Their food is all around them, cooked and ready
for eating With thslr wa aud arrows. they sometimes
kill elks, deers. hares, Sc; butt befne rem,rked
hey manif'sl. people, bnt late Taste skill for
hunting In the proper season. they manage. by msans
of. wooden spears # their manufacture, to catch
fish from the streams of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin valleys; and il is said they they manifest
more ski in taking fish than in any oih.r art
They called Digger Iudi,ns," from the nature Of
their hblatons, which cons,ruc ed Ia The following
manner
circular hole is dug in. iha earth, say three OF fur
feet deep and from ten to twenty feet in dameer
The top of which poles laid in arohng form, and
covered frs, wi small sticks aud weeds, ard hen with
earth and green snds. small opening in the II
he root is {, for the escape OF sn,ok. aud sd-s
don wsf' Just large enuusa 10 admit mas fss' hs