Weekly Trinity journal., 1857-05-02

The DIGGER INDIAN OF CALIFoRNTA-HIs DEs-
TINY THE Digger Indians of California are
peculiar and strange race. Their destiny is easi-
ly forseen, but their origin is wrapt in mystery
They are not at all like the aboriginal tribes to
the east Of the Rocky Mountains, nor are thev al
together similar to the Indians of South Amer-
ca. The former are larger in frame strong in
mind, brave independent and warlke in charac-
ter, while the latter are, or were but recently
possessed of arts approaching to civilization
The natives of Peru. indeed the children of the
Sun'-had, when found by the Spaniards. an ex.
tended empire and civilization of their own
They had huge temples Of stone, costly Highways
monuments, tombs, sculptured images rude paint
lngs. strangely constructed vessels for the hold
ing OF liquids-a description of the ingenuity OF
which would fill volume-gold and silver Or
naments, and thousand other appurtenances of
wild, barbaric splendor. Other aboriginal ma
tons oil South America though lower in the scale
of Advancement, had yet proximate knowledge ge
of those arts which distinguished the Aztecs and
the subjects of the Incas.
But the Diggers of California when first dis
covered by the whites. were so low in the scale
OF being, that il puzzled the observer to conceive
Of q condition more nearly illustrating the abso
lutely primitive state of mankind. The tribes Of
the valley had holes in the ground scooped out
with some considerable trouble, aud having s
sort of mud roof, in which they were sheltered
but the majority of the tribes were those in tn,
mountains, who had no apology for a house what
ever, except few pieces of bark laid upon brush
under which they crouched and shivered durins
the stormy seasons. Excepting an exceedingly
scanty apron mot OF fig leaves) but of bark gras
or water reeds, for the females and occasionally
deer-skin (but seldom, for they were poor hun
ters) for the men, they were in a state of origina
nudity. The highest perfection of art which they
possessed, was to make bows and arrows very
good baskets, aud passabe kind of nets, the
material for which they found in the different
species of hemp indigenous to the country. As
we have just said, they were poor hunters, and
the killing of deer by one of the tribe was an
era in his existence They were however, very
expert in catching fish, but only in certain sea-
sons, when they run in shoals. The principal
subsistence was derived from roots and it was
common to see them in bands ofa dozen or TWEEN
ty diligently digging away with sharp sticks in
the sides of the hills for this kind of aliment-
hence their name of Root Diggers. They also
lvcd-and still do-on bugs, worms, grasshop
pers, and every thing of that character In dis
position they are peaceabe, friendly and kind
hearted, not brave but timid aud yielding, in
consequence of which they have always been over
ridden and matreated by the meancr class Of
white men.
Such arc the Digger Indians, differing in char
meter from all the other tribes and races on the
continent, and presenting to the ethnologist an
interesting and perhaps nexplicable study. Ma
ny ideas are advanced as TO the best mode OF
dealing with them. Some advocate extermna-
tion-others the subsection of them to domestica-
tion aud scrvtude in white families, while Others
are in favor of the present policy Of the United
States. the placing them on reservations and
teaching them husbaudry and mechanical trades
Others again. are in favor of removing then
beyond the limits of the State but that canno
be done, because there is no unoccupied territory
to receive them. Our own idea may be some
what startling, but we believe it to be the onl.
- e Al.
Persons who have been in tho mountains anC
seen. as we have, hundreds of white men liv
ing with their Digger wives, will not be so muc
surprised at this declaration Of opinion. Whcr
ever the white race goes amalgamation take
place. ]. has progressed with the march of civi
lization on this continent, and it will, with tn
certainty of an enevitable law, solve the destin,
ofraces.-Sdc Bee.