The weekly Shasta courier., 1873-02-08
Jesuit Missionaries 170 Years Age.

produces spontaneously all that in other
places can only be gained by great toll and
labor, there is yet no instance of their ac-
cumulating the wealth of the country. Con-
tent to obtain what is necessary for the sup
port of life, they give themselves little care
for anything beyond it The country is
thickly inhabited in the interior and along
the northern coast; and, although there are
scarcely any settlements but contain twenty,
thirty, forty, or fifty families, yet they have
no dwellings,. The shade of the trees de-
fends them from the heat of the sun during
the day, and they construct from the
branches and foliage a kind of roof to
protect them from unpleasant weather in
the night. During the winter they shut
themselves up in caves, which are followed
out in the ground and there they remain,
many together, differing but little from the
beasts. The men are entirely naked-at
least, those whom we have seen. They bind
around their heads band of very delicate
workmanship, or kind of network; and
they carry round their necks, and sometimes
in their hands, for ornament, different figures
of mother-of-pearl, equally well executed,
and with much taste, mingled with small
berries, somewhat as we do the beads of a
rosary. Their arms were the bow-and- ar
rows and the spear; but these they always
carry in their hands, sometimes for the
chase and sometimes for defense against
their enemies-for the inhabitants Of the
different villages are almost always at war
with each other.
The women are clothed little more mo-
destly, wearing, from the waist to the knees,
a kind of apron woven from reed, like
very fine mat. They cover their shoulders
with the skins of beasts, and have upon
their heads, like the men, very delicate
network. These nets are so convenient,
that our soldiers use them to fasten their
hair. They have also, like the men, collars
of mother-ofpearl, mingled with the stones
of fruits and shells, hanging as low as their
belts, and bracelets of the same materials
as the collars.
The usual employment of both men and
women is spinning. The thread is formed
from fibrous herbs, which supply to them
the place of linen or hemp; or from stringy
substances which they find in the rinds of
certain fruits. OF the fine thread they
make the ornaments we have already men
toned, and of the coarse kind they manu-
facture bags for different purposes, and nets
for fishing. Besides this, the men with
different kind of herbs, the tibers of which
are very close, and which they have great
skill in using, make a kind of dish and
kitchen utensils, very novel, and of all sizes.
The smallest piece serve for cups, the
medium size for plates and dishes. and some
times for parasols, with which the women
cover their heads; the largest are used as
baskets to gather their fruits, and sometimes
as pots and basins in which to cook them.
But they take the precaution, while these
vessels are over the fire, to keep them con-
stantly moving, for fear the flames should
touch them, in which case they would be
Immediately burned.
The Californians are full of vivacity, and
have natural talent for raillery. Of the
latter they gave us proofs when we COM
menced instructing them; for as soon as
we made any mistake in their language,
they began at once to banter and mock u.s.
After they had held more communication
with us. they contented themselves with
honestly pointing out the errors which had
escaped US. And as to the meaning of
doctrine, when the time came for us to ex-
plain the mysteries Of our faith, or certain
points of morality which were at variance
with their prejudices or ancient errors, they
waited for the preacher after the sermon,
and disputed with him with both power and
wit. If he advanced forcible arguments,
they listened with dociity; and if he was
able to convince them, they submitted. and
followed the instructions prescribed them.
We have not found among them any form
OF government. and scarcely any of religion,
or OF religious worship. They offer prayers
to the moon; and cut off their hair, which
they give to their priests, who use it in
different rites of superstition. Each family
makes its own laws, according to its taste !;
and it is this, apparently, which causes them
so often to be engaged in conflicts with
each other.-Ocerlnd Monthly for Feb
ruary.
The BRITISH MUSEUM EDIFICE. Mu-
scum of to-day appropriately harmonizes in
its exterior with the extent and value of its
contents. Its frontage on Great Russell
Street-which by-the-way, is one of the
dirtiest aud narrowest of London streets de-
spite its sounding name-is no less than
three hundred and seventy feet. Between
the building and the street is spacious paw
ed court, bounded by high gilded ratings.
At the gate is little porter's lodge, and
here stands very British looking porter, to
observe that those who enter are respecta-
BILE and orderly in behavior The building
itself comprises centre and two very broad
wings; the whole is surrounded by lofty
colonnade OF forty-four plain columns. with
sculptured capitals, beneath which, in the
central sections. is spacious portico, reach,
ed by wide fight Of steps. Over the main en-
trance is to be observed large pediment,
upon which appears an allegorical group
representing The progress of Civilization"
the work of Sir Richard Westmacott. This
immense building is SO dimmed. begrimed,
and made sombre by the fogs and gusts and
long dreary storms of London, that unless
one looks closely he is not likely to observe
the materials which compose it. These are
immense blocks of stone, of which an Eng
lish writer says :: Since the days of Traian
or Hadrian no such stones have been used
as those employed at the Brisish Museum,
where eight hundred stones, of from five to
nine tons weight form the front. Even St.
Paul's Cathedral contains no approach to
these magnitudes." 1t is only when you
have entered. the court and approached near
to the edifce that you realize how vast it is !;
then it seems to dwarf the palaces and cathe-
drals. the public Offices and club houses,
which have before seemed so imposing to
the wanderer among London monuments.
The extent of the building can not. however
be judged from view, and the seven acres