New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-02-27
dec Il Iy
Jesuit Missionaries ITO Years Ago

Although heaven has been 50 liberal 10
The inhabitants of California, U.owcr Cali
tornia, belonging TO Mexico and the earth
produces spontaneously all that in other
places can only be gained by great toll and
labor, there is yet no instance Of their accu
Inulating the wealth of the country. Content
to obtain what is necessary for :he support
Of life, they give themselves little care for
anything beyond it. The country is thckly
inhabited in the interior and along the north
en coast; and, although there are scarcely
any settlements but contain twenty, thirty,
forty, or fifty families, yet they have no dwell
ings. The shade of the trees defends 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 unpleas-
ant 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
nakcd-at least those whom we have seen.
They bind around their heads a band of very
delicate workmanship, or 4 kind Of network !;
and they carry round their necks, and some
lines in their hands, for ornament, different
figures Of mOther-oi-pcarl, equally well exc
cuted, and with much taste, mingled with
small berries, somewhat as we do the beads
Of a rosary. Their arms were the bOw-and-
arrows OF the spear; but these they always
carry i'll their hands, sometimes Cor the
chase and sometimes for defense against
their enemies-ior the inhabitants of the DIFF
iercnt villages are almost always al war with
each other.
The women are clothed little more mod
estly, wearing, from the waist to the knees,
a kind Of apron woven from reed, like a very
tine mat. They cover their shoulders with
In Cli inc of &c hou hi
heads, like the men, q very delicate network
These nets are so convenient, that our SOL
diers use them TO tasten their hair. They
have also, like the men, collars Of mother-Of-
pearl, mingled with the stones of fruits and
shells, hanging rs 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 iibrOus herbs, which supply TO them the
place of linen or hemp; or from stringy SUBJ
stances which they find in the rindS of GER
tain fruits. OF the fine thread they make the
ornaments we have already mentioned, and
Of the coarse kind they manufacture for diff
ferent purposes, and nets for fishing. Be-
sides this, the men with different kind of
herbs, the fibres Of which are very close, and
which they have great skill in using, make
n 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 sometimes 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 pre-
caution, while these vessels are over the fire,
10 keep them continually moving, for fear the
flames should touch them, in which case they
would be Immediately burned.
The Californians are full of yiyacity, and
have a natural talent for railery. 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 be-
gan at once to banter and mock us. After they
had held more communication with us, they
cOntentcd themselves with honestly pointing
out the errors which had escaped us. And
as the meaning Of 4 doctrine, when the time
came for us TO explain the mysteries of our
faith, or certain points of morality which
were at variance with their prciudces or an
cient errors, they waited for the preacher
after the sermon, aud disputed with him with
both power and wit. If he advanced forcible
arguments, they listened with docility; and
if he was able to convince them, they SUBJ
United, and followed the instructions pre-
scribcd 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 OF |
their hair, which they give to their priests, |
who use il 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 con- |
ilcts with each other OreIland Monthly fer |
February.