Smyrna times., 1888-08-08
VISIT TO KANAKA PEAK.

The town of Oriville was in gala attire,
for spring had come to make an early call,
as usual March winds don't whistle
through the valleys, nor snowfakes come
and inger, as they have q habit of doing
east. So the roses were not afraid Of
Jack Frost's" cool touch and were pro-
fuse in their blushing beauty. The orange
trees were white with sweet scented buds,
and purple and white violets were per-
fuming the air.
We, that is, Belle Corea, Mabel Black
and /, were visiting an old school friend
lately married, and living in a lovely
home in the "Gem of the Foothills" as
Oriville is called We were a merry party.
for Clara Agnew, our hostess, was Of our
own age, and her hubby" "a prince of
good fellows, just devoted to her
For our pleasure they planned daily ex-
cursions, on horseback or by carriage, to
various places of interest. We had already
visited Fall River falls, the miniature
Yosemite of northern California; we had
been on the north fork of the Feather
river, where camping out over night was
not the least of our pleasures.
When the moon came over the tall, dark
pines it sent brilliant shafts of light across
the snowy mountain peaks above us, and
the warm night air was fragrant with
mingled pine and apple blossoms from the
valley far below.
We had just returned from a carriage
ride, and Clara was planning a trip to
Kanalza peak. She had heard the Digger
Indians were later this year in having
their burn" and were now mastering to
the peak from their various camps in
American Valley, Dog Town and San Juan.
We had heard of their strange custom of
burning clothing, baskets and all their
valuables in fact, thinking that the smoke
would arise and form into those same
articles for the use Of their friends in the
''land of spirits"
"They don't like white people to come"
Clara said
But as we were anxious to see a burn,
and had all promised not to ''speak in meet.
ing, she thought we might go-that is,
If she could get sufficient male escort, say
about three beside her own husband, and
then we each would have q protector.
SO early one bright morning we started,
with span of horses, a Chinaman cook,
and pack mule called ''iack." On this
beast of burden we put our tents and the
necessary provisions. Sometimes the cook
tOwed the jack, sometimes he mounted it.
Our horses were fresh and the blackboard
light, so we soon left the valley behind
and ascended the foothills and climbed
the Sierras by a well graded road, that
seemed to US rather dangerously near the
steep canyons and deep ravines.
We passed ''String Town." formerly a
mining claim, and rode on up the steep
hills till we came to a valley surrounded
by tall, sentinel like pines. Then, as it
was 8 o'clock, we stopped near Eagle
Gulch for breakfast.
And oh 4ba food J9I - .1.-sz---t
for our ride in the fresh air had given us
all good appetites for hot steak and coffee.
After breakfast we went on our way.
meeting and passing several bands of dig
gers en- route for the 'burn." The suuaws
usually had large baskets, inverted cone
shape, fastened across their fOreheads bv
straps; mthese, with round heads sticking
out, were little brown pappooses. Other
squaws were riding rough little jacks that
bore patiently the combined load of house
hold goods and children Of various sizes.
These native children of the golden west
were barefooted, and those that walked
left footprints on the dusty road. and
shapely feet, if they were fiat, with never
trace of corn or disfguring bunion,
which mar the feet Of many belle Of the
east and west.
After crossing the middle fork of
Feather river we made the ascent on the
other side, and as the sun was setting we
saw the Moon Town ridge sharply defined
against the clear, blue sky.
Another half hours ride, and then we
halted, and the men pegged our tents
and made fire, for the cir was chilly.
The cook was soon preparing our sup
per. The men, fninhing their work,
walked downed to the river to fish. In
the interval we walked up the trail to the
Peak, to see If we could catch q glimpse
OF the "Campodie, about half a mile
away. After walking a quarter of a mile
we saw the smoke of the camp fires, and
as our supper horn resounded through the
hills we returned.
After supper the men thought, as we
were to remain up all night without
sleep a nap before the moon arose would
be advisable. So we wrapped ourselves
up like the Arabs, and stole away silently
one by one, to the Land of Nod, the men
returning to the river to WOO the ''speckled
beauties" from the river bed.
So silence fell on our tents, broken oc-
casionally by quail's whistle or an owl
hooting mOurnfully. We dozed off, for
we were tired after our long ride, and
were loath to awaken when Mr., Agnew
and the rest returned to arouse US to get
AOAAJ AoA Jul HdAA " bub 4llQldn camps.
A light breeze was swaying the tall
trees, and few light clouds were obscur.
ing the rays Of the risiEg moon. Still it
was light enough to see the trail.
We girls were walking ahead with
Clara, and the men walking behind, the
scent of4heif cigars mingling with piny
odors. We were taking a short cut over
the ridge, and our WY was obstructed by
brush, but - Dravely pushed on. We
had been discussing, il. low tones, one of
the men of our party, Bart Birmingham
Iy-ly young fellow. Clara said teas
ingly:
Belle, he would be a good match for
you; he has lots Of money"
She had hardly spoken the words when
we were startled by the young man re-
marking in a clear voice:
Il don't want to hear that again"
Clara. fortunately, was too dumfounded
to reply, and we plodded on in silence till
over the peak, and before us burned
brightly the camp fires.
There was large fire in the center, and
around it were poles hung with calico
clothing, baskets and eatables. Smaller
hres were around the circle. The clouds
obscured the moon, and the flashing
flames brought into relief the dark forms
of the silent Indians
The wind. rising. sighed through the
pines and whistled drearily through the
deep, dark ravines and passes surround.
ing the valley, as if the spirits Of the de.
parted were returning unwillingly
AS we stopped in the shade of tall
OAK and spread our rugs and wraps, we
noticed large waterproof baskets that
held some kind Of broth; this was kept
hot by red hot stones thrown in at inter.
walls
The Indians were standing or sitting
around In groups. and now and again a
dark. silent shape would steal quietly
down some trail and join them
More pine was thrown On the fire, and
as the flame leaped higher the weird GER
emonies commenced A tall, muscular
looking Indian arose, and, standing with
arms across his chest, broke the intense
silence with low, deep toned excIarna.