West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-11-07
OUR CALIFORNIA LETTER.
An Interesting Account or tho Cap.
itan Grande Indian School.
correspondence OF the Argos.

another week of school, and ! can
take a breathing spell, i will occupy
the time in giving my Preston
friends few items OF the country
and Of myself. especially of myself,
for with a bachelor, self Is the best
man in the house.
The Captain Grsnde valley. or
rather canon, is narrow strip be-
tween two ranges Of the Cuym AGA
Mountains. Some places it Is a
mile wide and at others has no
width except the bed OF the upper
San Diego River which flows
through this canon. The reserva-
ton is twelve miles long.
1t rains during the months Of
December, January and February.
Sometimes in March. Then all the
mountain streams fill up and rush
down into the river which in turn
washes away one bank one year and
perhaps the next year take quite a
different course. SO one may live
on the North of the river one year
end on the South the next without
moving. During six months in the
year the river is dry. 1t is like
some men l know. always dry ex-
cept when on a high.
The Indians live in rude huts
made of brush with no windows,
doors or stove. They sow some
barley and wheat; plant little
corn, beans, potatoes and melons.
They have horses, COWS and some
farm implements; the latter they
got from the U. s. Government.
They manage to live pretty we'll,
but are, as rule, shiftless. Their
morals are not of very high grade,
yet they compare favorably with
many white communities. Just
now they are busy gathering acorns
from which they make mush.
My school is very interesting
one. L have one married woman
coming, and she is doing excellent
work for beginner. A number
OF my pupils come eight miles on
their ponies. 1t is quite novel to
see them. Boys, girls, large and
small, coming at full gallep. Each
one takes care of his or her own
horse. Boys of six years saddle
and mount horse readily. Usually
they come and go with singing some
song in English that they haye
learned.
The only thing that an Indian
has any snap about him in doing.
is in handling and riding horses.
This he does as if his life depended
on the time. Ii he has O mile to
60 and has the whole day to do it
in, he will run his horse out of
breath.
The Indians treat me with the
greatest OF respect aud seem friend D..
ly. / do not allow one to come
into my house without first knock.
ing and taking off his hat. am
friendly, yet firm with them.
When one lies to me / tell him OF
1T and canton him to not repeat so
foul thing. They are getting to
come to me for Counsel in many
things and would not dare take
child away from school without my
consent.
a big Indian came to me yester-
day and said in broken English
that he had something very import
ant to ask me, and after much
stamering, he said 'I wish to
marry one of the school girls.
What do you say ?" AS the girl is
only 10, Told him she ought to go to
school at least three years yet. He
said he would let her go if she was
married. ] promised to give HIM
an answer in two weeks, and he
went of much pleased.
told the Captain that 1 must
have my winters wood cut and
hauled, so he gathered all the men
and the result was, about three
cords Of green and one Of dry wood
in the yard and during recess the
pupils stacked it 10 nice rick.
There are many flowers in this
valley all summer and white men
baYe many bee ranches. The bees
need very little care until honey
making begins. Then one mar
will get the job Of taking care OF
perhaps two or three thousand
| stands. This vear thew averaoed