The San Francisco call., 1897-02-14

OF twisted grass fiber, and like heavy rope
traps Tor deer, in which bear are some
times caught. A skin of the face and
skull OF the bear are present, testifying its
past use as disguise. With this and
bear robe an Indian might approach very
close TO band OF deer. In such manner
they captured much of their game, as in
order to make certain the shot of an ar
row the sportsman must be much nearer
his quarry than if armed with rifle.
One of the curious modes of decoying
game Is to fasten to the ankles, Mercury
fashion, some strips of marten or other
fur, and thus protected by the tall grass
creep softly afield in direction of the
antelope. When approach has been made
as far as caution will allow, the hunter
rests upon his shoulders, his raised legs in
the air kicking vigorously, the skin
streamer curving in gyrating antics. This
does not frighten the beasts, but it stirs
their curiosity; they move close to the
wiggllng things to inquire what they are;
then when very near they stand around
and look at it. They do not gaze long,
however, for in another instant the other
end of Indian is up and he has an arrow
in the biggest buck.
But perhaps an object which suggests
the most pathetic memories is a picture
of the temescal with the ancient medicine
man standing close beside il. This house
is sweat cabinet where the sick go TO rid
themselves of their disturbing humors,
the internal pains of which they believe
to be occasioned by gnawing snakes SNUG
gled into them through the spells of
malignant witches. They have only two
ar hr ~ io,,o IL
table specifics, their chief treatment for
diseases being the sweat bath. The temes-
cal is almost air tight. Fire is built within
1t early in the fall and is kept up until
spring. Healthy women, except the old
medicine crones, are not permitted to
enter it. The afflicted submits himself to
this sudoritic corrective and when the
exudations have become excessive, if he is
able to move, he rushes out into the open
air and plunges into the river.
If in spite of each peculiar remedy the
patient insists upon dying he is ''decently
inferred" All his trappings and effects
which comprise his wealth are put upon
his body In the most effective full-dress
fashion. His allicochick is wound around
his neck, his Boston money" is crammed
into his mouth. The knees are then
pressed up against the chest. the body en-
tirely covered with his best deerskin or
bear robe and securely bound with sinew.
The stout chief then throws this upon
his back and heads a procession of the
tr be moving toward the burial cave.
While en- route he strikes up a dolefuI
tune in a song, in which he recounts the
many virtues OF the deceased and be-
walls his loss. In this lamentation all
voices join. When the cave is reached
the bundle is deposited therein in sit
ting position, the song is ended, and
thenceforth no man dare, under punish
ment of death, utter the name of the de-
ceased.
In the long study which Mr.. Daggett
has made of these Indians, his intimate
associations and deep sympathy with
them have enabled him to present this
most curious and interesting of the Cali
fornia tribes with a completeness only at
tainable through such diligence as his ef-
forts have engaged. He has prepared
two lectures upon the subject, which he
illustrates with his lantern views, and
which he expects soon to deliver; and he
will in time, doubtless, present his re-
searches to the public in a formal publica-
tion. JOHN E. BENNETT.