Evening star., 1924-01-13
Out of the Past

T TITLE does the public as whole
- realize that the bow and arrow
has returned to the land, not merely
as a bouyant sport, but for serious
and even dangerous hunting. DR..
Saxton Pope, an eminent surgeon Of
San Francisco, the author of the fol-
lowing article and two others to sue
coed 1t, has, with his companions in
aret:cry, performed some amazing
feats in California and the Rocky
mountains against deer. black iscar.
panthers and even grizzlies.
DR.. Pope. besides having achieved
note as a practitioner and member Of
the faculty of the medical school of
the University of California. is one
of the leading exponents of archery
in the country. And although he
says that the love of archery is an
impulse which lies dormant in the
heart of every American. the initia-
tion of DR.. Pope himself into this
ancient. fascinating pursuit was both
remarkable and dramatic.
He learned it from literally the
last wild Indian in America; from
the last primitive Indian archer who
was gaining his living with the bow
and arrow. and who was discovered
In California in the year 1911. This
was Ishi. only surviving member Of
the Yana tribe. DR.. Pope, with others.
befriended Ishi, obtained some small
employment, for him at the univer-
sity, attempted to impart to him some
understanding of civilization, and in
turn, to learn from him some of his
immemorial wisdom of the hills.
He knew nothing of our modern
life" writes DIR. Pope. "He had no
name for iron, nor cloth, nor. horse.
nor road. He was as primitive as
the aborigines of the pre-Columbian
period. In fact, he was man in
the stone age. He was absolutely
untouched by civilization. In him
science had rare find. He turned
back the pages of history countless
centuries. And so they studied him,
and he studied them.
He knew the history and use Of
everything in the outdoor world. He
spoke the language of the animals.
He taught me to make bows and ar
rows, how to shoot them, and how
to hunt Indian fashion. He was a
wonderful companion in the woods,
and many days and nights we jour-
neyed together.
Hunting with Ishi was pure JOY.
Bow in hand. he seemed to be trans
formed into a being light as air and
rs silent as falling snow. From the
very first we went on little expedi-
tions into the country. where, with
out appearing to instruct. he was my
teacher in the old, old art of the
chase.
"But in spite of the fact that Ishi
was happy and surrounded by the
most advanced material culture. he
sickened and died. Unprotected by
hereditary or acquired immunity. he
contracted tuberculosis and faded
away before our eyes.
He was a stole, unafraid, and died
In the faith of his people.
"As an Indian should go, we sent
him on his long journey to the land
of shadows. By his side We placed
his fire sticks, ten pieces of denta1ia
or Indian money, a small bag Of acorn
meal, q bit Of dried venison, some
tobacco and his bow and arrows.
And so departed the last wild In
dian of America. With him the
neolithic epoch terminates. He closes
a chapter in history. He looked upon
us as sophisticated children-smart.
but not wise. We knew many things
and much that is false. He knew
nature, which is always true.
HE has gone and he hunts with
his people. We stay, and he has left
us the heritage of the bow"