pit, and make a fire in it: then some young persons approach the body, cut out the flesh, in parts previously marked out, and throw them into the fire, together with the bowels. During this horrid operation, the female relatives walk round those who are engaged in it, exhorting them to complete what they have undertaken. The interment is followed by presents to the afflicted family, and the ceremony is terminated, as among the ancient Pagans, by songs and shouts of victory. It must be observed, however, that the relations of the deceased bear no part in these rejoicings, but observe, even after the obsequies, a very strict mourning. There are three nations of Indians in California who speak three distinct languages, but they are all nearly similar in appearance, being well formed, robust, vigorous, and of a healthy countenance. The males, whether children or adults, go almost entirely naked in all parts of the peninsula; but there is some diversity in the ornaments used by each nation. In the southern parts, they decorate their heads with strings of pearl, braided with their hair and interwoven with smail feathers, the whole forming a very curious ornament. The nation of Loretto generally wear a becoming girdle round their waists, and a curious fillet of net-work on their foreheads; to which some add a sort of neck-cloth, ornamented with tolerable imitations of small round fruits, which bear some resemblance to a rosary. The Cochines of the north usually wear their hair short, and have a kind of diadem formed of several bands of nacar; to compose which they first detach the mother of pearl from the shell, give it a fine polish on both sides, and divide it run out, the men who are placed at the bottom of each pole shake their skins, and frighten them back, till at length they are driven up the bank into the pound; where, falling headlong, some break their necks, some their backs, and others their legs, and the confusion within becomes so general, that none of them can make an escape. There are few people that have less need of physic than the Indians of North America; for they are not only, for the most part, of a healthy vigorous constitution, but the gout, gravel, stone, apoplexy, and many other European diseases are totally unknown to them. If they are at any time indisposed they apply to their jugglers, who are, at best, no better than quacks, and have a singular method of not being answerable for events. As soon as they perceive a patient has any symptoms of death, they never fail to prescribe things too difficult to be put in execution; so that they can always excuse themselves by saying, that their orders were not punctually followed.-Some persons forsake the diseased when the doctors give them over, and let them die with hunger and thirst; and there are others who to hinder the distortion of the features in dying persons, close their eyes and mouth when they see them in the last agonies. Notwithstanding these people show so little judgment in their manner of treating the sick, they behave towards the dead with a degree of tenderness and respect which cannot be too much admired. Some mothers have been known to keep the bodies of their children for years, frequently opening their coffins to change their dress, and even depriving themselves of food into small pieces, which are afterwards perforated for the conveniency of stringing. The garments of the women consist of three pieces, two of which form a petticoat, reaching from the girdle to the feet, and the third a shortcloak, which covers the body from the shoulders. These pieces, which are made from palm threads, are not woven, but fastened at the top as in fringes, and hang down in thick skains and tufts. The Indian women of Cape San Lucas wear their hair long, loose, and spread on their shoulders; but their head-dress, like that of all the other women of California, consists of a piece of network, made with great inuity. The women of the northern parts wear meaner garments, being covered only from hepwaist to the knees; and their petticoat, which is made of thin pieces of sedge, cut off at the knots, and fastened together with threads, merely serves to hide their nakedness, without defending them from the inclemencies of the weather. The houses of the afornians make no better appearance than their habits. Those of every ranchiera or village, are merely wretched huts, situated near some water, and when there is a necessity of removing to other places in quest of subsistence, the inhabitants easily shift their station. Wherever they stop, they shelter themselves under the trees, from the scorching heat of the sun by day, and the coldness of the air at night. In severe winters they live in caverns, which they either dig themselves, or find in the sides of the mountains; and it is a remarkable fact, that they obstinately refuse to reside in more comfortable dwellings, which have been erected for them by the missionaries. |