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Indians of California by Edward Chever (12 pages)
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Page: of 12
LOST AND FOUND 121
Figure 1. Indian Village. [Note: The grain cribs are scattered about among the huts, and the poles planted in some of them support the
decoys used by the Indians in shooting geese. —Eds.]
branch is left in the door to show that no one is at
home. The California Indians were more provident
than most of the aborigines of this country. Large,
round, upright cribs, made of poles and reeds, perhaps
eight or nine feet high, contained their supplies of
acorns. These cribs were neatly made and had a floor
of loose reeds to keep the acorns from contact with
the ground; they were estimated to hold two years
supply of breadstuff, and were filled when acorns were
abundant to provide for a short crop if the next year
should prove unfruitful. The whole tribe, men, women
and children, worked together in gathering acorns in
the fall for these public granaries. The hunting and
fishing were done wholly by men, and some of the
fishing was done at night when the women were
sleeping at home. Much of the drudgery came to the
women and seemingly with their consent. They said
that a hunter needed a keen eye, a firm hand and a
fleet foot; if he became stiff from hard work or lost
his skill, his wife must suffer with him in his
misfortunes, and it was best for each to do what each
could do best.
The position of honor among the Indians is the
recognition of excellence in some quality or
acquirement. This induces every young man to
improve himself by every opportunity offered, so that
he may become the first in usefulness and be called
on to meet chiefs in council. When the customs of
the Indians are learned the charge of indolence, as
often made against them, does not seem wholly
merited. One of the early settlers in New York asked
a chief why he did not work and lay up money. The
chief replied that he wanted one good reason given
him why he should make a slave of himself all of his
life to make his children lazy for the whole of theirs.
The labor performed is often great and exhaustive and
must be shared by many. As no one gains any
advantage over his fellows, excepting as he may prove
himself more useful to them by the exercise of
superior skill, he has less inducement to work alone,