“The civilizing of the Indians is a slow process. When some change is going to be made it ought to be announced long ahead, and then the red man can prepare for it. Otherwise he is simply carried off his feet, dazed, doesn’t know where to go, or what to do. It is all right to say, let those who do not want to work starve, but what about the innocent family, what about his ‘sponging’ on the others as they call it? One Indian cannot refuse another anything (especially as they are all relations) without being ostracized. “I note what you say about tuberculosis, and must say that the opposite ought to be true, but it is not, for many reasons, most of which are mentioned above. Were it not for their careless and dirty habits, their lack of food and proper care, they ought to be the strongest race on the face of the earth. By proper treatment many cases could be cured. As it is they all die. Two physicians cannot tend to everybody on so large a reservation and with their limited means. * * * * * “These are a few things that I thought I should mention in order to fully answer your questions. By doing so, I did not in the least mean to criticise anyone in the Service, for I know that much has been tried and done in the past. Still I believe with the other missionaries, that the Indians can be saved if we try the methods suggested above or similar ones.” CHAPTER XXXI. THE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA No scientist has devoted more time and study to the California Indians than Dr. A. L. Kroeber. In his description of California tribes and stocks, published in the Handbook of American Indians, he states that the California natives are rather shorter than the majority of those in eastern North America, and in the south, they are unusually dark. The astonishing characteristic of California Indians is their diversified languages. There are twenty-one distinct linguistic families. The larger stocks such as the Athapascan, Shoshonean and Yuman have forced their way into the State, whereas the great majority are small bands and may be considered purely Californian. While pottery was practically unknown, textile arts (particularly basket-making) were very highly developed. “Houses were often made of grass, tule, or brush, or of bark, sometimes covered with earth. Only in the northwest part of the State were small houses of planks in use. In this region, as well as on the Santa Barbara islands, wooden canoes were also made, but over the greater part of the State a raft of tules was the only means of navigation. Agriculture was nowhere practised. Deer and small game were hunted, and there was considerable fishing; but the bulk of the food was vegetable. The main reliance was placed on numerous varieties of acorns, and next to these, on seeds, especially of grasses and herbs. Roots and berries were less used.[58]