Los Angeles County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter 1 The Indians Of California 1927 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 7, 2009, 6:30 pm Book Title: History Of Monrovia CHAPTER I THE INDIANS OF CALIFORNIA A CONSIDERATION of the earliest peoples that lived in the neighborhood of Monrovia would be a most engaging occupation if there were definite information concerning them. Such information as we have has always given historians a choice morsel to ruminate upon. The derivation of the American Indian has challenged the science of anthropology and no one attempts to do more than spin interesting theories, some of which deserve a place among works of fiction rather than those of sober fact. That the Indian flourished at a period of great antiquity, there is now but little doubt. There is probably as much reason to believe that the human race originated on the American continent as upon the Eurasian. This is not a theory based upon information, but a possibility supported by lack of information on the subject. Many eras have come and gone since man made his advent upon the globe, and any one quarter of it can claim the distinction of being the original birth place as well as another. Ethnologists claim to discern a great similarity between the American Indian and the Mongolian races, and assert that if certain of the latter were garbed as Indians, it would be difficult to distinguish them from the tribesmen. Linguists assert they can identify Asiatic tongues in the languages of many of the Pacific coast Indians, and that such a fact could not exist without the intermingling of races. Not only is this probable, but it would seem inevitable, from the known association between the peoples of the two continents. Science tells us that we are even yet in the recessional period of the last ice age; that one thousand years ago, Behring Strait was frozen over, affording natural passage back and forth between the two continents among the polar inhabitants thereof. If that were true, even five thousand years ago, or at any other remote period, it would explain the possibility of the peopling of this country by the nomadic Asiatic tribes, or the reverse, if America proved to be the cradle of the human race. That there has been an influx of Asiatics to the American shores at all times to a very remote period is now a well established fact. This would explain the influence of the Asiatic tongues in this country, even if it did not explain the origin of our peoples. When we study the physical features of the globe with reference to Asia and the Northern continent, and in connection with the Japan current, we readily discover the key to this commingling of races. Our geographies give us an entirely false idea of directions between California and Japan. Our common conception of a trip that would carry us along the coast of North America to the Aleutian Isles, thence across to northern Siberia and down the coast to Japan, is that it would be more or less the shape of a horseshoe and, in our opinion, would be a very roundabout way. This error is carried in the student mind due to the manner in which maps of continents are projected in our geographies. An inspection of a globe containing a map of the world will demonstrate that such a trip as above outlined would be substantially the shortest route by which Japan can be reached, and furthermore, that it lies in almost a straight line. But the important factor lies in the fact that the Japan current is like a mighty river in the ocean, and after leaving Japan washes the shores of Asia and North America until it reaches Mexico when it returns across the ocean to Manila along a more southern route. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, sixty-nine instances have been recorded of the carrying of disabled Japanese and Chinese junks by this current from Asiatic waters to the American shores. In nearly all of these instances some members of the crews were able to sustain life by catching such fish as they could and catching and conserving rainwater. Some of the crews fell among inhospitable Indians who slew the males and retained the females as wives, while others, more fortunate, were kindly treated and assimilated by the natives. It is reasonable to suppose that these derelicts with their cargoes of human freight have been thrown upon these shores ever since seamanship has been known to the Asiatic races. Our acquaintance with primitive peoples impels the belief that seacraft in some rudimentary form at least, is one of the earliest accomplishments of the human race. If, then, the Pacific Coast has been augmented by Asiatic races from time immemorial, that fact explains the similarity of tongues said to exist between the Asiatic and American continents, and to insure that the nomadic tribes of America have received the continued infusion of Asiatic blood. The Indians of the Santa Barbara Channel were said, at the time of the discovery of the country by the Spaniards, to be a superior race with an intelligence far above their neighbors. Their homes were far more substantial than those of their surrounding tribesmen, and they possessed trading qualities and characteristics which suggested Chinese origin. The Indians were highly clannish, each tribe being given to but little association with other tribes. The State of California was filled with many small bands or tribes each of which was unfamiliar with the language of other tribes, even when living within twenty miles of each other. This linguistic multiplicity is difficult to understand, especially when the languages were frequently structurally at great variance which would seem to discount the idea of any but a very remote common origin. Hugo Reid, a Scotchman, came to California at an early day and settled among the Indians of San Gabriel Mission. He lived among them and studied their language and domestic customs and wrote quite extensively about them. From his writings we learn that the Indians always lived in groups, each collection of huts being called by the Spanish, a rancheria. The Indians gave each little village a name just as we name our cities and villages. In 1852 Mr. Reid published a number of letters in the Los Angeles Star, parts of which are incorporated herein. We quote from his letters in their order: Letter I "The following are the rancherias, with the corresponding present names: Yang-na Los Angeles Sibag-na San Gabriel Isanthcog-na Mission Vieja (Old Mission) Sisit Canog-na Pear Orchard Sonag-na Mr. White's Place Acurag-na The Presa Azucsag-na Azusa Cucomog-na Cucamonga Pasinog-na Rancho del Chino Pimocag-na Rancho de Ybarra Awig-na La Puente Chokishg-na La Jaboneria Pimug-na Island of S. Catalina Toybipet San Jose Hutucg-na Santa Ana (Yorbas) Ahupquig-na Santa Anita Mang-na Rancho Feliz Hahamog-na Rancho Verdugos Cabueg-na Cahuenga Pasecg-na San Fernando Suang-na Suanga (Wilmington) Pubug-na Alamitos Tibahag-na Cerritos Chowig-na Palos Verdes Nacaug-na Carpenter's Farm Kinkipar Island of S. Clemente Houtg-na Rancho Lugo "Imp and San Bernardino, etc., belonged to another distinct tribe possessing a language not at all understood by the above lodges, and, although reduced by the Spanish missionaries to the same labor and religion, they never amalgamated their blood, they being considered as much inferior, and named Serranos (Mountaineers). "The captains, or chiefs, of each lodge took its name followed by ic, with sometimes the alterations of one or more final letters. For instance, the chief of Azucsag-na, Azucsavic, that of Sibag-na, Sibapic. The title of a chief's eldest son was Tomear, of his eldest daughter, Manisar. "Suanga was the most populous village. "The Cahuillas were named by the Spanish missionaries, thus misnamed as a tribal name, the word cahuilla signifying master." Letter II "They have a great many liquid sounds, and their gutterals are even softened down so as to become agreeable to the ear. (The following is the conjugation of a verb) Nahacua, to hear Nonim nahacua I hear O-a nahacua Thou hearest Mane nahacua He or she hears Non him nahacua I heard O-a him nahacua Thou heardst Mane him nahacua He or she heard Nop nom nahacua I shall hear O-pam nahacua Thou shalt hear Mane-pom nahacua He or she shall hear." Letter III — Gabrielino "The Santa Inez tongue is understood by the Indians of the Purissima, Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura, with this difference, that the two latter splutter their words a little more, which almost seems impossible. The l is used in this tongue although not in the Gabrielino which is strange. The only word in the Gabriel tongue which has an l is an interjection, alala, equal to our Oho! The Serranos have no l either, in use, and their language is as easy as that of the San Gabriel. The Serranos generally employ a t, when the Gabrielinos would use an r." Letter IV "Father, mother, husband, son, daughter, face, hair, ear, tongue, mouth, and friend are words never used without a personal pronoun, as, father, nack, my father, ni nack; thy father, mo nack; his or her father, a nack. If they had children, instead of saying ni asum, my husband, they often say ni taliaisum, which may be translated 'part of my body.' All brothers older than the speaker are styled apa, ni apa, my brother, all younger, by apeitz, my younger brother. They have no word to express Indian. Tahat signifies people. The whites are termed chichinabro, reasonable beings. Faces and eyes are expressed by the same word. Ear, nanan; the leaves of a tree are called its ears. Snow and ice are the same. Tobagnar, the whole earth; lahur, a portion of it, a piece of land. Caller, forest. No word to signify tree; all varieties have their special names. Cabatcho, good looking. Zizu, devil, an evil spirit. Qua-o-ar, God. Held in great reverence, and the name was seldom pronounced among them. They generally used the term Y-yo-ha-riv-gnina, that which gives us life." Letter V — Government, Laws and Punishment "The government of the people was in the hands of the chiefs, each captain commanding his own lodge. The command was hereditary in a family, descending from father to son, and from brother to brother. If the right line of descent ran out, they immediately elected one of the same kin, nearest of blood. Laws in general were made as they were required, with the exception of some few standing ones. Robbery and thievery were unknown among them; and murder, which was of rare occurrence, was punished by shooting the delinquent with arrows until he was dead. Incest was held in deep abhorrence and punished with death; even marriages between kin folks were not allowed. The manner of death was by shooting with arrows. "All prisoners of war were invariably put to death, after being tormented in the most cruel manner. This was done in presence of all the chiefs, for as war was declared and conducted by a council of the whole, so they had to attend to the execution of enemies in common. A war dance on such an occasion was therefore grand, solemn and maddening. "If a quarrel ensued between two parties, the chiefs of the lodge took cognizance of the case and decided according to the testimony produced. But if a quarrel resulted between parties of distant lodges, each chief heard the witnesses produced by his own people, and then in council with the chiefs of the other side, they passed sentence. Should they disagree, another chief, impartial, was called in, who heard the statements made by the two captains, and he decided alone. There was no appeal from his decision. Whipping was never resorted to as a punishment, restitution being invariably made for damages sustained in money, food and skins. "If a woman proved unfaithful to her husband and he caught her in the act, he had a right to put her to death, if he chose, without any interference by any of the tribe. But what was more generally practiced, he informed the paramour he was at liberty to keep her, and then he took possession of the other's spouse. The exchange was admitted as legal by all concerned, and the paramour would not object. "Although they counted by moons, still they had another mode for long periods, which was to reckon from the time the sun was farthest north till it was at its southern extremity, and then back again. Summer was counted from the time frogs were first heard to croak. This was used to count war scrapes by, and under the recollection of the chief. When other tribes had to be chastised, the chief sent an express to all other lodges. A number of male children were taught from early childhood to listen to long stories by the chief and to repeat them word for word. In this manner, they became so perfect as to be able to recite the longest oration anyone could produce. "They were not much given to travel, for they relate of only one who left his people and proceeded north until he came to the land where the geese bred; and even he appears to have possessed that property ascribed to his race; for on his return, he informed them of having fallen in with people whose ears reached down to the hips, others of small stature. . . " Letter VI — Food and Raiment "The animal food used by the Gabrielinos consisted of deer meat, young coyotes, squirrels, badgers, rats, gophers, skunks, raccoons, wildcats, small crows, blackbirds, hawks, and snakes with the exception of the rattle snakes. A few ate of the bear, but in general it was rejected on superstitious grounds. A large locust or a grasshopper was a favorite morsel, roasted on a stick at the fire. Fish, quails, seals, sea otter and shellfish formed the principal subsistence of the immediate coast rangers and islanders. Acorns, after being divested of the shell, were dried and pounded in stone mortars, put into filterers of willow twigs, worked into conical form and raised on little sand mounds, which were lined inside with two inches of sand; water was added and mixed up, filled up again and again with more water, at first hot and then cold until all the bitter principle was extracted, the residue was then collected and washed free of any sandy particle it might contain; on settling, the water was poured off; on being boiled it became a sort of mush, and was eaten when cold. The next favorite food was the kernel of a species of plum, which grows in the mountains and islands. It is sometimes called the mountain cherry, although it partook little of either, having a large stone wrapped in fibre and possessing little pulp. This, when cooked, formed a very nutritious, rich, sweet aliment, and looked much like dry frijoles. Chia, which is a small, gray, oblong seed, was procured from a plant apparently of the thistle kind, having a number of seed vessels on a straight stalk, one above the other, like sage. This, roasted and ground, made a meal which was eaten, mixed with cold water, being of a glutinous consistency and very cooling. Pepper seeds were also much used; likewise the tender tops of wild sage. Salt was used sparingly, as they considered it had a tendency to turn the hair gray. All their food was eaten cold, or nearly so. "The men wore no clothing. The women of the interior wore a short waist skirt of deer-skin, while those of the coast had otter-skin. Covering for sleeping consisted of rabbit-skin quilts. The women wore earrings, the men passing a piece of cane or reed through the ear lobe. The earrings of the women were composed of four long pieces of whale's tooth, ground smooth and round, about eight inches in length, and hung, with hawk's feathers, from a ring of abalone shell. Their necklaces were very large and heavy, and consisted of their money beads, of beads made of black stone, and pieces of whale's teeth, ground round and pierced. They used bracelets of very small shell-beads on both wrists." Letter VII — Marriages "Chiefs or captains had one, two or three wives, as their inclinations dictated, their subjects only one. When a person wished to marry, and had selected a suitable partner, he advertised the same to his relations. On the day appointed, the male portion of the lodge and male relations living at other lodges brought in their contributions of shell-bead money, generally to the value of twenty-five cents each. The contributions ready, they proceeded in a body to the residence of the bride, where all her relations were assembled. The money was then divided equally among them, the bride receiving nothing as it was a purchase. After a few days, the bride's female relations returned the compliment in taking to the bridegroom's dwelling baskets of meal made of chia, which was distributed among his male relations. These preliminaries over, a day was fixed for the ceremony, which consisted in decking out the bride with innumerable strings of beads, paint and skins. Being ready, she was taken up in the arms of one of the strongest of the tribe who carried her, dancing, toward her sweetheart's habitation, all her family connections dancing round and throwing food and edible seeds at her feet at every step, which were collected by the spectators as best they could in a scramble. The relations of the groom came and met them, taking away the bride from the carrier, and doing the duty themselves by likewise joining in the ceremonious walking dance. On arriving at the bridegroom's lodge, who was within waiting, the bride was inducted into her new residence, placed beside her husband, and baskets of seeds emptied on them to denote blessing and plenty. These were likewise scrambled for by the spectators, who, after gathering up all the 'seed-cake' departed, leaving them to enjoy their honeymoon according to usage. The bride never visited her relations from that day forth, but was at liberty to receive their visits. "Should the husband beat the wife and ill-treat her, she gave advice of it to her lodge, when her relations collected all the money which had been paid at her marriage, took it in deputation to the husband's lodge, left it with him and led off the wife, whom they married immediately to another." Letter VIII — Birth and Burial "Immediately on the birth of a child, the mother and infant were purified, in the following manner: In the center of a hut a large hole was dug, and an immense fire was kindled in which large stones were heated until red-hot. When nothing remained but hot embers and the stones, bundles of wild tansy were heaped on the same and covered all over with earth, with the exception of a small chimney or aperture. The mother had then to stand over the aperture with her child wrapped up in a mat, flannel fashion. Water was then poured, by degrees, in at the opening, which caused immense quantities of steam or vapor, causing the patient to hop and skip a little at first and provoked profuse perspiration afterwards. When no more steam was procurable, the mother and child lay down on the heap, covered up, until the steaming was renewed again. Three days was the term of purification, mornings and evenings being the times of sweating. No food was allowed the mother during that time, and her drink (water) was warmed. She was now allowed to eat of everything at discretion, with the exception of animal food, which was debarred her for two months. Her diet at length complete, three pills were prepared of the size of a musket ball, composed of one part of meat and one part of wild tobacco. These swallowed, she was allowed to eat meat, but she was not permitted to share her husband's bed until the child was able to run. "When a person died, all the kin collected to mourn his or her loss. Each one had his own peculiar mode of crying or howling and one could be as easily distinguished from the other, as one song from another. After lamenting awhile, a mourning dirge was sung in a very low tone, accompanied by a shrill whistle, made by blowing into deer's bones. Dancing can hardly be said to have formed a part of their rites, as it was merely a monotonous action of the foot by stamping on the ground. This was continued until the body showed signs of decay, when it was wrapped up in its covering with the hands across the breast and tied from hand to foot. A grave having been dug in their burial place, the body was interred according to the means of the family, by throwing in seeds, etc. If the deceased was the head of the family, or a favorite son, the hut was set fire to in which he died, and all of his goods and chattels burned with it, reserving only some article with which to make a feast at the end of twelve months." Letter IX— Medicines and Diseases (Omitted) [Transcriber's note - omitted by author] Letter X — A Legend "There were seven brothers who married seven sisters,— according to their respective ages,—and they lived in a large hut together. The husbands went daily to hunt rabbits, and the wives to gather flag-roots, for food. The husbands invariably returned first, and on the wives' arrival reported always bad luck in hunting, with the exception of the youngest brother, who invariably handed his wife a rabbit. Consequently the poor women fared badly in regard to animal food. This continued as a daily occurrence for a length of time, until, in a conference held by the women, they expressed a conviction of being cheated by their husbands, declaring it strange that with the sole exception of the youngest husband, nothing was ever killed. At the same time, to find out the truth, they agreed that the youngest should remain at home the following day under pretense of toothache and watch the return of the party. Next day the men as usual took their bows and arrows and set forth. The six sisters then departed, leaving the other hidden among flags and rushes at the back of the house, in such a position as to command a view of everything transacted within. Several hours before sunset the hunting party returned laden with rabbits, which they commenced roasting and eating, with the exception of one, which the youngest put apart. The others called him a fool, telling him to eat the rabbit, which, however, he refused to do, saying he esteemed his wife a little and always intended to reserve one for her. 'More fool you,' said the others, 'we care more for ourselves than for them.' "The feast concluded, the bones were carefully gathered together and concealed in a suitable place outside. After some time the youngest wife arose and presented herself in the hut, to the surprise of the males, who asked her where she came from. 'I have been asleep at the back of the house,' she answered, 'and have only this minute awakened, having had to remain behind from toothache.' After a while the women came home, and ran to their sister asking for her health. They soon found opportunity to leave the hut and learn the results of the espionage, besides visiting the place where the bones were deposited. They cried very much, and talked over what they should do. 'Let us turn to water,' said the oldest. This was objected to by all the rest, saying that their husbands would then drink them, which would never do. The second proposed that they should turn into stones, which was likewise rejected, because they would be trod upon. The third wanted them to turn into trees, which was rejected, as their husbands would use them for fire-wood; and so on until it came to the turn of the youngest, who proposed they should turn themselves into stars. An objection was made on the ground that their husbands would always see them, which was at length overruled from the circumstance of being out of reach. They accordingly went to the lagoon where they procured flag-roots, and making an engine (flying concern) out of reeds they ascended to the sky and located themselves as the seven stars. "Only the youngest brother appeared to be vexed at the loss of his wife, and sought her daily. One day, having wandered to the edge of the lagoon, his wife had compassion on him and spoke, directed his attention to the machine they had made, and told him to ascend. He did so, but not wishing him in their immediate vicinity, they placed him a little way off. "A song survives having reference to the seven stars." Letter XI — Sports and Games "Few games, and those of a gambling nature. "The principal one was called churchurki (or peon, Spanish). It consists in guessing in which hand a small piece of stick was held concealed, by one of four persons who com* posed a side who sat opposite to each other. They had their singers, who were paid by the victorious party at the end of the game. Fifteen pieces of stick were laid on each side, as counters, and a person named as umpire, who, besides keeping account, settled the debts and prevented cheating, and held the stakes. Each person had two pieces of wood, one black and one white. The white one alone counted, the black being to prevent fraud, as they had to change and show one in each hand. The arms crossed and the hands hidden in the lap, they kept changing the pieces from one hand to the other. Should he fail to guess right, he lost his peon, and counters allotted to the others, and so on until the counters were all gone, or all the peons killed, when the others had a trial. They bet almost everything they possessed. The umpire provided the fine and was paid by the night. "Another game called charcharake, was played between two, each taking a turn to throw with the points down, eight pieces of split reed, eight or ten inches long and black on one side. "Another game, called hararicuar, consisted in throwing rods or canes of the length of a lance, at a ring put in motion, to see who could insert it. The ring was made of buckskin with a twig of willow inside, and four inches in diameter. This is not played now. "Football was played by children and those swift of foot. Betting was indulged in by the spectators." PRIMITIVE MAN IN SAN GABRIEL CANYON One discovery made in the neighborhood of Monrovia bears mute evidence of an occupation by man that reaches into the voiceless ages of the past and establishes a civilization for this locality as ancient as that of any other known portion of the globe. We quote from the Monrovia Messenger of January 15, 1891, which in turn quotes from the Los Angeles Herald: Discovery of Early Occupation by Man "The mouth of the San Gabriel Canyon lies three miles directly east of Monrovia, from which canyon is obtained the water supply of Duarte, Azusa and neighboring country. A correspondent of the Los Angeles Herald gives a well authenticated account of an archaeological discovery of rare interest which has been recently made: "About sixteen miles above its mouth, this canyon cuts transversely through an old river bed that must have done service as a great water way many hundred centuries before the date ascribed to Adam. The traverse section of this river bed is plainly traceable in the face of the bluff as an immense curve of stratified rock, harder than granite, resting upon its convex base, and apparently quite as well defined as when the waters of the primeval world rushed between its rising banks—the familiar 'rim rock' of modern mining experience. This petrified water course is now the bedrock above which a mountain of gravel and boulders is deposited to a depth of more than one thousand feet. In this formation and by the crystallization of the sediment of the river bottom into compact flinty rock, we have evidence of the amazing lapse of centuries that was necessary to change the face of nature to the condition presented today, but stranger still, a discovery recently made there proves conclusively that humanity existed in this region when that ancient order was yet undisturbed. "A party of experienced miners having noticed this familiar formation in the face of the bluff, suspected that there was gold to be found underneath all of this superincumbent gravel, and accordingly proceeded to run drifts and tunnels into the mountain along the bedrock. After tunneling for a distance of about 100 feet, they encountered what seemed to be a compact boulder, quite symmetrical in form and composed wholly unlike rock theretofore seen in the neighborhood. But it was immovable, though apparently resting upon the bedrock. After picking carefully around it they found that it was actually imbedded in the substance of the bedrock, which it penetrated for a depth of nearly ten inches, and upon removing the gravel at the top they discovered that the apparent boulder was indeed a well-made mortar, in the bowl of which still lay the pestle, as it was placed by human hands a thousand centuries ago. After some further expenditure of time and effort they succeeded in chiselling away the bedrock at the base so as to free the mortar, which was then carefully removed. "This wonderful relic is now in the hands of B. C. Lattin of Alhambra and may be seen in his doorway by any curious passerby. "There is probably not today in the known world another relic of humanity as old as this, the genuineness of which is as capable of such thorough authentication." Inasmuch as the territory in the neighborhood of Monrovia was the scene of very important annals in the early settlement of the country, the author will insert herein a few pages from a brief history of the State of California he compiled under the title of "A Sixty Minute History of California," the purpose being to give sufficient to form a fair background for that which is necessarily inherent in the history of the city. Monrovia was carved out of a part of two Spanish grants, the Santa Anita Rancho and the Azusa de Duarte Rancho, both of which are redolent of the days of Spanish occupation, the history of which is full of beauty and romance. As the scent of the orange blossoms hovers around the altar of Hymen, so the lustre of the languorous days of the Dons still casts its glow upon the land. AFGHAN DISCOVERY "As the Atlantic Coast had its Lief Erickson, so the Pacific Coast had its Hwui Shan. The great official encyclopaedia of China records that in 499 A.D. Hwui Shan, a Buddhist priest of Cabul, Afghanistan, returned from a country far to the east named Fusang. The narrative relates that in 458 A.D. five mendicant Buddhist priests made their way to Fusang, and among other things, introduced Buddhism and the learning of the Orient. He described minutely the distances traveled, directions gone and peoples encountered upon their return trip, and to retrace their steps would lead one to Mexico or to the California coast. The conditions found in Mexico by the early conquerors justify a belief in this narrative, as there were many evidences of Buddhist culture found among the more enlightened races. Additional Comments: Extracted from: History of MONROVIA By JOHN L. WILEY ILLUSTRATED 1927 PRESS OF PASADENA STAR-NEWS PASADENA, CALIFORNIA File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/losangeles/history/1927/historyo/chapter1525nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 31.5 Kb