45
PART II
Letters of Stephen Powers to John Wesley Powell
Concerning Tribes of California
Edited by R. F, Heizer.
46
153 East 26th St. N.Y.
Jan. 1, 1875
Prof. J.W. Powell
Dear Sir:
Thanks for your invitation, and if I should come to Washington I will accept it.
I shall follow your articles in Scribner's with close attention.
As to the matter of the animal stories or fables in vogue among the Cal. Ind.,
I will state, in a word, that they have almost no other literature, not even songs of any
meaning. Of the half a hundred or so that I collected, not half a dozen have any human
element; though the fact that they are forbidden by their superstitions to mention the dead
may partly account for this. In the whole body of their legendary literature the coyote
is the central figure. All that the aboriginal imagination -- which seems to linger with
with delight on the subject -- can conceive of cunning, practical jokes and comical
deviltry, is bestowed upon this astute beast. There is occasionally a tribe or an indivi-
dual Indian who is willing to attribute a small part of the work of creation to some other
animal, as the eagle, the crow, the turtle, and others: but generally the coyote does all
the work himself from the beginning.
The Cal. Ind. as a matter of fact, practically anticipated Darwin by some
centuries. They hold that the whole animal world once existed on the same plane of
being, that they were all, including man, brothers and sisters together0 All kinds of
animals mated together promiscuously, and even if two of the same kind united, there
was no certainty that their progeny would be. The idea of connecessity [ ?] of origin
runs through the whole of their body of fables. A bear might give birth to a deer, a deer
might find a bird among her children. But out of all this haphazard work it never came
to pass that a man issued forth; the creation of him had to be specially undertaken by the
coyoteo
In some mysterious manner, which no Indian pretends to explain, the coyote
preceeded all other living beings, and from him they spring. Whether he created them,
or served merely as a sort of protoplasm out of which they developed, the Indians are
not clear. In all the fables which I have heard he is not here represented as actually
creating any of the inferior animals. They seem to proceed from him. Some old Indians
say that all living beings including man, once existed in the form of coyotes. They are
all agreed upon the fact that man was the last form of development which took place0
One very pretty fable, worthy of La Fontaine, represents all the animals
assembled in council to deliberate on the form and attributes which they should give to
man. All the other animals wanted to make man like themselves, but the coyote had wit
enough to perceive that an improvement was possible, by combining the various excellences
48
of the beasts. The council finally broke up in a row, and each animal started to make
a model like himself. But night intervened and suspended operations, and by a cunning
trick the coyote got his model done first, and thereby established the pattern of the
human race.
Another fable begins with the first appearance of man upon the scene. He
marshals all the animals to give them their respective ranks by assigning to each a
bow and arrows of a certain length.
From these facts you will readily conjecture that they have no conception of
a Supreme Being. I am profoundly satisfied they had none whatever, with the exception
of a few tribes near the Oregon border, and perhaps an occasional Indian of superior
intelligence. True, they all nowadays talk of a "Big Man,," the "Old Man Above," and
they even have pure Indian names of this being) for they are quick to invent names for
new objects); but the idea is manifestly an American graft, which remains unassimilated.
Break through the very thin crust of modern origin and get down to the bedrock of the
real, genuine, aboriginal legends and there is not the slightest trace of a Supreme Being
to be found. The coyote did everything, made everything. They believe in a future
state in the Happy Western Land, but this belief involves no conception of a God.
There are countless spirits, principally bad ones, who hover about the hills,
and generally refuse to tell their names to mortals to whom they work much injury.
Some of these spirits take up their abode in certain animals, as the grizzly bear, the
black eagle, the rattlesnake, the coyote, the owl, etc.; some tribes even believe that
the acorns and dry leaves whistling in the wind over their roofs in the night are instinct
[ ?] with evil. When bad Indians die they are often punished by being over into
grizzlies, rattlesnakes, etc. If a dead man is so unfortunate as to be buried instead of
burned, some believe he will turn into a grizzly.
As all men spring from the coyote, and one at death returns to the form of
that animal, he is considered to have suffered punishment, but a slight one, since the
coyote is constantly regarded as the friend of the human race. Old pioneers tell me that
in early days the coyote were allowed to come into their village and to frolic with the
dogs.
One aboriginal philosopher informed me that there are numerous states of
existence, through which all pass. In one stage we may all fly, in another we may all
walk erect, in another crawl, or swim, or walk on all fours, etc. In another stage,
good Indians may fly; bad ones may return to the shapes of animals. So we go -- some
ascending, some descending. The greatest evil which can overtake one is, to be changed
into a tree, rock, bush, or some other inanimate objects. This is in store for the
desperately wicked, and constitutes the only conception they are able to form of annihila-
tion, after which, as they say, "He will never live any more,t"
49
Such are some of the points which occur to me at present. I could give
many stories, but I hope some day to be able to put them in a book though I fear I shall
not succeed in finding a publisher who will be willing to undertake it at his risk. I have
the MS for a book rather larger than Foster's "Prehistoric Races of the U. S. with
30 or 40 original photographs and sketches to illustrate it.
Very respectfully yours,
Stephen Powers
PS. If you have any illustrations of Cal. Ind. I should like to exchange with you.
S.P.
50
153 East 26th St.
New York Jan. 28. [1875]
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
You ask about my manuscript, vocabularies, collections, etc. and what
arrangements I have made for publishing them.
I have about 650 pages of MS., 30 or 40 original photographs and sketches
and a number of vocabularies (which, however, Mr. Bancroft will- publish). I had
hoped to secure a publisher here but I find it vill be difficult if not impossible without
incurring an expense which I am ill able to bear.
Prof. Baird has kindly suggested that the book could probably be published
by the Government through the Department of U. S. Territorial Surveys.
Do you think you could bring out such a work in the Division which you have
charge of? I should like it illustrated with about 30 cuts perhaps.
Very respectfully yours,
Stephen Powers
[P. S.] In case you could undertake this for me, do you think it could be done within
a year, and that I could be allowed to read the proof sheets?
S.P.
51
153 East 26th St. N.Y.
Feb. 4, 1875
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
Just before receiving your letter of Jan. 29 this morning, I had made all my
arrangements to go out of town for a time.
I send you, per Adams Express, my Indian MSS. for your inspection. I have
nothing more to add to it. [ Illegible word] my material for the illustrations is yet
only partly in shape and can be prepared and sent in case of a favorable decision from
you.
The illustrations will consist of about twenty photographs, chiefly of Indians
in native costume; camp scenes, etc. and ten or fifteen sketches of various kinds of
wigwams, dances and the like. All will be original, none having been published before
in any relation except perhaps two or three photographs of the [illegible word].
Perhaps the most valuable part of the matter as also that which has not appeared
in the Overland, is the last four chapters and the second chapter on the Nishenous.
I will mention to you my views and these with the MSS will perhaps enable you
to decide without an interview. The whole extent of my pride and ambition is to have the
book published in good shape, and to have copies get into the hands of men who are
interested in the subject -- for I have never hoped or expected to make money from it.
My friend Mr. S. Wright Dunning of the "Railroad Gazette" thinks that if my book is
published by the Government it will be apt to be [illegible word] amid the mass of...
[apparently on half a folded page is missing]... as the proof is sent on to me, so that it
might be ready when the body of the book is in type.
Please inform me of your decision as soon as you can conveniently, for I shall
probably wish to go home before many weeks.
Very respectfully yours,
Stephen Powers
P. S. Prof. Baird wishes me to contribute models or sketches, or both, of the different
varieties of wigwams of California for the Centennial. I suppose if you should be willing
to bring out the book for me, that duplicate sketches could be made at the Government
office for the Centennial.  S. P.
52
120 South 17th St.
Philadelphia. Feb. 27. [1875]
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
An errand of business has brought me thus far toward Washington and I may
find time to come down before going home, though it is doubtful.
Your letter of Feb. 5 was forwarded to me today.
You ask about the vocabularies. Mr. Bancroft has sent me proofs of portions
of them -- all that he will print in his work -- but whether I could get from him the MSS
containing the full lists is, I suppose doubtful. If you would like to have them embodied
in the book I will make the attempt.
I think I could indicate on a map the more important tribes of California, at
least in such a manner that an artist could color it properly; and I should like very much
to have such a map accompany the book because I am not satisfied with Mr. Bancroft's
map.
If you deem it absolutely necessary that I should come down, perhaps I can
find the time, but my plans and engagements are such that I do not see very well how I
can. I should like to learn your final decision as to the availability of my MSS soon so
that I may get the assistance of an artist here to put some finishing touches on the illus-
trations before I go home where such services will not be within convenient reach.
Address: As above, care of Mrs. Wood.
Respectfully yours,
Stephen Powers
53
120 South 17th St. Phil.
March 11 [1875]
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
I send you today, by Adams Express, all the photographs and sketches I have
ready. Have been delayed by lack of good weather for copying.
I should like to get up a few more drawings, done by Mr. Moran, which will
cost about $100. I wish to ask if you could allow me that amount for that purpose. I
could pay it out of my own purse, but not without cutting in upon a little sum which I had
ccnsecrated to the god Hymen. I could not think of asking this if the book were to be a
source of profit to me, or if I had not already expended a good deal on it. If the request
is not unreasonable or impracticable I hope you will [illegible word] it.
Very truly yours,
Stephen Powers
P. S. Perhaps I send herewith as many as you will wish.
54
Waterford, Wash. Co.
Ohio. April 13 [1875]
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
Just before leaving Philadelphia I was married; and I am now at home on my
father's farm. This will be my permanent address henceforth, to which please send
anything intended for me.
Before leaving Philadelphia, I sent you a quantity of photographs and sketches
for the book; but I have some imperfect sketches of wigwams, which might be used if
desired. I did not send them, as I thought perhaps I sent enough at that time.
Please inform me as to the prospects of the book, and about when you can
commence on it.
Address: Waterford, Washington County, Ohio.
Yours respectfully,
Stephen Powers
55
Waterford, Washington Co. Ohio
May 30, 1875
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
Some weeks ago I sent you a quantity of MS vocabularies for my Indian book,
accompanied by a letter. I should be very glad to learn what progress is being made in
the matter, and how soon you will commence sending me proof.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
56
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
July 3. [1876]
My dear Pilling:
I return you by tomorrow's mail pages 112 to 142 inclusive, first revise, and
the cut of the sweat-house and bath.
The paragraph concerning the Reservation authorities might be considered in
bad taste by the clerks referred to; but I do not intend any disrespect to the Indian Bureau.
They express my sentiments, and I want them to stand, unless the Major strongly dis-
approves of them. It should notbeconsidered disrespectful to the Bureautocensure the
administration of a Reservation 3000 miles away.
"Cockagne" means a fabulous land of idleness and plenty.
On pages 62 & 63, second revise, correct "Wappeckquenow" to "Wappeckque-
mow, " if not too late.
I hope you will succeed in your endeavors in regard to illustrations, where the
artist draws large figures I like them, but his small ones are less praiseworthy.
Truly,
Stephen Powers.
57
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
July 11 [1876]
My dear Pilling:
I return you today proofsheets from page 161 to 181 inclusive, with corrections.
The pictures of the "tule lodges" and "earth lodges" are unequal in merit.
The first please me very well, but I am dissatisfied with the latter. The people are
too large for the houses, and the latter are too steep for heaps of dry earth long
exposed to wind and weather.
Couldn't you send me the artist's work before it is engraved, if there is any
left yet ?
I enclose a rude sketch of a wooden lodge, used in the high Sierra where
the snow falls so deep. If you think there is any probability that they can be used. I
will send you one of the Clear Lake lodge.
Very truly,
Stephen Powers.
58
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
July 1i s 187 5
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
Your letter from Chicago is received, and I reply at once.
I hope you did not construe as a discourtesy my failure to go with you to
Marietta. We were behind with our haying and help was difficult to get; hence I could
ill be spared.
As you suggest I shall write at once to Mr. Smith at Washington. You speak
of being in Green River on the first of September and suggest that it would be better for me
to meet you there at that time in order to commence work. I shall be very glad to have
the benefit of your advice and presence until I can get idea of your methods -- and become
indoctrinated with your spirit; but would it not be practicable for you to set me at work
a little earlier? If I do not get into the field before the 1st of September, that will throw
me into the rainy season in the latter part of my work in California. I see nothing now
to prevent me from being in Green River by the 10th of August, or, if there should be
no delay in the financial arrangements at Washington even by the 1st of August. We are
now nearly through with the "busy season" and I can get off within two weeks, so far as
the farm is concerned.
Your telegram of June 1st reached me, via Ironton, only a few days ago --
nearly six weeks old! If you should wish to telegraph me again you had beeter send the
dispatch to Waterford (via Marietta).
All your suggestions as to maps etc. will be duly attended to.
My wife sends her regards. She regretted very much that you were so uncer-
moniously snatched away from the breakfast table.
Sincerely yours,
St. Powers
59
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
Aug. 11, 1875
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
In your second letter you express the hope that I have already made arrange-
ments with Commissioner Smith for my trip. I have written him twice, but have not
yet heard anything from him.
To-day I shall write to Prof. Baird to see if he can do anything for me.
Very respectfully yours,
Stephen Powers.
60
Wadsworth, Nev. Oct. 15 [5?] [1875]
My dear Major Powell:
We spent four days at Pyramid Lake and had a very refreshing time. We
were a little raw in the business, of course, but I think we did tolerably well for a
beginning.
I shall ship the first package today. 85 pieces. They tell me the express
charges would be about $20, so I send it as freight, and, according to the awkward
arrangements of this country, it has first to go down to San Francisco.
I send in today my first account. Will you be so kind as to look a little to it,
and get them to arrange it promptly, as I had only $1, 000 when I started from home.
The various tribes of the Piute nation are distributed as follows: -- Pyramid
Lake and Truckee, Cooyuwee-weit (trout), Walker River, Ahgi-weit (sucker), Quinn's
River, Ch&-pattecutteh (squirrel eaters); Mono Lake to Smoky Valley, Coz9byterutteh
(worm eaters); Toyuweit (tule) at Sink o'Carson; Humboldt River, Sai' takabuweit; in
Esmeralda county, Petenegoweit. What the syllable weit means I have not yet learned.
Truly yours,
Stephen Powers
61
San Francisco
Nov. 11th [1875]
Maj. Powell
Dear Sir:
I go today north to the Round Valley and Hoopa Reservations. Have got about
175 specimens and hope to get about as many more. Have taken down six or seven
vocabularies. If you will get this last set of accounts [attached] (which are in duplicate)
put through, I think I shall need no more. I hope to get back to Waterford about New
Year's and will come down to Washington soon thereafter.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
62
San Francisco
Jan. 19, 1876
Major J. W. Powell
My dear Sir:
This morning I shipped to Prof. Baird four boxes and an Indian trunk which
will be substantially the last of my collections, though I shall bring with me a number of
articles, especially models. If I could have drawn money a little faster I should have
done better and been better satisfied with the outcome of the mission. I was partly to
blame at first, for the slow transmission of money in not having a headquarters and an
agent, but my last account was in two months before it was paid, through no fault of
mine that I know of; and this delay has compelled me to give up one or two little expeditions
that I hoped to make.
For all that you have done for me in hurrying up the payments I am greatly
obliged.
While the dry season lasted, in Nevada things went swimmingly (excuse the
paradox) with me; but in California I have had some rough experience. For instance
going down and up the Trinity (which has to be done on mules), through the failure of a
man I depended on. I had to serve four days as a common packer, riding one mule and
driving before me another laden with my collections. I was belated one night, and rode
a couple of hours where it was so dark part of the time that I couldn't see the mule's
ears, and where a misstep of the animal would have thrown both it and myself hundreds
of feet down a steep cliff into the river. That I escaped without such a calamity was due
to the mule's good eyes, for I knew nothing where I was going.
Have taken down about 20 vocabularies and dialects. Collected most of their
articles of food and medicine and a tolerably good showing of dress and implements. If
I had time and money, I could have got Indians to make for me many curious and interest-
ing articles which they had not on hand.
I want to start home in the morning, but must stop at home ten days or so.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
63
Waterford, Washington Co. Ohio
Feb. 2, 1876
Major J. W, Powell
Dear Sir:
I arrived home day before yesterday, though the wet weather, breakdowns
and delays of this trip attended me to the last, and I could not find a single public
conveyance from Marietta up here.
Found the family all well, and very glad to welcome me home.
It is not necessary for me to come down to Washington until the last packages
I shipped get along, which will not be for a week yet, I think. If I could get along with-
out it, I should greatly like to be excused from coming down at all; I am so contented
and happy at home after all my years of vagabondage. But if the Centennial interests
require it, I will try to come down a few days.
Please write and tell me about how soon you wish me to come to Washington,
and how long it will be necessary for me to stay. What is it that I will be required to
do, except to assort and photograph such things as are needed for illustrations in the
book, and bring home my MS?
Very sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
64
Waterford, Washington Co. Ohio
March 27 [1876]
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
I send herewith my accounts up to March 20. Will you do me the favor to)
forward them, and, if you have not already done so, see the Commissioner about the
extension of my commission.
I have nearly finished my chapters on the Nevada Indians. Shall set to work
tomorrow on the model, and finish and forward it in two or three days thereafter.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
65
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio.
June 12 11876].
My dear Pilling:
I am very glad to hear that the work is at least begun. Never, since the
manuscript was put in Major Powellts hands have I doubted that it would finally see the
light; but I confess I did not expect to be quite so long delayed. Nothing but an abundance
of work has kept me from worrying a little once in a while.
It is a little unfortunate for me that the proofs will come to me right in haying
harvest and corn-plowing; but I shall read it thoroughly if we have to hire all the surplus
Dutchmen on Federal Bottom.
I have not seen the proofs of the "tattooing," and of all the styles of wigwams,
or of the music -- of the others I have and I supposed the Major would have some en-
gravings made of the principal traps I bought on my last trip; is that the case? I made
a schedule of groups of objects -- for instance, musical instruments, fishing implements,
etc. -- with the Smithsonian numbers attached, so that the artist could find them, and
left it with you. Did the Major decide not to engrave any implements at all?
One thing more. Do you want an index of topics for the end of the volume, or
not? Of course, that would have to be made out from the proofs, so that reference
could be made to the printed pages. I can find time to make one if you desire it, but
should be glad if you could do it for me.
I suggested to the Major a full-page engraving for the Modoc chapter, con-
sisting simply of Modoc chiefs and warriors in a circle, with Captain Jack in the center.
I presume he has engraved as much as his appropriation would allow; I only make the
above suggestions, to be submitted to his discretion -- and Congress' money.
Give my regards to your wife --
Truly yours,
Stephen Powers.
66
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
June 19 [1876]
My dear Pilling.
The package came today, and I shall return it by tomorrow's mail.
I wrote you about the illustrations, stating what ones I have seen, and what
not.
I have plenty of stamps.
Where is the last chapter, XL? There is nothing of it in the table of contents.
Does thfe Major intend to omit it? If so, I think he ought to have told me of it, and given
reasons for it. Of course, I submit to his better judgement; but I should like to know
why he drops it out.
I don't quite like the word you suggest -- charmin -- because it is probably
a Paiute word and unknown in California.
The style of the book pleases me well; I am especially glad to hear of your
liberal intentions respecting the illustrations and only wish you had a few, at least, of
the implements to fit in. Can you not do it yet?
Sincerely yours,
S. Powers.
37
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio.
June 22 [1876]
My dear Pilling:
The proof was received all right, and returned the next day.
I return herewith the illustration of the "Acorn Caches," with the suggestion
that the artist had better let the poles show plainer in all except the cache which stands
on the grwand. That may be supposed to be made of tule, and will answer pretty well
as it is.
As to wigwams, I meant to have written you some time ago, that there are
two or three varieties which I believe are not yet provided for. One is that of Clear
Lake, made of willow poles set perpendicular in the ground with others lashed on hori-
zontal, making small square interstices, which are used for drying fish and this
house is square and has a flattish roof of thatch. I made a small model of it, and Prof.
Baird said he would have his carpenter enlarge. Another is the common conical lodge,
seen in one of the photographs I sent you. A third is conical, but has a long covered
way leading into it, intended for use in the high Sierra where the snows are so deep.
There is a model of it in the Smithsonian -- or was.
I will make an index as the proofs come to me.
Very truly yours,
Stephen Powers.
68
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio.
June 25 11876]
My dear Pilling:
The other package of proof I directed as usual -- to yourself, "'Rocky
Mountain Surveys." The printed certificate on it probably carried it to the printer. I
addressed the second package as you requested.
I am satisfied as to "shamin, " will use it hereafter.
The passage "besotted egotism" etc. is not in good taste, though it hardly
sounds like a missionary, for I wrote it in special deprecation of that religious hum-
buggery which seeks always to find lurking in the savage's mind some reference to the
Bible and the Christian scheme.
Did you get the Wa'-sho vocabulary?
I am making an index.
Anything you can add in the shape of illustrations will be thankfully received.
I fear you will not be able to insert the additional wigwams I mentioned in very last, in
addition to the pages of implements.
Is the Major in Washington? If so, present him my respects, also to your
wife.
Truly,
S. Powers.
69
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
June 28 11876]
Mr. dear Pilling:
The tattoo pieces are in the package of proof, returned today to you.
I like the tattooing, it is done excellently well. The lodge is also good, but
the woman accompanying is simply execrable; her face is skinny and hungry to a degree.
Tell the Major I may be able to-write him a little account of the Mission
Indians within a couple of weeks, though I dontt know very much about them.
If you could put me in a new wigwam, I would willingly forego a couple of the
scenes in Yosemite. Please tell me about what an engraving costs.
Truly yours,
Stephen Powers.
70
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
Oct. 7, 1876
Major J. W. Powell
Dear Sir:
I expect to be in Washington, on my way to the Centennial, in a very few days
and will bring my manuscript and illustrations with me.
I have received a notification of my election as a member of the A. A. A. S.
For this I presume I am indebted to you, and I am grateful for the same.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
71
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio
Nov. 1, 1876
James C. Pilling, Esq.
My dear Sir:
We all reached home last Sunday, October 29, in tolerably good condition;
but the baby caught a severe cold the first day we were at home, and is pretty sick with
it now.
I made up a package of your clothing in Philadelphia and also wrote you a
letter, but I didn't get rid of either until I got to Niagara. Hope they reached you safely.
Have had no symptoms of a return of chills and fever as yet; but I discover
when I get around on the farm and go to climb a fence or mount a horse, that the spring
has gone out of my muscle in a deplorable manner.
Enclosed herewith are some designs of California tattooing which I should
like to have in the book, and which I forgot to leave with you.
There was one point on the map about which I was in doubt; that was whether
there was any relation between the Yu'-ki and the Chim-a-re-ko or Chim-al-a-kwe, I
am sorry to be obliged to inform you, after examining my vocabularies, that there is
not the slightest, and that you will have to color them totally different.
As to making out the "synonymy" of the tribes, you do not need my vocabular-
ias at all. At the outset of every chapter on a new tribe I have given accurately their
geographical boundaries, and all you have to do in the premises is to compare this
statement with those of other authors, that is, provided they make any geographical
statements at all.
You may send me the vocabularies collected by others in California as soon
as you please, and as many as you please, if the Major will pay the expense. Address
them care of H. F. Devol, Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio.
Please don't allow my Indian work to be overlooked. I want very much to see
it printed.
The major finally decided to follow the schedule of groups of objects which I
left with you, and, for descriptive text to take the catalogue of Indian relics which I
made out for the Smithsonian and left in the hands of Dr. Foreman.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
72
Waterford, Washington Co. Ohio
Nov. 14, 1876
Major J. W. Powell
My Dear Sir:
The three letters of the 11th, from yourself and Mr. Pilling, are received.
I send the vocabularies at the same time with this letter.
When I parted from Mr. Pilling he said all the Ca. vocabularies would be sent
to me to digest and consolidate with my own (which I should have preferred), hence I
have been in no hurry about sending on mine. A few of mine, which I got when I was out
there first, are quite short, and I had hoped to be able to fill them out to the Smithsonian
standard by having before me the vocabularies taken by the others. Unless you can do
so yourself, you may consider these few I speak of, too short, for insertion in the book.
Tell Mr. Pilling that the Chil-lu' -la belong in language to the Yu' rok.
He also asks for a list of illustrations, and refers to those of which you sent
me the proofs as if there would be no others in the book and is this the case? I hope you
will at least insert in an improved form, the rough sketches of the seven or eight different
styles of California wigwams which I once handed to you.
Very sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
73
Waterford, Washington Co., Ohio
Nov. 14, 1876
My dear Mr. Pilling:
I send the vocabularies by the same mail as this letter.
The order of the contents preface and introduction is a matter of indifference
to me, so you preserve the substance of them as written. Nor do I care for the sub-
stance even, of the contents; if the custom of Govt. Reports requires brevity,put it in
such shape as you like.
Do not slide the numbers of the chapters ahead, beginning at XX, as you
suggest. I will correct all that when I have the proofs. There is a XX, if you will ex-
amine closely; that is to say, the whole number of chapters is correctly indicated by
the numbering of the last one.
The Chil-lu' -la belong, in language to the Yu' -rok.
I think I wrote you, in regard of the Chim-a-ri'-ko, that they are absolutely
independent of all others in language.
I enclose a letter of transmittal, but lest it should not be in the right form, I
will at the same time write to Hollinshead for the letter you sent me there.
One of the vocabularies I forward (the Pai-u'-te) does not belong in my book
unless for a comparison with the Pal-li-ga-wo-nap', showing the invasion of California
by the Shoshone tribes and I intend to accompany the chapter on the Pai-u'-te which I
prepared for the Major to be used at his pleasure.
The apparent lack of a XX chapter arose as follows: I had the chapters, I
think, in this order:
That on the Yu' -ki          XIV
Pomo              XV
" 1  continued       XVI
"  Ta' -tu           XVII
tt  Yo-Kai'-a        XVIII
tt Gal-li-no-me'-ro  XIX
It     "t Gua-la'-la         XX
74
I want to change them so as to throw the Ta' -tu next after the Yu' -ki. I had made some
changes in the "contents" when the chills and fever interrupted me and I didn't finish. If
you will take the Ta'-tu out of its present place, move it back next to the Yu'ki, then re-
page it ant the two following chapters, I think you will have everything right, and you will
not need to change the numbering beyond the XXI chapter.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
75
Waterford, Washington Co., Ohio
Dec. 15, 1876
My dear Pilling:
In regard of the enclosed sketch, I have to say that the general effect is
good, and I am well pleased with it. I will suggest two or three points where improve-
ment is possible.
First, the artist had done the tattooing rather too well. It is more artistic,
the angles are truer, the lines more nearly staright and parallel, and the symmetry
between the two sides of the face is more perfect than in the original. Most Indian
tattooing is quite rude, and I endeavored to copy it exactly in my sketches I sent you.
Tell the artist to reproduce the apparent crudities of my sketches.
The lower lip of the face is a trifle too full, being suggestive of a negro.
The whole face seems too long for the breadth, as the typical Cal. Ind. face,
especially ia woman as young as this is quite round. Perhaps the effect is partly due,
however, to the hair falling straight down the face. I should recommend the artist to
adopt the true aboriginal mode of parting the hair. The Cal. Ind, woman, in dressing
her hair ala mode, does not part it along the middle of the head (as in this case), but
starting at the crown of the head, draws straight forward a triangular patch of hair, the
other two corners of which are at the temples or corners of the forehead; this patch
she brings down over the forehead, and cuts it off straight across about 1 1/2 inches
above the eyebrows. The rest of the hair (of which there is a large mass in front of
each ear) falls straight down nearly to the neck, The effect of this fashion is to give the
face a square appearance.
I believe I have nothing else to impart at this present.
Very truly yours,
Stephen Powers
76
Waterford, Washington Co. Ohio
Jan. 15, 1877.
My dear Pilling:
The letter containing the tattoo sketch, with my comments thereon, I
directed to P. O. Box 806 -- which appears to be the figure printed on your letterheads.
Suppose you received it all right.
I am not impatient about the book, but I can not help wishing to hear occasion-
ally what progress you are making. Can you spare time to tell me, in a word, what
the present situation is?
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
What is the Major doing with the Vocabularies?
77
Waterford, Wash. Co. 0.
Feb. 24, 1877.
My dear Pilling:
Today is a rainy one, and I have got out my duplicate vocabularies, and looked,
as you requested, over those of the Pomo and the Yuki, carefully.
Resemblances between the names for the parts of the body are probably the
best test of linguistic affinity, and I find in these two tables three words -- which re-
semble each other enough to be classed as related.
Now it is my belief that all the non-Athabascan tribes of California are ulti-
mately descended from the same stock, but they have always been such a liquescent,
centrifugal and separatist race that they have diverged into a great number of tribes,
whose languages are so utterly different that they have nothing in common except the
two personal pronouns. When two tribes are so entirely unlike as to have only the two
pronouns in common, I don't feel justified in giving them the same color on the map, or
even two shades of the same. As I said above, for a map of continental proportions, I
should have little hesitation in coloring a large part of California solid; but for the purposes
of a special map, I think mine should have many colors. If I had two or three thousand
words of each tribe in the State and were a color-artist, it would be a pleasing occupation
for about a year's time to take some one color -- red, for instance -- and, by the use of
several score of shades of that color, indicate the degrees of divergence in the various
tribes of the State.
To recur then, I think that a special map should not color the Pomo and the
Yuki alike or with any shades of the same color. But you can present this letter to the
Major, and take his opinion, if you like.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
I hope the Major will publish full vocabularies where I was not able to get them, viz:
Tolowa, Karok, Shasta, Wintoon, Viard, Mattole, Patween, Miwoc, Nozi.
78
Waterford, Wash. Co. Ohio.
May 8, 1877
My dear PiUing:
In reply to Mr. Gatschet' s remarks I will say that I do not think he has dis-
covered any serious error, except perhaps in one case. I will take them In order.
1. "Siwash" is a Jargon word, meaning simply "Indian;" and in Northern
California it is loosely used by whites and Indians to denote any Indians of the North, or,
more specifically (as their knowledge does not extend very far) of Oregon.
2. As to the Mission Indians of Southern California, I do not pretend to be in-
formed In regard to them, for there is now nothing aboriginal about them except their
language. I made no study of them.
3. Mr. Bancroft kindly allowed me to peruse his letter-book, and in it was a
letter from Judge Rosborough in which, according to my recollection, the Judge signed
his name "as oleave(?)." Mr. Bancroft's work contains many inaccuracies in orthography.
4. I do not remember exactly what I stated about sweat-houses among the
Modocs and Shastas. They have no sweat-house proper, but only a small sweat- oven or
sweat-bath. I was not aware of its use for mourning purposes, as stated by Mr. Gatschet.
5. I am indebted to Mr. Gatschet for the additional information as to the
meaning of "Muckaluck, " and shall incorporate it in the text.
8. There certainly is, as Mr. Gatschet suggests, much variability in the
numerals within the same tribe in California, and they will sometimes vary when other
words remain unchanged in different locations; still I think, all things taken together, they
constitute about as good a test as any of the community of language. The California
tribes are "low-graded, tt but they are not "isolated, " except in a few remote iDuntain
valleys; and they are, or were before the American conquest, as "sedentary" as any on
the continent. The remark on page 423 was written before I had taken the fuller vocab-
ularies; and since the latter is to accompany the work, the remark need not lead any one
astray, at least.
7. The epithets here mentioned would perhaps apply better to the Iroquois or
the Dakotas.
8. Nearly all California words, not ending with a consonant, terminate with
an explosive or aspirate sound, which I know not how to represent better than by the letter
h and in some words I am in doubt whether it is an aspiration, or simply the rising in-
flection, such as Englishmen are said to use in ending a sentence. Instead of obliterating
the h terminal in my vocabularies, it might better be doubled, hh. And it is quite
79
possible that I have not appended the h to all words where it is needed.
Truly yours,
Stephen Powers.
Allow me to congratulate you on your fortune.
80
Pilling, James C.
Bureau
Jan. 5th, 1880
To: Stephen Powers
My dear Powers:
Your note of the 2nd inst. Is just received. The Secretary of the Interior, by
whom our publications are distributed has been requested to send a copy of Vol. IfI to
Mr. Bowen; and though the edition is almost exhausted, I trust he will receive it
promptly.
I do not know whether it will be possible to obtain a copy of Hall's "Second
Arctic Expedition" for you, but if you will write a separate request for it addressed to
Major Powell, I will have him endorse it and forward it to the Superintendent of the
Naval Observatory. Perhaps you may be able to obtain a copy in that way.
Please convey my regards to your family, and believe me
Truly yours,
James C. Pilling
81
Pilling, James C.
Bureau
Jan. 26th, 1880
To: Stephen Powers
My dear Powers:
Yours of the 21st to Major Powell is just rec'd. Since writing you a few days
ago, I have endeavored to get Hall's book with what success the enclosed circular will
show you. There seems to be but one way to get it -- send $2 to A. F. Childs Government
Printing Office.
Regretting our non-success
I am
Truly yours,
James C. Pilling
82
Pilling, James C.
Bureau
March 23rd, 1880
My dear Powers,
We have just received from one of the officers of the Central Park Museum
a letter stating that that institution desires to make a collection of ethnologic specimens
on the Columbia River and northward into Alaska, and asking who would be the best
man for their purpose. Would you be willing to take the field again? The collector
would also be expected to make a study of the habits, customs, mythology, etc., etc.,
of the Indians and to prepare such material for publication, probably by this office --
such a volume, for instance, as your Vol. III. What do you say? If you think kindly of
the proposition I will be glad to confer fully with you on the subject.
Cordially Yours,
J. W. Powell
83
Pilling, James C.
Bureau
May 28th, 1880
Stephen Powers, Esq.
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio.
My dear Sir:
In compliance with the request contained in yours of the 19th inst. we wrote
to Prof. Baird, asking him to send you Dr. Leidy's Memoir. We have just received
a letter from him, however, stating the work desired is out of print.
Regretting that such is the case,
James C. P lling
Awful sorry but Rand says it is really impossible to print it. J. W. P.
84
Piling, James C.
Bureau
Aug. 9, 1881
My dear Powers:
Your letter of July 23 to Major Powell was duly received.
The Major is about to start West and is extremely busy with his Annual
Report, etc., and has turned your letter over to me for reply. Another reason, I sus-
pect, was because he did not know just how to answer. He is out of "Injuns" now and
don't know just where to pick up two that would suit you.
Seriously, my dear Powers, I think if we could get them they would prove an
elephant, yes two elephants, on your hands. But the question is: Where to get them?
We might Induce Captain Pratt to let you have a boy and a girl from the School at
Carlisle; but I presume you want a man and a woman and there are none in Washington
at present.
There is an Indian named "Numina, " a Washo -- one whom you probably know --
who is extremely anxious to come to Washington and you could get him and his wife, if
he has om, I presume by paying their actual expenses. If you think this practicable
write to J. H. McMasters, Pyramid Lake Agency, Wadsworth, Nevada.
James C. Pilling
85
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio
Dec. 18, 1881
Major J. W. Powell
My dear Sir:
I received yesterday your Vol. IX by Mr. Morgan, on "Houses and House-
life &c. t and return sincere thanks for the same, I have been deeply interested by
what I have read & I feel so sorry for poor good Mr. Bancroft that the Icarian fall
which he is made to suffer touches me almost as a personal calamity. After reading
Morgan's cool science, one can hardly express a shudder as he turns the gorgeous pages
of "The Native Races."?
Mr. Morgan's conjectural restoration of a Mound-Builder Pueblo is extremely
ingenious and plausible, if we could put out of the way certain facts. For instance, here
in this Muskingum Valley, 70 miles long from Marietta to Louisville, with no trace of
village -- ruins in it except those at Marietta, yet having isolated mounds throughout its
entire extent. He reasons well that these mounds are the burial places of persons of
eminence and that the clay basin is a place for the performance of cremation. But,
with no village except at the mouth of the river, why should they go 20, 30, 40 miles up
the river to bury a chief, especially if the country was in a disturbed state? Nevertheless,
his conjectures are fully as plausible as any I am acquainted with.
For some years after settling down on the farm I tried to repress and starve
out the pen-and-paper instinct; but I could not do it successfully. At the suggestion of
Mr. Howell, I have undertaken to write a novel on emigrant life, and I have it now two-
thirds or more completed & I should like to ask you a few questions respecting some
Western matters.
Is it true that the Colorado, in its lower navigable reaches, say from the
mouth of the Rio Virgin, is subject to whirlpools so strong that a skiff twenty feet long
would be drawn down out of sight, rearing up on end as it went down? I read such a
statement in the Overland Monthly.
In translating Ute talk -- of one man to an equal, an Apache -- would you use
the formt "thou sayest" or "you say?"?
Have you read many accounts of the Mountain Meadow Massacre, and if so,
which do you consider the most trustworthy?
Please give my respects to Mrs. Powell and to Mr. Pilling.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
86
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio
Jan, 19, 1882
My dear Pilling:
Can you do me the favor to ask the Major a question or two for me, or per-
haps you can answer them yourself ? I wrote him, but he is probably so busy he forgot
it.
Is there a wagon-road through from Santa Fe to the Seawaters [ ?] of the Rio
Virgin in Southern Utah?
I read once in the Overland Monthly an account of the Rio Colorado, in which
it was stated that, below the head of navigation, that river has whirlpools or "sucks" so
strong that a skiff will be drawn down in them, turning up on end before it disappears.
Do you know if that is true ?
Are there high falls on the lower reaches of the Rio Virgin?
If you can answer any or all of these, I shall be greatly obliged.
Sincerely yours,
Stephen Powers
87
Powell, J. W.
Bureau
Jan. 20, 1882
My dear Powers:
Your letter of the 18th of December found me quite incapable of attending to
business. Since early October I have been troubled with an attack of iritis which kept
me confined to the house for some time. I am rapidly recovering, however, and am
doing more or less work each day.
You might have known you could not keep from writing. Once attacked with
the disease one never recovers and in your case it is well you should not. I have no
doubt that your novel will contain quite as much truth as fiction.
To answer your question --
First. It is not true that the "Colorado River in its lower navigable reaches is subject
to whirlpools so strong that a skiff 20 feet long would be drawn down out of sight rearing
up on end as it went down;" nor is it true of any other river in the world. My party on
the first trip continued with safety from the Rio Virgin where I left them to Fort Yuma.
Second. In translating Ute talk to an Apache I should use "You say. "
Third. If you propose to write an account of the Mountain Meadow Massacre
I should be pleased to have you come and talk with me. I have spoken with many of the
actors in that scene and have heard some interesting facts concerning it. I have spent
many days with John. D. Lee, one of the principal actors, at his home in the Canon of
the Paria and I think he was the most bigotted and most religious man I ever knew.
It was his custom to devote many hours of the night to prayer and every act of
his life was by his religion and his superstition. He observed the flight of birds, was
something of an Astrologist, and studied his dreams and the dreams of his friends. In
many respects he was a kind father, a generous man and a good neighbor, but when im-
pelled by his superstitions and religious beliefs he was bloodthirsty and cruel -- cruel
to everybody -- even his best friends and the members of his own family.
Lee was really the principal character in this matter, though not the highest in
authority and the last years of his life were exceedingly romantic.
There is another matter of interest relating to the Mountain Meadow Massacre.
The history of the circumstances which resulted in this terrible deed began back many
years among the Creek Indians and some of these Indians who understand the very trouble
are now in Washington.               J. W. Powell
88
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio
Jan. 25, 1882
Major J. W. Powell
My dear Sir:
In reply to your kind invitation to come down to Washington, I must say that if
I felt certain of the acceptance of my novel, I should come down, but I do not quite like
to be at the expense of the trip on uncertainties; although I have had expressions from
Mr. Howell's which gave me great encouragement and he read the three opening chapters
several months ago.
Really, I think the U. S. Government owes me the amount that it would cost to
procure the Information from the Creek Indians which you speak of, and when I came
home from California the second time I did two months' work at home on my Report
which the Department refused to recognize or pay for.
I have never complained, nor do I now; and if you can detail a clerk long enough
to "interview" yourself and the Creeks, and write out a brief statement for me, I shall
be well satisfied.
One thing more, will you give me permission to use some words of your
letter to me, also a few paragraphs from "Exploration of the Colorado"?
The plot of my story requires two of my characters -- a young man and
woman, with an Indian guide -- to escape from Mountain Meadow and reach California.
I have thought it would be most in accordance with the probabilities to conduct them
across the Rio Virgin to the east side, then down acrossthe!plateaus -- going around the
Mormon settlements on that stream below Beaver Dam Mountains -- to stride [strike?] it below
those settlements, embark on it on a raft, and follow it down to the Colorado, and this
down to Fort Yuma. I think a tolerably resolute and hardy young woman of the frontier,
bred on the Texas prairies, might be credited with this feat.
I have never been across the plateau country of the Colorado, and I want to
use some of your published descriptions.
Stephen Powers
Pilling, James C.
Bureau
Jan. 30, 1882
My dear Powers:
Your letter of Jany 19 duly received. I wrote you a few days ago, over
Major's signature I think, answering several of your questions.
Referring to the later ones -- there is a wagon road from Santa Fe to the
headwaters of the Rio Virgen. There are no high falls in the Rio Virgen in its lower
reaches0 It is a broad, shallow stream and in the dry season has at times no water in
the channel. In this portion of it, it is about as placid a river as you can well imagine
-- the only danger being the quicksands.
James C. Pilling
90
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio
Feb. 17, 1882
My dear Mr. Piling:
You have very kindly answered two of my letters for which I am sincerely
obliged, and nonetheless so that this acknowledgement is this tardily made.
In the first one you piqued my curiosity by the statement as to the causes for
the M. M. Massacre reaching back years and among the Creek Indians. I have read up
a considerable amount on the event, and I own I am, with all due respect to the Major,
a little skeptical on that subject. In the first place, the communications and dealings
of the Indians are not sufficiently national and far reaching to lead the Pah-Vants or
Pi-Edes to do any, act for or against the Creeks. In the second place, the murder of
the "Apostle, "t P. P. Pratt by a white man somewhere west of Fort Smith, Ark., and
probably within the Creek domain in Ind. Ter., was the principal crime laid by the
Mormons against that ill-fated company; and, to my mind, it seems likely that this is
the circumstance that the Major had in view.
But if there really were troubles among the Creek Indians which in any way
led to the massacre, I should be very glad to learn it. And I should be delighted to
listen to the Major's recollections of John D. Lee and other actors in that tragedy with
whom he was acquainted.
I really cannot afford to come down unless in a case of necessity. The re-
venue of a farner is small, and the demands of a growing family cut into the fat
seriously. But if you or some other short-hand reporter would talk with him two or
three hours, or even an hour, and write out the conversation -- editorialized, you know --
I would gladly pay for the service.
I hope the Major has fully recovered his health. Please express to him my
thanks for the facts he has already communicated.
If I could get what the Major has to tell respecting Lee and the massacre, I
should not apply the boring apparatus to you any more.
Stephen Powers.
91
Pilling, James C.
Feby 23, 1882
Stephen Powers, Esq.
Waterford, Ohio
My dear Sir:
Your letters of January 30 and February 20 duly received. The Major has
been extremely busy the last fortnight preparing for a meeting of the American Institute
of Mining Engineers and this has resulted in another attack of iritis. He therefore finds
It impossible to do as you request, i. e., dictate a chapter on the Mountain Meadow
Massacre. He bids me say however that he did not mean in imply that the Paiutes and
Pavants had taken up the Creek quarrel and as I understand his views are about these:
Pratt, the Mormon missionary, ran off with the wife of an Arkansas man and
sought refuge among the Creek Indians. The man followed and killed Pratt. This
brought up a number of side issues in which the Indians were involved. Afterwards
that Arkansas man was going through Utah with a party all of whom were murdered at
the Mountain Meadow Massacre. Although a number of Indians took part in this
massacre a number of white men disguised as Indians also took part. This I think is
about his idea of the matter.
James C. Pilling
92
Waterford, Wash. Co., Ohio
March 28, 1882
Major J. W. Powell
My dear Sir:
You once offered me $2, 000 a year and a pass on subsidized railroads, to go
to California on Indian work. I understood you to make it a standing offer.
The affairs of the farm are getting into such comfortable shape that I may be
able to accept the offer, if it still stands.
Please tell me where you would want me to work, how often you would
wish me to come East, whether I would require a considerable amount of capital to start
on, what guarantees you have of permanence in the work in case of a change in the ad-
ministration, etc.
I hope you have fully recovered the use of your eyes.
Stephen Powers
93
Powell, J. W.
Bureau
March 31, 1882
My dear Powers:
Your letter of the 28th duly received and I am sorry I cannot answer it
definitely at present.
If Congress does no better for the Bureau of Ethnology the coming fiscal year
than it has for the past I am afraid I cannot increase my force. I have estimated for an
increase and if it is made will accept your offer.
J. W. Powell
Stephen Powers, Esq.
94
Waterford, Wash. Co., chio
May 3, 1882
Major J. W. Powell
My dear Sir:
Our Representative, General Dawes, writes me that in the event of the
Alaska bill passing, you would probably appoint me as one of the surveying party and to
prevent any loss of thie on your part, I wil write you beforehand.
I would prefer to work in California on account of the climate, but would be
willing to work one or two seasons in Alaska, though I think I should not wish to spend
more than one winter there, and should prefer to escape even that if it would not interfere
with the work.
As a family man, I could not go for a less compensation than on the California
trip.
Stephen Powers
Answ'd May 10