*

NOTES ON THE MAIDU INDIANS OF BUTTE COUNTY

D. L. Spencer

Meteors. - Meteors (Satoia) were thought to be women. By

:some the sight of a meteor was considered to be an ill omen. Others re-

garded it as of less consequence, and believed that a few words and motions
,of the hands were sufficient to drive away the bad influence. If several

mteors were seen in close succession, it was an indication that people
ere on the move for war. If a meteor fell or appeared to fall on the
arth, the place and its surroundings for some distance were shunned,

tough no special demonstration was made. Hunting or food-gathering was
voided about the spot for one season only. The luminous trail of the

teor was thought to be the old woman's long hair. It was believed that

he old women appearing as meteors were from many tribes from long ago, and
ould continue to wander about in the sky.

Chamlakhu. -- Chamlakhu was an old man living in the trees, differ-
Ig from human beings only in the fact that his hands and feet were armed
ith long bear-like claws. Although not known to commit injury, he was

eatly feared. The sight of him was sure to cause a run to camp. If he

as seen in spring when vegetation was in bloom, sickness was likely to be
e ill fortune of the person seeing him. His tribe or rancheria would

t be affected. In such a case a medicine-man was called in. The Chamlakhu
rely ran on the ground, and then only in a shambling way, with his arms
nning the air like wings. He could spring a long distance from tree to
^ee. He had a long beard, and hair that reached to the ground.

Rattlesnake. -- The rattlesnake (sola) is much feared. The skin
r rattles are never used. It was the rattlesnake that brought about the
irst death. It is thought to be non-poisonous when it is drinking, at
ich time it lays aside its poison until it has finished.

Miuku. -- Miuku was a small animal living in swampy places, and
ceedingly difficult to capt.ure, being rarely seen by day. It resembled

fawn in size, shape, and color, except that its feet were like a coyote's.
a name was derived from its cry, miuku. If one was captured, it was

vided among the hunters, its parts being considered exceptionally powerful
rms for hunting deer.

Flint-Working and Arrows. -- Flint for arrow-heads was sometimes
ght from other people. Most of the obsidian from which arrow-points,
ar-points, knives, and charms were made was mined on Table Mountain,
ar Oroville. Detached pieces of flint that had been broken away by

osion, or brought down by slides or floods, were sometimes picked up in

ver-beds or in old grave-deposits. Such pieces were used like those ob-

ined from a distance. The only permanent flint ledge known to the present
Fople is in Plumas County, about twelve miles northeast from the Butte

rnty line, in what is known as the Pinket Ravine. This ledge is about

Journal1 of American Folklore, Vol . 21, pp . 242-245, 1908 .

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ten inches wide, and the flint is of many colors. From the many excavations
it appears as if the diggers had followed down on the lead until the walls
grew too hard. Thereupon a new hole would be started from the surface.

This flint was not worked at the place of excavation, but was carried away
in large pieces. Other kinds of rock were also used. In fact, any rock

that would flake well was shaped into arrow-heads and spear-points. While
there were many arrow-points made of obsidian, this material was not con-
sidered the best for that purpose. After the coming of the whites, glass
was often used for arrow-points; but while, like obsidian, it was easy to
work, it was too readily broken. If an arrow of glass or obsidian struck
wood or a hard substance, it invariably broke; while a point of less
brittle rock, such as flint, could often be used a number of times.

An arrow that had killed one or more deer or other animals was

highly prized. While all arrows were similar in general construction, there

are noticeable differences in setting the flint or in the shaping of the head.
These differences enable one man to distinguish his arrows from those of

others. All arrows for small game and birds were provided with wooden points,
stone-pointed arrows being used for hunting larger animals and in war. The
wooden points were made from the holly-berry bush. After removal of the

bark, the wood was hardened by a slight scorching. All crooks were straight-
ened between the teeth. The joint of the shaft and the wooden point was
wrapped with sinew so as to prevent the shaft from splitting down. The
wooden-pointed arrows were used only for ranges of from seventy-five to

one hundred feet. Beyond that distance the aim was uncertain, as the arrow
had a tendency to rise.

Accuracy of aim in hunting deer did not extend beyond a distance
of two hundred feet. Deer were often hit at a greater distance, but more
shots were missed than hit. All long shots were made with flint-tipped
arrows. It not infrequently happened that young men were overcome with

buck ague (nervousness). If they admitted this, they were severely censured
by the older people of the rancheria. When drives were made, as was quite
common, most of the deer were shot from ambush. All game captured on such
occasions was divided as equally as could be among those taking part. The
heads and offals were generally given to old people. The sinews from the
back and legs were carefully dried and preserved.

The manufacture of bows, arrows, salmon-spears, and fish-nets

was regarded with superstitious beliefs. If a man bought any such articles
from the maker, and should meet with good luck in his hunting or fishing,
credit was given to the manufacturer. He was believed to have put upon

the articles a good influence, and was sure to be kept busy at work until
by a turn of fortune his manufactures failed.

Buumo. -- Buu is the circular sand depression in which acorns are
leached. 0 is rock. Buumo therefore signifies "a leaching-place of stone."
The Buumo is situated about ten miles northeast of Bidwell's Bar, in Butte
County.

Formerly, when the people were animals, the bear, deer, panther,
and other large animals called a dance for the people of the valley, where
the Buumo is now. The raccoon, the gray fox, the rabbit, and many others
were invited.. The bear was selected as runner to carry the strings *(of

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-invitation) for the dance.

There was ill feeling between the Coyote (Heno) and the Bat (Olela).
oth were considerecd bad men. As a meeting of the two was likely to bring
out trouble, it was agreed that Olela's half-brother, Wohahamp, the lairge
at, should use his influence to prevent Olela's attendance. Coyote was

ilowed to come at all times. Before the dance Olela injured his foot, so

hat he walked lame. The morning before the dance his older half-brother
id to him, "You are lame. You had better not go to the dance. If any

esents are given, I will bring yours home to you." Olela answered, "Very
11, I will remain. You go, and if there are presents bring me mine."

*        It had been agreed that no arms were to be brought by either

oyote's party or Olela's party.  On the morning of the dance the large bat
tarted for the place of meeting, leaving his arms behind. When he was out

sight, Olela said, "I think there is something wrong. Coyote intends

schief. I will follow my brother's tracks and see what I can discover."
thering up his bow and arrows, he followed at a safe distance until he

me to a point that overlooked the dance-place. Here he remained in hiding.
ny people were already assembled, but Coyote was not to be seen. The women
re in the act of preparing acorn-meal for soup.

In the afternoon Olela saw in the distance Coyote, and with him a
rge following. Before they reached the place of meeting, they halted be-
nd some large rocks. After a time they came out and proceeded to the

nce-place. As soon as Olela saw that Coyote and his people were well under
y, he went in a round-about direction until he reached the rock where they
d stopped. Behind the rocks he found bows and arrows and spears hidden.

began to pick them up. When he had gathered them all, he took them away
hid them.

As soon as Coyote came to the meeting, he began to make free with
women.  As Olela had a wife and a sister at the dance, he soon saw

ugh to make him jealous. Proceeding at once to the crowd, he began to
se Coyote. Coyote and he were soon fighting. As Olela was still lame
unable to hold his own against Coyote, his people soon joined the

ruggle, and before long every one was involved. Olela freed himself from
ote's grasp, and, running to the hidden weapons, returned with them.

and his people then slew many- of Coyote's people. Olela continued to

ot until a woman struck him on the wing with a small flat basket. The

w pained him so much that he returned home. The dance did not take place;
t the leaching-place which the women had used, and the tracks of the bear

the deer, may still be seen.

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