CHUMAS INDIANS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 262, 22 October 1862, Page 4

CHUMAS INDIANS.

. As it was deemed unadvi«able to turn out.the horses, owin »• to the great abundance ot the cactus, we. employed one ot the ,"tirst ■'families'?, t of the Churaas tribe of Indians to supply them with golleta grass. This is. a species of coarse hnnch.prnss; and though coarse, is said to be nutritious, and in the absence of any better fodder /was eateo by the animals.; The.Chumns would seem to be a wandering, tribe of, the desert, possessing a name, but, no local habitation.:They resort to this place because of the water, (of which there is, doubtless, always;.sufficient.-.-for.-their wants, "being but tew in numbers, but not enough to, nifi«J; a rus/i of thirsty goldrgeekm), and. th<s-_- great tiumber of quails, rabbits. hares.land land terra%i pins, which are to be found, here. -■ The latter would appear to be the favourite! food : their ; shells being strewn about jn;all direQtions. They.nppeared to be acquainted with the use of flour; and were ready and willing to barter a bundle of the gallefaigxas*,fov I a pound of breadstuff^ The ftmily. with whom we concluded this commercial armngement, consisted of a mother and three 'laughters, the elde-tof the tiirep,the."wifd\ flower -of,the flock, being about fourteen;, years of age.. -..■,,- -,■:■<■':■. '".-';• ~-. -...--a :■*.£? ::.;■..

, THe '* damsel of the desert" wa? lithe andl and resembled a'naunch of <lried venison.^ .§h^ w,a9»f' however, welL6 tted for the task of sa*hering JjaHetfi grass; and taking all the.risks conUngeat.r.p»n|,con--f tact" with the cactus. Her costume coasisW of a stout pair of rapcea-sins, the uppers of which ware mode of well tanned deer skin, and the soles, an inch thick, of plaited tule.

! , These.mqr >a!«irisnr3 higher than those worn by Indians of a colder/• lime, and are a capital! contrivance? to protect the feet from the heated sands and pointed cactus of the desert. The /rest; of her 6'uMV was'maide upof such slight mention; Vhatt presented her with 1 i.n-old buckskin-purse, which furnished, her with .aw _ "ample matenai'*f6ria\fultidrew''p^tern. i ;'Ths < :'lajri;-''' guaire, not of flowers, (ilthoiiph flour was what they, cJe-ire'l) but of "signs," was our medium'x>f con-' versation. We pointed to our horses near_at,hnnd, and towards the grass in the distance—they to" the ppen sack of fl<mr and a tin cup as the measure of meal expected. Then away would -go the dusky' matron and maidens, and.as soon as they brought their "bundles, to <mr camp, they demanded ;the sti-, pulated price. rJ hat betas paid, th^y hotmyed their woman nature in an infinity of wants; first, jvlittle water to mix' the flour into' doupjh, then a pan ;to" mix it in, a little salt, a fry pan to" bake it inland finally, 'a~ fire before whwb^to bako^it.^- After .they had finished their meal, A new •criminercial treaty" had to be entered' into before 'thpy'd stir a foot to f ( tcb. any more fodder.—Correspondent of AftaCali- •'-- -'••«•>"' - -1 -•' "'• -'-^