TRANSPORTATION
It was the lack of transportation rather than the existence of any which
was important to the aboriginal Americans. This was responsible for the
degree of isolation which was required to produce the variety of customs
and languages in most parts of the “New World”. Introduction of the
horse in historic times materially changed the habits of Plains Indians.
Likewise the somewhat aggressive Modoc tribe to the north of the Pit
River, whose conflict with the whites has been memorialized in Lava Beds
National Monument today, became mobile, even prior to the gold rush
days, through use of the horse. As a result the Modocs made a number of
hit and run raids upon Atsugewi and other tribes and were able to carry
off slaves. This was not the traditional mode of warfare.
Transportation among Indians was by foot or by water until recent times.
California Indians did not use dogs as beasts of burden as Plains
Indians did and as the Eskimos still do. Women did general hauling; men,
however, did most of the really heavy carrying. Women used the conical
burden basket extensively, but the men did not. Both sexes used the
buckskin pack strap which in the case of mountain Maidu passed over the
top of the head. Atsugewi pack straps went over the forehead and also
over the shoulder across the chest. The brimless basketry cap or hat was
used with the packstrap especially among the women. Heavy loads were
frequently carried by men upon the shoulder; such burdens were often
rolled in mats or animal skins.
Carrying nets made of twisted fibers were commonly employed by men and
women among local tribes. Atsugewi used a folded buckskin bag sewed at
the edges, with a handle on top, and opening at the side. Yana
manufactured an open-work carrying basket too.
In this region loads were never carried on the head, but on occasion
might be suspended on a pole and carried between two men. The mountain
Maidu also used a litter for the sick, but Atsugewi carried sick persons
in burden baskets on their backs.
In rough country crude trails were sometimes built, but this was not a
common practice. Generally trails as such were not constructed, but
where they existed they had developed as the result of long use along
logical routes, in much the same manner as deer and other game trails
develop.
To cross streams advantage was taken of logs which had fallen of natural
causes. On occasion single logs were felled by burning to serve as
bridges. Yana at lower elevations frequently had large streams to cross
and smaller trees to utilize. Two logs might be felled parallel and
cross sticks lashed on with grapevine for better footing.
[Illustration: Boat Types of Native California (not to scale). a,
Yurok (northwestern California) river canoe; b, Klamath
(northeastern California) canoe; c, tule balsa.]
[Illustration: Distribution of Types of Native California Boat.]
a, Dugout canoe
b, Dugout canoe
c, Tule balsa
[Illustration: Atsugewi dug-out canoe on Hat Creek]
In swimming most Indians used a pseudo-breast stroke or swam on their
backs with a frog style stroke. Atsugewi also did a “dog paddle” keeping
arms under water. Mountain Maidu used swimming techniques which embraced
principles like those of white man’s side stroke and crawl. They jumped
into the water feet first in preference to headfirst diving. When
swimming under water to collect crawfish or mussels a rock was often
tied loosely to the back.
Water transportation was not of the same degree of importance to the
tribes of the Lassen region that it was to Sacramento Valley, Coastal,
and Northwestern Indians. Nevertheless Atsugewi used sharp or blunt
ended canoes while that of the mountain Maidu had a shovel-like prow and
stern. These were made from pine logs, usually windfalls about two feet
in diameter and had a capacity of two to four persons. The logs were
hollowed out by controlled burning so that the walls were an inch or two
thick. Pitch was rubbed onto portions needing more burning. Water or mud
were used to check burning and the charred wood was scraped out with
rough angular stones. Local dugout canoes were rather crude affairs.
Cracking of the wood was prevented by keeping the boats wet. They were
propelled by an unadorned poling rod or by a single bladed square-ended
paddle about three feet long. A raft, consisting of three or four logs
lashed together, was used as well by all local tribes and propelled by
poling.
Atsugewi had another type of craft: the tule balsa—a five foot long
raised prow affair made of bundles of tules lashed together. It might be
poled or else pushed by a swimmer. Often this raft-like boat was towed
by a rope of willow. Atsugewi occasionally ferried children or goods in
baskets, while among mountain Maidu swimmers carried children on their
backs and carried goods in one hand, raised above the water level,
swimming with the other hand.