"Pah-utes are undoubtedly the most docile Indians on the continent." (Indian Affairs Report, 1859, p. 374.)
"Honest and trustworthy, but lazy and dirty," is said of the Shoshones. (Remi and Brenchley's Journal, p. 123.) Some ethnologists declare they cannot be identified with any other American tribe.
Wives were purchased, cash or credit. Polygamy prevailed. Unmarried women belonged to all, but Gibbs says women bewailed their virginity for three days prior to marriage. "They allow but one wife." (Prince in California Farmer, Oct. 18, 1861.)
Husbands were allowed to kill their mothers-in-law. The heart of a valiant enemy killed in battle was eaten raw or cut into pieces and made into soup. Women captives of other tribes were ravished, sold or kept as slaves. Some Southern California tribes sold their women and occasionally tribes were found without a single squaw.
"They are exceedingly virtuous." (Remi and Brenchley's Journal, Vol. 1, pp. 1-23-8.)
"Given to sensual excesses." (Farnham's Travel, p. 62.)
"The Nevada Shoshones are the most pure and uncorrupted aborigines on the continent ... scrupulously clean ... chaste." (Prince, California Farmer, Oct. 18, 1861.)
Thus the Indian who came or was driven to this wasteland evoked conflicting opinions and the real picture is vague.
The lowest of California Indians is believed to have been the Digger, so-called because he existed chiefly upon roots and lived in burrows of his own making, but his isolation by ethnologists is not convincing. He was found around Shoshone by Fremont and Kit Carson and inhabited valleys to the north and west, but in the Death Valley region the Piute and Shoshone were dominant.
Blood vengeance was deep-rooted. Found with the Indian collection of Dr. Simeon Lee at Carson City was a revealing manuscript that tells how swiftly it struck.
Mudge rode up to another Indian standing on a Carson City street and without warning shot him dead and galloped away. The dead man had two cousins working at Lake Tahoe. The murder had occurred at 9:30 a.m. and by some means of communication unknown to whites, they were on Mudge's trail within two hours and had found him. Mudge promptly killed them both and fled again. Sheriff Ulric engaged Captain Johnnie, a Piute, to track the slayer. He found Mudge's lair, but Mudge was a sure shot, well protected and to rush him meant certain death. The posse decided to keep watch until thirst or hunger forced him out. "Me fix um," said Captain Johnnie.