DAWN AND THE DONS 119
rings. Bonnets they had none. They wear their hair, which is almost invariably black, or a very dark brown, long on their necks, sometimes loose, and sometimes in long braids; though the married women often do it up on a high comb. Their only protection against the sun and weather is a large mantle, which they put over their heads, drawing it close around their faces when they go out of doors.
When in the house, or sitting out in front of it, which they often do in fine weather, they usually wear a small scarf or neckerchief of a rich pattern. A band also about the top of the head, with a cross, star or
other ornament in front is also common.” It is interesting to note how the voices of these people impressed Dana.
He says, “Next to the love of dress, I
was most struck with the fineness of the voices, and the
beauty of the intonations of both sexes. It was a pleasure just to listen to the sound of the language before I could attach any meaning toit. . . . Acommon bullock driver, on horseback, delivering a message, seemed to speak as an ambassador at a royal audience.” Many local customs developed. The serenade with the voice and guitar became a popular medium for the transmission of love messages. Charles F. Lummis has collected more than five hundred of the tender ballads as sung by lovelorn youths in the old California days, and has had them sung into the phonograph by capable Spanish singers.
At dances and frolics, the breaking of egg shells filled with spangles or scented water—called
cascarones—
