not half so odd as it is to cut off your hair to save
your hair. Indians, who never cut the hair, and
women also, who until recently wore their hair
nearly natural, never are bald. Yet I reckon men
have gone on cutting their hair for baldness, the very
thing that brings it on, for thousands of years past,
and, I suppose, will still go on doing so for thou
sands of years to come.
We received some visits now from the chief of the Shastas. He was not a tall man, as one would suppose who had seen his warriors, but a giant in strength. You would have said, surely this man is part grizzly bear. As I have said before, he was bearded like a prophet.
I now began to spend days and even weeks in the Indian village over towards the south in a carion, took part in the sports of the young men, listened to the teachings and tales of the old, and was not un happy.
The Prince was losing his old cheerfulness as the summer advanced, and once or twice he half hinted of taking a long journey away to the world below.
At such times I would so wish to ask him where was his home, and why he had left it, but could not summon courage. As for myself, let it be here understood, once for all, that when a man once casts his lot in with the Indians he need return to his friends no more, unless he has grown so strong of soul that he does not need their countenance, f
