Introduction
Throughout the history of the Pacific and "Alta California" specifically, there have been several peoples in this land. One might choose to call these people "Pre-European" but that would be to take a European-centric view. Historically, many have referred to these people as "Indians" but this is also a classic misnomer.
While the term "Native Americans" might be used, in the context of a history of what appears to have been one of constant migration, it is challenging to define "native". Alternatively, early reports seem to indicate it might be even difficult to refer to some as "settlers" as early reports describe a more nomadic culture.
As described below, there appears to have been at least two migration paths into California: one from Mongolia and the other Malaysia. Someone more versed in early Californian cultures and Pacific migration should help clarify the issue of nomenclature and origins.
Charles Wilkes description
Below is a description of the "Indians" of the Pacific coast as offered by Charles Wilkes in his narrative (see References).
Indian tribes on the west of the Rocky Mountains, seem to be inferior to those on the east of that chain. In stature, strength, and activity, they are much below them ; their social organisation is more imperfect. The two classes of chiefs, the ceremony of initiation for the young men, the distinction of clans or totems, and the various important festivals which exist among the eastern tribes, are unknown to those of Oregon. Their conceptions on religious subjects are of a lower cast. It is doubtful if they have any Supreme Being ; their chief divinity is called the Wolf, and from their descriptions is a sort of compound being, half beast and half deity.
The mode of life of the Oregon Indians is peculiar ; they have no fixed habitations, but wander from place to place in rotation, according to the months of the year, with great regularity. This is owing to their subsistence being derived from the natural productions of the soil, and the produce of the rivers and bays ; and with their abode a change of food takes place.
The Indians are very much divided up into small tribes, who are, however, all strongly marked with the Indian physiognomy—a broad face, with high cheek-bones, the opening of the eye long and narrow, and the forehead low. They are for the most part filthy in their habits, and of a cruel and treacherous disposition. Those of Northern Oregon are among the ugliest of their race, and have a coarse rough skin of a dingy copper complexion.
Those of South Oregon are more like the Indians east of the Rocky mountains. The Columbia River divides these two divisions. Their costume does not differ materially throughout, except that heretofore given of those in the interior, and the annexed wood-cut from a sketch by Mr. Agate is exceedingly characteristic.
All the tribes are greatly addicted to gambling.
The Indians of California are chiefly to be distinguished by their dark colour ; the more northern ones are a shade browner than the Oregon Indians, but the tribes of the Peninsula are nearly black. They are believed to have sprung from two different sources the more northern tribes from the Mongolian race, while the southern ones are from the Malay—the migration of the former, having been by the northern route or chain of islands and across the Straits, while that of the latter has been by the route of Japan and the Sandwich Islands.
The supposition is strong that the numerous small tribes of western America are the scattered remnants of these wandering nations, left along the line of march as they travelled from the frozen regions of the north towards the south. This supposition derives some strength from the fact that such migrations are actually now in progress ; all the tribes are slowly proceeding towards the south. Another circumstance is, that the tribes speaking allied languages lie north and south of each other, or in the direction of such supposed migration.
