THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS: An Illustrated Guide ...

THE CALIFORNIA INDIANS: An Illustrated Guide by George Emanuels (Diablo Books, 1317 Canyonwood 1, Walnut Creek, CA 94595: $14.95). This readily approachable, if not particularly deep, volume offers an overview of the numerous Amerindian cultures of California. More than two dozen tribes inhabited the state before the white settlers arrived, from the Yurok, Shasta and Modoc of the lush northern forests to the Mojave, Quechan and Southern Paiute, who managed to live comfortably in the bleak southern desert. As Emanuels makes clear, most of these Native Americans quickly fell victim to warfare, slavery and disease: During the 19th Century, the number of Indians in California fell from an estimated 360,000 to about 15,000. The exceptional collection of archival photographs makes this book an excellent introduction to the indigenous cultures of California for high school students or adults seeking information on further reading.