Posted by Rich on February 06, 1998 at 17:35:30:
In Reply to: ISHI Last of his tribe posted by Bill R on February 06, 1998 at 16:12:27:
Ishi ... now THERE's a story. This is true stuff!!! There's a great pair of books out, one the anthropological study, "Ishi in Two Worlds," features some FABULOUS photos! The other, a semi-fictionalized narrative of Ishi's life, based on the first book. Both, are written by Theodora Kroeber, wife of the anthropologist who took Ishi in, Alfred Kroeber.
The movie, by the way, is based on these books. VERY facinating!
Briefly, for those who don't know, Ishi was living in virtual hiding in the Cailfornia mountains at the turn of the century. He was, literally, the LAST of his tribe, the Yahi. Starving, he raided a meat locker on a nearby ranch, near Oroville in 1911. Discovered, he was befriended by Mr. Kroeber who learned much about the lifeways of these people directly from one who lived the old ways. Just the archery study alone is worth the reading of the former book. Both are excellent. The movie is good. See & read!