for Friendly Fire

This Astonishing book is made of the recollections of Mayfield, recorded by Frank Latta in 1928. Mayfield had come to California at age six with his parents in 1850. After the death of his mother, his father allowed him to live with the Choinumne in Fresno County during the last years of their intact way of life. Later, when he was sent to school, he was beaten for admitting he had lived with Indians. He decided to keep quiet from then on, and had told no one of his experiences until, in his eighties, he was approached by Latta. The book provides an unparalleled account of the life of a San Joaquin Valley people. Heyday has also published Adopted by Indians: A True Story, a children's version of the Story.