SCHUMACHER ANCIENT GRAVES IN CALIFORNIA. tJ43 



straight line with them and one of the houses of Nipomo Ranchj there 

 is a large spring of good water, surrounded by willows. These graves 

 were indicated by an elder-bush, a plant which 1 always found near the 

 graves, or in the neighborhood of ancient settlements. 



Lastly, I examined the Wa-le-ktie settlements, (Fig. 5.) 1 hesitated 

 to undertake the trip to these graves, because I only had four days left 

 before the departure of the steamer ; and consequently I would only 

 have about six hours remaining for work. But, as I supposed this 

 country offered much of interest to the explorer, I made only the fol- 

 lowing examination : 



About twenty-five miles from the mouth of the Santa Maria River 

 the Alamo Creek empties into it, discharging a large amount of water. 

 Following the wide bed of the Santa Maria for about seven miles farther 

 up stream, we reach a smooth elevation, which at this place rises about 

 sixty feet above the bend of the river, and which trends in a curve 

 toward the mountains on the right bank. At the farthest end of this, at 

 a place where a fine view over the whole A^alley is had, wefiud the traces 

 of the ancient village, now known as Wa-le-kue. A short distance from 

 the former dwellings, on the highest point of the ridge, an excavation 

 marks the spot where once a house stood, probably that of a chief. 



I started from San Luis Obispo to visit this place, passing by the 

 remarkable tar-springs, which are situated at about a distance of eight- 

 een miles from the town. Near them I found traces of what had formerly 

 been a large ditch. As before stated, I had not time to make thor- 

 ough examinations, yet 1 found that the ditch was still three feet wide, 

 and entered the creek some miles above the tar-springs, on the banks of 

 which creek the said springs are found in different places. Near the road 

 I observed, in the middle of the ditch, an oak-tree, measuring twelve 

 inches in diameter, and which plainly had taken root after the abandon- 

 ment of the ditch ; for it was not torn up, as would have been caused 

 by the running water, but was at this place well preserved. 



I also visited Ostion rancho, (sometimes called Eanchito,) at which 

 place there are extensive beds of oyster-shells, and also some other 

 species of shells, among which are prominently Tapes. At one place, 

 about fifty yards from the right bank of the Arroyo Grande, the shells 

 are closely packed and bound together with coarse sand, forming quite 

 an extensive bluff. I collected a few specimens, which I presented to 

 the California Academy of Sciences. 



At the place where Alamo Creek empties into the Santa Maria Eiver, 

 on its left bank, I found several earth-works, and they appeared to me 

 to have been built on this level but elevated spot, the entrance of the 

 valley, for defensive purposes. During my hasty examination I could 

 not discover any place where a house might have been, nor any graves, 

 but nevertheless I incline to the belief that near this place had been an 

 important settlement ; for Alamo Creek has better drinking-water than 

 the Santa Maria River, and its width and the adjoining country form 



