318 SANTA ROSA ISLAND. 



Stated. The old Jesuits of Sauta Barbara Mission informed Mr. Taylor 

 that a century ago the Eussians were in the habit of visiting this island 

 for the fur of the sea-otter, then very abundant here. They brought 

 with them natives from Alaska, whom they left on the island during 

 the winter months, having taught them the use of fire-arms. These 

 fellows, in the absence of the Russian ships, amused themselves in 

 shooting the defenseless inhabitants. Mr. Taylor thought that in this 

 way we can account for the number of skeletons which lie exposed in 

 different portions of the island. Another account is that the Russians 

 themselves killed them off in vast numbers in order to obtain the furs 

 they had accumulated. 



Still another account is to the effect that a destructive famine pre- 

 vailed, reducing the number from many thousands to a few score of in- 

 dividuals. 



In examining their burying-places we found many skulls which had 

 been broken by violence, but none that seemed to have been penetrated 

 by bullets. This was especially true of those buried just beneath the 

 surface. But as other tribes inhabited adjoining islands, they were 

 probably sometimes engaged in war, which may account for the perfo- 

 rated and fractured skulls. A famine of food could hardly occur, as the 

 inhabitants depended largely on the sea to yield them food. Mollusks 

 are still abundant, as well as whales, sea-lions, seals, and sea-otters ; 

 also various kinds of fish and water-fowl. The only possible chance for 

 a famine, we can see, would be in the drying up of the springs and 

 fresh-water streams, now abundant in the island. In a large burying- 

 place in the western portion of the island we found human bones occur- 

 ring near the surface, which were broken lengthwise, as if to extract 

 the marrow ; and in the same place we found the skeletons of as many 

 as fifty children, who would probably be the first to die in case of a 

 famine. The stumps and roots of many trees, indicating about the 

 same age, may be still seen in various portions of the island, and dead 

 land-shells {Helix ayersiana) in multiplied millions, all of which must 

 have been destroyed by a long drought many years ago. At all events, 

 about the year 181G the inhabitants of this island were reduced to a 

 few individuals, and were removed by the priests of the Romish mis- 

 sions to the main-land. They were placed in the mission of the Puris- 

 sima, in the western part of what is now Santa Barbara County. One 

 individual, an old man, and the last survivor of his tribe, was visited 

 by Dr. J. L. Ord a few years since. This man's name was Omsett, 

 •and he said his tribe was called Chumas. When visited by the doctor (to 

 whom I am indebted for the old man's narrative respecting his people), 

 through very old and entirely blind, he was quite intelligent, and spoke 

 Spanish fiueutly. Ho represented his tribe as being very numerous 

 previous to the advent of the Spaniards. They were strong, well-built, 

 good swimmers, and fine fishermen. They made their hooks from the 

 shell of the Jialiotis ; had canoes made from the skins of sea-lions, and 



