SANTA EOSA ISLAND. 319 



also from the pine and large redwood logs found on the beach ; used 

 spears in killing the whale, the blubber of which they ate raw. Accord- 

 ing to this old Indian's account, their idea of a future state was some- 

 what obscure. They worshiped the sun, the crow, and the sword-fish. 

 The sun they worshiped morning and evening, and as the source of 

 light and heat. The sword fish was worshiped because it brought 

 them the whale, as they were numerous, and united with the "orca," 

 or killer, in killing or driving these monsters ashore. Their object in 

 worshiping the crow is not so clear. 



Nearly all their food they ate raw, it being principally of fish and 

 mollusks. They pitched their boats with asphaltum. They carried 

 on considerable trade in shells with the Indians in the interior, who 

 would manufacture them into money and ornaments that were highly 

 prized by both sexes, especially the females. The language spoken 

 by the " Chumas" was different from that spoken on the main-land. 



Antiquities. — A large portion of this island appears as a vast ranche- 

 ria, and it once doubtless supported a vast population. Just west of 

 the wharf a rancheria begins and extends for the distance of two miles, 

 stretching across a point of land which projects into the sea. This old 

 village or rancheria has an average width of about one mile. The sand 

 has drifted over it in many places, and in others the soil has been 

 removed by westerly winds until many skeletons are exposed, and 

 human bones are scattered promiscuously over the surface. Some idea 

 may be formed of this extensive shell-heap when I state that over the 

 entire rancheria shells, bones, and other kitchen debris have accumu- 

 lated to the depth of several feet. 



Owing to the luxurious vegetation, the burial places were not readily 

 found, but those examined yielded many skeletons. The implements 

 were not numerous, and were generally broken when buried. The in- 

 habitants seem to have been an indigent race, living in much greater 

 poverty than those on the main-land. Including fossils and some 

 alcoholic specimens, we obtained about one ton of specimens. 



The specimens from the graves and shell-heaps consisted of mortars 

 manufactured from sandstone; one o?/a carved from crystalbzed talc and 

 used for cooking purposes ; one pipe, cone-shaped, and about six inches 

 long, with bone mouthpiece inserted in the smaller end; pestles of sand- 

 stone ; perforated disks from the size of a silver half-dollar to five or six 

 inches in diameter. These were used in games. It required either 

 three or four to play a. game with these disks. Two individuals, stand- 

 ing at a given distance, rolled the disk rapidly upon the ground between 

 them, while one or two others stood at the side with sharpened sticks 

 and caught the disks as they were whirled rapidly by. We also found 

 a conical disk, which was probably used in spinniug. Spear-points, 

 arrow-heads, knives, drills, &c., of chert were common. We found 

 wampum, beads, and a great variety of ornaments manufactured from 

 shells. The Olivella hiplicata is used from which to manufacture warn- 



