CHARM STONES, OR PLUMMETS. 299 



himdredtli Meridiai), suggests the possibility of some of the so-called 

 "plummets" having beeu encased in sklu and fastened to a tlexible 

 handle, thereby making a war club that, properly wielded, would liavc 

 been a formidable weapon. 



In the absence of all information that might throw light on its use, 

 we consider it best to class this specimen (referring to his l^^ig. CG), al- 

 though wanting the all-important groove, with the preceding plummet- 

 shaped stones. On page 195, of the same re|)ort, a photograph of a 

 series of "weights" collected by Mr. Schumacher in various localities 

 of California is mentioned. The specimens are all labelled "spindle- 

 whorls" or "weights for distention of thread." On the same page is 

 figured a specimen of a roughly ground iuiplement nuide from a frag- 

 ment of coral rock, apparently pecked or hammered into shape. This 

 is also called a "weight." 



In a note by F. W. Putnam, on pages lOG and 197 of same report, men- 

 tion is made of numerous articles of stone, which there seems to bo 

 little doubt were used as sinkers, and by their shape are allied to the 

 implements Dr. Abbott has described on the preceding pages. 



Two of these are of great interest, as they still show the method by 

 which they were fastened to lishing-nets or lines - - - by means 

 of asphaltum. This asphaltum luis preserved a portion of the twine 

 which was around each end of the stone, and it is evident that ia this 

 way the string was held in place on the sinker, which was thus easily 

 attached to the line or net. 



The most recent article on this subject, and which probably comes 

 the nearest to giving the explanation of the uses of these implements, 

 is by H. W. Henshaw, published in the American Journal of ArchjBol- 

 ogy, in which article, besides giving a synopsis of the various theo- 

 ries advanced by different writers, he gives as he claims " a direct and 

 circumstantial account of their use," which he obtained from the Santa 

 Barbara Indians. 



Mr. Henshaw, in commenting upon Mr, Henderson's article in the 

 American Naturalist, says: "In reference to the fourth possible use 

 given in said article, (viz, sacred implements), that it is oidy a ]>ossi- 

 bility, there being no evidence whatever from which to draw such an 

 inference." Though admitted to be but a guess, it is remarkable how 

 accurate it proves to be, for in this paragrai)h we have exactly the use of 

 these plummet-like stones as explained by the Santa Barbara Indians, 



The moment these stones were shown to these Indians I was told 

 that they were medicine or sorcery stones. 



" The sorcerer arranged twenty of these stones, tlie ])roper number, 

 in a circle, T)ushed them violently together, sprinkk'd water over them 

 and smoke issued from them. - - . At San Buenaventura sub- 

 stantially the same account was received. Here it was said twelve was 

 the number required by the medicine men, exclusive of a center stone 

 of different character. The center stone shown to me, called Tu cait, is 



