252 PREHISTORIC FISHING. 



upward to the surface (Fig. 361). At Chetl-e-shin, near the mouth of Pistol 

 River (likewise in Oregon), we also found the hearth on one side, but without a 

 draft-i^assage. At other places in Oregon the fire was kept in the centre of the 

 earth-hut, and we made the same observation on the Californian coast, south of 

 San Francisco. 



Surface 



Fig. 361. — Section of the under-ground part of a but. Oregon. 



" The superstructure of the hut doubtless corresponded to the form of the 

 embankment: being circular, and probably terminating conically. On the 

 Island of San Nicholas, in the Santa Barbara Channel,* we found in the course 

 of our explorations in the interest of the Smithsonian Institution that the frame- 

 work of the huts consisted of colossal whale-ribs, which were so placed that, 

 owing to their curvature, the superstructure assumed a conoidal form, and thus 

 bore some resemblance to a bee-hive. It was only on the islands that we some- 

 times saw whale-bones used instead of wood in the construction of the huts. 



" There are numerous indications that much of the work of the former 

 inhabitants was performed in the open air. Thus we find all places where arrow- 

 heads, beads, fish-hooks, mortars, etc., were made, located between the sites of the 

 huts. Arms, knives, drills, and other objects of the flinty material, which, as 

 stated, had to be acquired by importation, were manufactured in all permanent 

 settlements ; and so were the numerous mortars and pestles, which consist either 

 of sandstone or basalt. In these latter artefacts not only the material varies 

 according to localities, but we also notice diff^erent degrees of skill in their make ; 

 while flint points from different places vary but little, if made of equally good 

 material. In some districts the mortars are of masterly workmanship, beauti- 

 fully formed, and often richly decorated with inlaid pieces of shell, or even with 

 well-executed raised sculpture ; but in other localities, where the stone-cutter was 



* San Nicolas Island is a desert, like San Miguel and San Clemente Islands, for nothing thrives there but a 

 little grass and a few low plants peculiar to the coast ; the soil consists of sandstone and banks of sand. No other 

 but drift-wood, therefore, is obtainable. Water is found on all the green islands, though sparingly on some of 

 them. Santa Kosa is grassy, but has no trees. On Santa Cruz Island mountain-willows and scrub-oaks grow in 

 some spots, and there is near the landing a small fir-wood, perhaps the southernmost natural growth of that kind 

 on the coast. Santa Catalina and Santa Cruz are the finest islands in the channel ; the former is likewise tolerably 

 well grown with scrub-oak and mountain-willow. Of all the eight islands — Anacapa and Santa Barbara are rocks 

 and without water — Santa Cruz alone has a brook, while on the others water is found in springs. The climate is 

 delightful, more especially that of Santa Catalina. The islands are not inhabited, and merely utilized for 

 cattle-raising. 



