HOLMES) PENDANT ORNAMENTS OF THE ANCIENT CALIFORNIANS. 261 



apparently jiretty inncL the same. They do not (lifter, as far as works 

 in shell are concerned, from the modern tribes of tlie mainland. There 

 is also a noticeable resemblance between the art of the ancient Cali- 

 fornia Islanders and that of the present inhabitants of the great Pacific 

 archij)ela<>()es. 



The record of many of the specimens obtained fi-om these islands 

 seems to be very incomplete, scarcely more being known than the fact 

 that they were obtained troni tlie ancient graves. Since, however, they 

 are almost exclusively ornaments belongingprobably to a single period, 

 detailed accounts of their methods of occurrence would not add greatly 

 to their value. 



In previous chapters vessels, hooks, and beads made of the Haliotis 

 have been described, and the high estimation in which they are every- 

 where held briefly noted. The variety of ways in which this shell is 

 utilized is indeed remarkable and the multitude of forms into which it is 

 worked for ornament is a matter of surprise. All are neatly and effect- 

 ively worked, and evince no little skill and taste on the part of the 

 makers. 



The HaUotls is not the only shell used, but it has no rival in point of 

 beanty. Bivalve shells- are utilized to a considerable extent, many 

 tasteful things being made from the Fissurella, the MijtUus, the Pachydes- 

 ma, and the Peeten. The perforations are generally neatly made and are 

 more numerous than in similar eastern specimens; besides those for 

 suspension there are frequently many others for the attachment of sec- 

 ondary pendants and for fastening to the costume. Many specimens 

 are ornamented with edgings of notches and crossed lines but very few 

 have been found on which .signiticant characters iiave been engraved, 

 a7id we look in vain lor parallels to the curious designs characteristic 

 of the gorgets of the moundbuilders. 



A glance at the numerous examples given in Plates XLVII, XLVIII, 

 and XLIX will give a good idea of the multiplicity of forms into wliich 

 these ornaments are wrought. 



A rather remarkable group of pendants is represented by Fig. 1. Tiiey 

 are characterized by a deep scallop at the left, with a long curved hook- 

 like jirojection above. They take their form from tlie sliajjc of the lip 

 of the Haliotis, from which they are made — the hook being the u])per 

 point of the outer lip where it joins the body, and the scallop the line 

 of the suture. The body of the ornament is formed from tiie lip of the 

 shell. In size they vary to .some extent with the siiells from which they 

 are derived. The body is at times quite oval and again slender and 

 hooked like the blade of a sickle. The perforations are generally very 

 numerous, a fact that indicates their use as central pieces for composite 

 pendants. It is ap])arent that the wearers thought more of the ex- 

 quisite coloring of these ornaments than of the outline or surface tini.sh. 

 This is only one of many instances that prove the innate and universal 

 appreciatiou of beauty of color by savage peoples. 



