THE ANCIENT ISLANDERS 33 



In the Diary of the expedition of Don Miguel 

 Costanso, of 1769, occurs the following interesting 

 reference to the inhabitants of the Channel Islands 

 one hundred and forty-one years ago: 



"The Indians in whom was recognized more vivacity and 

 industry, are those that inhabit the Islands and the Coast of 

 the Santa Barbara Channel. They Hve in Pueblos [villages] 

 whose Houses are of spherical form in the fashion of a half 

 Orange, covered with Rushes [Enea]. They are up to twenty 

 varas [fifty-five feet] in diameter. Each House contains three 

 or four Families. The Hearth is in the middle, and in the top 

 of the House they leave a vent or chimney to give exit for 

 the smoke. In nothing did these Gentiles give the He to the 

 affabiUty and good treatment which were experienced [at their 

 hands] in other times [1602] by the Spaniards who landed upon 

 those Coasts with the General Sebastian Vizcayno. They are 

 of good figure and aspect. Men and Women; very much given 

 to [amigos de] painting and staining with red ochre their faces 

 and bodies. They use great headdresses [penachos] of feathers, 

 and some banderillas [small darts] which they bind up amid 

 their hair, with various trinkets and beads of Coral of various 

 colors. The Men go entirely naked; but in time of cold they 

 sport [gastan] some long capes of tanned skins of Nutrias [otters 

 or muskrats indifferently, in the Southwest], and some mantles 

 made of the same skins, cut in long strips, which they twist 

 in such manner that all the fur remains outside; then they 

 weave these strands one with another, forming a weft, and 

 give it the pattern referred to. 



"The Women go with more decency, girt about the waist 

 with tanned skins of Deer which cover them, in front and behind, 

 more than half down the leg, and with a mantelet [capoHllo] 

 of Nutria over the body. There are [some of them] with good 

 features. These are [the Indian women] who make the trays 

 and vases of rushes, to the which they give a thousand different 

 forms and graceful patterns, according to the uses to which 

 they are destined, whether it be for eating, drinking, guarding 

 their seeds, or other ends; for these Peoples do not know the 

 use of earthenware, as those of San Diego use it. 



