OF LOS ANGELES CO., CALIFORNIA. 33 



and four in length, at which the players shot arrows, the idea 

 being to penetrate the hole while the ring was in motion. 

 The players stood upon either side of the course. 



13. Probably the country of the Mojaves, the tribal name of which is 



Amo/awi or Amo/ami. The western range of their territory 

 formerly extended along the northern slope of the San Fer- 

 nando range, but how far westward is not known. 



14. Tunas, generally known as prickly pears, are the edible fruit of 



several varieties of Opuntia, or broad-leaved cactus. These 

 were sometimes crushed and mixed with the meal of seeds 

 or acorns. Many of the mortars found in southern California, 

 are merely circular, flat stones, having a slight depression on 

 one side upon which the pounding was done. To prevent the 

 scattering of seed, a funnel-shaped basket was constructed, 

 similar to those used for carrying fruit, etc. ; the lower apex 

 was cut off allowing the hole to be nearly as large as the stone 

 mortar. The cut edge of the basket was then temporarily se- 

 cured to the mortar by applying a thick coating of bitumen. 

 The basket thus served as a hopper. When the surface of a 

 mortar became smooth by use, it was again roughened by 

 pecking it with a sharp piece of quartz or chalcedony, both 

 of which are abundant. 



ESSEX INST. BULLETIN, VOL. XVII. 5 



