30 



PERFORATED STONES 



A most interesting feature of these specimens is the method by which 

 the heads are fastened to the handles, which is done by asphaltum, a 

 mineral which abounds in many localities of Southern California and 

 was much used by Indians for fastening, mending, &c. The sticks are 

 thrust through the stones so as to project slightly beyond, and as the 

 ^m\ holes are much larger at the circumference than 



at the center, the handles, if set at right angles 

 to the stone, would bear only upon the center. 

 Under the circumstances it would perhaps be a 

 rather nice matter to adjust and cement them at 

 right angles; and, either from accident or from 

 design, they are set at an acute angle to the base 

 of the stones, the angle being greater in the 

 .specimen shown in Fig. 10 than in the others. 

 The unoccupied space above and below the stones 

 is packed with asphaltum, which in one specimen 

 (Fig. 10) projects above the stone in a knot or 

 button. The cement thus employed affords a 

 fairly strong attachment, bat one that apparently 

 would not stand very rough usage. The strength 

 of the attachments is a matter of some moment, 

 since one of the uses which has been suggested for 

 these implements is as clubs. To have secured a 

 much stronger attachment it would only have 

 been necessary to drill out the holes, so as to 

 permit a larger surface for the handles to bear 

 upon, which, too, would have permitted the 

 handles to be set at right angles to the stones. 



In connection with their possible use as clubs, 

 it should be mentioned that the handles are 

 neither roughened nor knobbed for secure grasp- 

 ing, but, on the contrary, are perfectly smooth. 

 The handle of the one shown in Fig. 14 is stouter 

 than either of the others, being about an inch in 

 diameter at its largest part, stout enough to 

 serve as a club handle; but the handles of the 

 other two are much smaller, being each about 

 So slender are they, and so heavily weighted, 

 that it is evident they would be broken at a single hard blow. So 

 similar, however, are the three in general form and features, that, not- 

 withstanding the difference in the size of handles, it cannot be doubted 

 that they were designed to fulfill the same function, and that what one 

 is all are. 



Ceremonial implements. — After careful consideration of these imple- 

 ments I am convinced that their peculiarities accord best with the idea 

 that they were the property of medicine men or conjurers, probably 



Fir;. 10. Perforated stone 

 mounted mi handle, T.n.s 

 Angeles County, Cal. 



one-half inch thick 



