FROM CALIFORNIA. 7 



mens differ in pattern and in the character of the perforations accord- 

 ing to the localities where found, and even in the same localities, that 

 on theoretical grounds it is extremely unlikely, as Professor Putnam 

 remarks, that all were employed for the same purpose or perhaps even 

 for similar purposes. On the contrary, snch diversity would seem to 

 indicate that they had several, perhaps many, different uses. On the 

 other hand, the extremely close resemblance of occasional specimens 

 found, for instance, in California, to others from remote parts of the 

 world, cannot fail to suggest for such specimens a possible similarity of 

 use and of origin. In this connection Professor Putnam says, p. loo: 



As it is more than provable that the same wants, under similar conditions, gave 

 rise to the same means of satisfying them, we are justified in looking to the use made 

 of similar stones by savage tribes of recent times for some explanation of the pur- 

 noses to which they were applied by the Indians of California. 



In other words, a satisfactory explanation of the use of any of these 

 relics in any part of the world may, in the absence of more direct evi- 

 dence, be applied to specimens of essentially similar character found 

 elsewhere. 



USES OF PERFORATED STONES. 



By inquiry among the surviving Indians of Santa Barbara and Ven- 

 tura Counties, California, where perforated stones are very numerous, 

 it was learned that by them these relics were formerly put to three uses. 

 Named in the order of their importance, these are: First, as weights to 

 digging sticks; second, as gaming implements; third, as dies for fash- 

 ioning tubes, pipes, and similar cylindrical objects. 



Weights to digging sticks in California. — The evidence as to the former 

 use of perforated stones as weights to digging sticks seems to be as 

 complete as can be desired, in the absence, of course, of their observed 

 employment. A Santa Barbara Indian, to whom a specimen was 

 shown, a man sixty or more years of age, unhesitatingly affirmed, the 

 moment he saw it, that it was a digging stick weight, called " al-stur-ur." 

 This implement, he said, was formerly in use among the women in his 

 tribe. In describing it he said the stick must be strong and very hard. 

 The wood usually employed grew only in the mountains and was called 

 "burtch." The especial function. of the digging stick was to dig a kind 

 of onionlike root called "ci-hon." When in use the weight was slipped 

 over the handle till it rested about the middle of the stick, like a collar. 

 As my inquiries were made through the medium of an interpreter, 1 

 found it difficult to learn how it was held at this point, in the absence 

 of a suitable stick to serve as an example, but it seemed likely, from 

 the description, that the stone was supported by a knob or projection, 

 natural or artificial. The sole function of the stone collar was evidently 

 to add weight to the pointed stick and thus to increase its effectiveness. 



The work of digging the root for which the digging stick was em- 

 ployed devolved almost entirely upon the women, assisted more or less 

 by the boys and old men. A large and varied assortment of these 



