H0LJIK8.I PENDANT ORNAMENTS OF THE ANCIENT CALIFORNIANS. 261 



apparently pretty much the same. They do not differ, as far as works 

 in shell are coucerned, from the modern tribes of the main-land. 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 

 archipelagoes. 



The record of many of the specimens obtained from these islands 

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

 that they were obtained from the ancient graves. Since, however, they 

 are almost exclusively ornaments belonging probably 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 Ealiotis 

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

 beauty. Bivalve shells are utilized to a considerable extent, many 

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

 ma, and the Pecten, 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 significant characters have been engraved, 

 and we look in vain for parallels to the curious designs characteristic 

 of the gorgets of the mound-builders. 



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

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

 these ornaments are wrought. 



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

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

 like i^rojection above. They take their form from the shape of the lip 

 of the Haliotis, from which they are made — the hook being the upper 

 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 the lip of the 

 shell. In size they vary to some extent with the shells 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 apparent that the wearers thought more of the ex- 

 quisite coloring of these ornaments than of the outline or surface finish. 

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

 appreciation of beauty of color by savage peoples. 



