ABORIGINAL TREASURES. ool 
about one-third of an inch in diameter, and string them on a string for a 
necklace. 
This may be called their silver, and is the great medium of all transac- 
tions; while the money answering to gold is made from varieties of the ear- 
shell (Haliotis), and is called iil-lo. (Dr. R. E. C. Stearns, to whose kindness 
I am indebted for the identification of the shells, suggests that this may be a 
corruption of the Spanish aulon. This is possible, although the Indians ac- 
cent the first syllable and give it a sound somewhere between the German 
dé and uh). They cut these shells with flints into oblong strips from an inch 
to two inches in length, according to the curvature of the shell, and about 
a third as broad as they are long. Two holes are drilled near the narrow 
end of each piece, and they are thereby fastened to a string of the material 
above named, hanging edge to edge. Ten pieces generally constitute a 
string, and the larger pieces rate at $1 apiece, 510 a string; the smaller in 
proportion, or less, if they are not pretty. Being susceptible of a high 
polish this money forms a beautiful ornament, and is worn for necklaces on 
gala-days. But as money it is rather too large and cumbersome, and the 
Indians generally seek to exchange it for the less brilliant but more useful 
hawok. The iillo may be considered rather as jewelry. 
In preferring the former to the latter the California squaws are con- 
sistent with the character they maintain throughout of setting utility before 
beauty. In this regard they manifest more good sense than is usual for 
savages. 
A third kind of money, very rarely seen, is made of the Olivella biplicata, 
and is called by them kol’-kol. 
When I was in Auburn, Captain Tom showed me nearly half a bushel 
of shell-money and trinkets belonging to himself and family, and I had the 
curiosity to take an exact inventory of the same, with the values attached 
to the articles by the Indians. 
CAPTAIN TOM’S TAX-LIST. 
Taree Kal U paral Steet ee ete ee ee Ney eae wee 2S $230 
RESTO) oy Beh a ae ek ee a tees ele ae a 10 
NERO NYU Est ae oa eS a ee a 10 
22 1G 
