ETHNOLOGY. 



REMARKS OX THE KJOKKEi\-Mi)DDINCtS ON THE lORTHWEST COAST OF 



AMERICA. 



By Paul Schumacher. 



During- iiiy excursions along the coast, from Crescent City (latitude 

 41° 44' 30") to Rogue Eiver, (latitude 42° 25',) I found numerous vei- 

 dences of Indians of a past time who occupied houses. 



Near a river, or in places on the coast where there are groups of rocks 

 stretching out frequently for miles into the ocean, there are almost cer 

 tain to be found on every eminence which would serve as a look- out to 

 prevent sudden attacks, traces of former dwellings. 



As in certain seasons the rivers yield vast quantities of trout and 

 salmon, so also do the rocks supply edible shell-fisb, which principally 

 adhere in clusters to the rocks washed by the ocean ; in the shallow 

 water on the shores, in the tangled masses of sea-plants, all kind of fish 

 deposit their spawn and search for food, while the sea-lion audits relation, 

 the seal, disport themselves among the breakers, alternately fishing and 

 sunning themselves on the rocks. Shell-heaps, bones of sea-lions, deer, 

 and bear, chiefly mark the localities where these ancient dwellings have 

 formerly existed. These remains are in layers, which become more and 

 more indistinct as their age and depth increase, until the whole is 

 reduced to a dark and ash-like earth, in which stone implements alone 

 remain distinguishable as evidence of a j)rehistoric population. 



At the suggestion of the Smithsonian Institution, I visited the shell- 

 heaps, which to the i3resent Indians are known by the names of Chit, 

 (now Chetko;) Nat-e-net, (Lone Eanch ;) Khiist-6-net, (Hustenate ;) 

 Chetl-eshin, (Big Eock, now Crook's Point,) and found there many kinds 

 of implements, some of which were slightly broken, but most of them 

 were only fragments. 

 ' Arrow and spear heads were found in great numbers and variety, 

 I)esides pestles, knives, pipes, wedges, and other articles, the use of 

 which I have not yet been able to ascertain. 



In the following statement I give a list of the objects which I have 

 presented to the National Museum, adding such remarks as appear to me 

 necessary. 



