A STUDY OF PRIMITIVE MONEY. 319 



ten thousand that is long enough to reach this high value. The longest 

 ones usually seen are worth about $2, that is, $10 the string." 



Powers says of the Indians of Del Norte County, that they are more 

 avaricious than others in California. "Money makes the chief among 

 them, and he is entitled to that honor who possesses the most alU-ho- 

 c7iicfc." 



After describing the puberty dance (Kin'-alkh-ta) of the Hupas, he 

 says : "She is now ready for marriage, and she will bring in the market 

 from three to ten strings (about half the valuation of a man), that is, 

 from $15 to $50." 



I have heretofore referred to the Pectens or scallop shells, and their 

 place in history and song. So also with the Dentalia or money-shells 

 of the Indians, which it will be seen have a place in their simple rhythm 

 and music. 



Among the Moadocs, or Modoks " when a maiden arrives at woman- 

 hood her father makes a kind of party in her honor. Her young com- 

 panions assemble, and together they dance and sing wild, dithyrambic 

 roundelays, improvised songs of the woods and the waters : 



"'Jumping echoes of the rock; 



Squirrels turning somersaults; 



Green leaves, dancing in the air; 



Fishes white as money-shells 



Running in the water, green and deep and still. 



Hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-hay! 



Hi-ho, hi-ho, hi-hay!' 



" This is the substance of one of the songs, as translated for me."* 



In describing marriage among the Yuroks or Eurocs, he says : "When 

 a young Indian becomes enamored of a maiden and can not wait to 

 collect the amount of shells demanded by her father, he is sometimes 

 allowed to payhalf the amount and become what is termed 'half married.' 

 Instead of bringing her to his cabin and making her his slave, he goes to 

 live in her cabin and becomes her slave." Again he says: " Since the 

 advent of the Americans the honorable estate of matrimony has fallen 

 sadly into desuetude among the young braves, because they seldom 

 have shell money nowadays, and the old Indians prefer that in exchange 

 for their daughters. * * * The old generation dislike the white 

 man's money, but hoard up shell money like true misers," etc. 



The Patawat have reduced the science and practice of law down to a 

 tolerably accurate mechanism in one matter at least — that of mulctuary 

 punishment. The average fine imposed for the murder of a man is ten 

 strings of dl-li-co- chile, each string consisting of ten pieces, and for that 

 of a squaw five strings of equal length. As the pieces of shell money 

 generally average, and as it was first valued in American coin, these 

 fines amount to about $100 and $50, respectively. 



Among the Patwats " a Avife is always acquired by purchase, and her 

 * Powers, Overland Monthly, vol. x. 



