A STUDY OF PRIMITIVE MONEY. 



325 



These shells were not only strung whole, but disk-shaped beads were 

 cut out of the body whorl as shown in figure. These Olivella shells 



Tig. 17. 



Olivella Biplicata. 



A, the portion above the line was ground off to admit 

 of strinpiug ; B, the circle shows the part of the shell 

 from which the disks were cut; C, a specimen of the 

 shell in ihe natural state. 



(Coast of California. From specimens in U. S. N. M. ) 



vary considerably in size, often measuring an inch or more in length. 

 The smaller ones were apparently preferred for stringing whole, while 

 the larger ones were required for making the disks. 



This way of treating the Olivella Shells seems to have been formerly 

 rather popular, if we may judge by the specimens in the National Mu- 

 seum* from Indian graves. In the majority of instances these disks 

 were rather rudely finished, with rough and uneven edges, but some- 

 times, as shown in a specimen from Santa Eosa Island,f the disks are 

 made quite small and very neatly finished. 



Mr. Barber! says: "Through eastern Utah and south into Arizona 

 many Olivas [Olivellas] were found scattered through the debris of 

 crumbling walls and broken pottery. The perforation has been effected 

 by grinding down the apex." * * * He describes other beads that 

 " were of two sizes, and usually white. The smaller variety was flat on 

 both sides, or slightly convex on one side and concave on the other, 

 * * * as thin as a wafer, and the circumference of an ordinary pea. 

 In the center a neatly bored hole enabled the owner to string them to- 

 gether in the form of a necklace. The larger variety was about the 

 circumference of an average buckshot." 



Capt. John Moss, of Parrott City, Colorado, says that these beads are 

 valued highly by the present Navajo Indians to the south, a small 

 string, when such can be found, bringing in exchange a good horse. 

 The Navajoes are constantly grubbing about the old buildings and 

 adjacent graves in search of these trinkets. This accounts in some 

 measure for their great scarcity among the ruins to-day. They were 

 undoubtedly obtained by the ancients from other tribes, who brought 

 them, or at least the shells from which they were fashioned, from the 

 Pacific coast. We know that these ruins extend as far west as the 

 junction of the San Juan and Colorado Eivers, so that communication 



* Santa Cruz Island, 26,425; San Miguel Island, 14988, 26428, 29024, 29623. 

 t Santa Eosa Island, 23G93 ; Santa Barbara County, 21846, 2184S ; Santa Cruz, 

 18231, 26254 ; Contra Costa County, 9453. 

 t American Naturalist, vol. xi, 1277. 



