An Account of the Indians of the Santa Barbara Islands in California. 21 



they fasten the boards with firmness, one to another, working their 

 drills just as far apart and at a distance of an incb from the edge, 

 the holes in the upper boards corresponding with those in the lower 

 and thro' these holes they pass strong lashings of the sinews of deer. 

 They pitch and calk the seams, and paint the whole in sightly colors. 

 They handle the boats with cleverness, and three or four inen go out 

 to open sea to fish in them, as they hâve capacity to carry eight or 

 ten men. They use long oars with two blades, and row with unspeak- 

 able lightness and velocity. They know ail the arts of fishiug. They 

 hâve communication and commerce with the natives of the islands, 

 whence they get beads of corals which are current in place of money 

 in ail these lands: altho' they hold in more esteem the glass beads 

 which the Spaniards gave them, and offer in exchange for them whatever 

 they had, like trays, otter skias, baskets and wooden plates. More 

 than any thing however they appreciate any claps-knife or cutting 

 instrument, whose advantages over the flint implements they admire." 



„They are likewise great hunters. To kill deer and antelopes 

 they avail themselves of an admirable ingenuity." Costansó hère 

 desciïbes how they, dressed in the hides and noms of the deer, 

 steal up on them by crawling, and when at proper distance: „drag 

 themselves along the ground with the left hand. In the right hand 

 they carry the bow and four arrows They lower and raise the head, 

 moving it to one side and the other, and making other démonstrations 

 so like these animais that they attract them without difficulty and 

 having them within a short distance, t.hey discharge their arrows at 

 them with certainty of hitting. „Their language is sonorous and of 

 easy pronunciation." 



From the Channel of Santa Barbara northward, the lands are 

 not so populous nor the Indians so industrious, but they are equally 

 affable and tractable." 



During the return voyage of a vessel sent with provisions to 

 Monterrey, the Indians informed the Spaniards of the landexpedition 

 which had passed along the coast previously. Says Costansó: „This 

 is the most westerly land of the Channel of Santa Barbara; and in 

 its shelter they managed to take on water, close to a settlement of 

 natives, who gave them individual account of the expédition by land ; 

 declaring by no equivocal signs how the straugers had passed going 

 towards the north, and had returned, short of food, passing towards 

 the south, mouuted on their horses. The which they expressed by 

 stradling some barrels which the mariners had brought ashore, and 



