No. 2. Charm Stones. 23 



ces of more or less similarity of form and size, while, 

 as before stated, it is rare to find two of the same size 

 or shape, and the localities in which they are usually 

 found are not places where games would have been 

 played. 



(4) As sacred implements in the performance of some 

 religious ceremony. — This theory is the nearest ap- 

 proach to the true use of these implements. 



(5) As personal ornaments. — This theory is unreas- 

 onable and requires no further refutation than that 

 their weight and size would preclude such uses. They 

 were sometimes suspended about the person for pur- 

 poses to be shown hereafter. 



(6) As plummets and levels. — This theory is still 

 more far-fetched and untenable than the last, so far as 

 California Indians are concerned. Tribes that build 

 no dwellings other than temporary huts, and hastily 

 constructed at that, would certainly have no more oc- 

 casion to use plummets and levels than a wild Hotten- 

 tot. These so-called plummets are nearly always 

 found in low, marshy places near creeks, along the sea 

 shore, and among the wild, rocky recesses of the 

 mountains. 



These localities would hardly be selected as places 

 to erect permanent buildings, even if they had ever 

 had the knowledge of such. Aeain, these so-called 

 plummets would not have been used for the purpose 

 some have claimed, that is, suspended by a string and 

 used to determine perpendicular lines. They are not 

 the form most convenient for this purpose, and if sus- 

 pended by a string would not hang perpendicularly. 



Implements like Figs. 1, 8 and 10 might have been 

 used for such a purpose, providing the lower ends had 

 been pointed, which they are not. One like Fig. 9 

 would have answered the purpose had it been perfora- 

 ted at the top. 



In reference to Prof. F. W. Putnam's note to Mr. 

 Henderson's article, I am sorry to differ with so learn- 

 ed an antiquarian writer as my esteemed friend, but 

 certainly none of his theories will fit our California In- 



