DISCOVEEIES OF CEMETEEIES. 35 



some loose bones that had been reinterred by Mr. Bowers on the occasion of his first visit, 

 we came to an entire skeleton in situ. It was lying on the right side, facing the west, 

 with the lower limbs drawn up toward the chin. No ornaments or utensils were found, 

 but a quantity of marine shells were near the cranium. Continuing the excavation 

 deeper, two other skeletons were discovered in a similar position to the first, and near 

 them a few broken arrowheads. These were removed, and the excavation extended 

 downward and backward from the sea-cliff, the labor being rewarded by the finding of 

 seven other skeletons. These latter, however, were huddled together, and gave no 

 evidence that care had been taken, in the burial of the bodies, to place them in any par- 

 ticular position. Near by were a few shell beads and other ornaments, and an abalone 

 shell (Haliotis splendent) containing a red pigment. The bones were so friable as to 

 crumble to pieces on exposure to the atmosphere, and on this account none could be 

 secured. On excavating to a depth of 5 feet, a layer of marine shells was reached, 

 under which was a firm stratum of yellow, sandy clay, beneath which, as our subse- 

 quent experience proved, burials were never made.* After digging for several hours, 

 aud finding nothing further of special interest, the trench was refilled. 



Moving around from place to place in the field, our attention was finally attracted 

 to a depression in the center of it, some 200 yards from the sea-cliff, which, on examina- 

 tion, gave undoubted evidences of being a burial-place, ribs and vertebrae of whales 

 being scattered about, and small inclosures found that had been made in the earth by 

 setting up large flat stones on their sides. Digging into one of these inclosed areas, 

 broken bones and some broken pestles and mortars were found, but nothing of special 

 value. The excavation was continued to a depth of 3 feet only, which, as subsequently 

 ascertained, was not sufficient. We left this locality for a time, returning to it later in 

 the season, when deeper and more careful excavations abundantly rewarded us, as 

 many interesting objects were found. 



While engaged in the interesting search in question, Dr. Eothrock, who had 

 strolled off some distance after botanical specimens, commuuicated to us that he had 

 discovered, on the opposite side of a small estero to the northward, a locality which he 

 believed to be a burial-place, founding his belief on the fact that he had seen a number 

 of whales' ribs, placed so as to form arches over certain spots. As we well knew that 

 the Santa Cruz Island burial-grounds were similarly marked, we anticipated a "good 

 find," and, indeed, so richly were our anticipations rewarded that we named it the "Z% 

 Bonanza." The folio wiug diagram, made from a rough sketch on the ground by the 

 writer, will give an idea of this place and the several other localities already mentioned. 



It is but fair to mention in this connection that the discovery of this valuable 

 locality is entirely due to Dr. Eothrock, any assertion to the contrary notwithstanding, 

 as no one in the neighborhood had the slightest knowledge of auy burials having been 

 made at this point. 



The next morning found us at an early hour near the spot discovered by Dr. Eoth- 

 rock, and from the surface indications it could hardly be doubted that at some period 

 it must have been a burial-place of note. The surface of the ground, instead of pre- 

 senting the appearance of mounds, or hillocks, was rather depressed in a semicircular 

 form, and in various spots ribs and vertebrae of whales had been partially buried in the 



*I am informed that M. tie Cessac, of M. Pinart's party, is said to have discovered pottery 

 beneath this stratum, but I feel confident that it is a mistake. — H. C. Y. 



