40 EXPLORATIONS OF INDIAN GRAVES. 



On June 29, finding that our labor was not so richly repaid as formerly, further 

 excavation in this locality was delegated to Mr. W. L. Shoemaker, who, having -discov- 

 ered only six crania, and those in poor condition, after six hours' faithful labor, the " Big 

 Bonanza" was abandoned, and in the meanwhile the writer was prospecting. 



Crossing the estero, and reaching the ranch of T. Wallace More, esq., we visited 

 the aspkaltum mine, from which it is probable the Indians whose resting-places we 

 had been so ruthlessly disturbing, procured their supplies of this, to them, most pre- 

 cious material, since it must have been extensively used in fastening on their arrow- 

 heads or spearpofnts, and in mending and filling up cracks and holes in their canoes. 

 Not far from this mine the spot was reached which has been mentioned as that where 

 burials were indicated by whalebones and flat stones, and it was determined to explore 

 it next. Near it was a depression, in which appeared to have been either a threshing- 

 floor or dancing-place, oval-shaped and GO feet long by 30 or 40 wide. It had been 

 beaten or trodden down so firmly that no vegetation could flourish thereon. In the 

 afternoon, not far from camp, one of the party discovered some fragments of human 

 bones which had been thrown out of a squirrel-burrow, which circumstance led us to 

 search for relics. Opening a trench 300 yards to the westward from camp, at a depth 

 of 3 feet, some broken bones were found and one skull ; near the latter were a quantity 

 of beads and a matted mass of fur, apparently of either the seal or sea-lion. After 

 some hours of fruitless labor, digging in this locality was discontinued. This was the 

 only instance in our experience where the burial of but one individual had taken place 

 iu one spot. 



On the following day, one of the laboring party, assured of finding something to 

 repay further labor in the u Big Bonanza? 1 urgently suggested the same, whereupon 

 excavating was again entered upon at that place; and, curiously enough, after a little 

 digging, a remarkably fine knife or dagger of obsidian was discovered, nearly 10 inches 

 in length ; a bone implement, similar in appearance to a sword -blade ; and two pipes, 

 one of them ornamented. This ornamented pipe was the first of the kind we had met 

 with, and we congratulated ourselves upon having yielded to the suggestion of the 

 workman. 



July 1. — Resolved to excavate in the locality last discovered, and an early start 

 was made. This trench on T. Wallace More's ranch was commenced 200 yards from 

 the sea-cliff. At a depth of 2 feet broken bones were uncovered, and at 4 feet entire 

 skeletons, which in many instances had been inclosed with flat stones, forming a kind 

 of coffin. Some mortars and pestles were here also met with, as well as pipes, arrow- 

 heads, and another fine spear of flint, and one of iron. After four days of hard work, 

 with no other results than those mentioned, this trench was abandoned. It is doubt- 

 less probable that many more articles might have been found here, but the time that 

 would be consumed in securing a few small articles was demanded where results would 

 most likely prove ^richer and more interesting. -Subsequent experience proved that 

 we had abandoned this locality too hastily, for Mr. Bowers, excavating on his own 

 account, soon after discovered many valuable articles, notably some fine knives or 

 daggers of obsidian. 



From Dr. Taylor, of La Patera, a gentleman who for years had studied the ethnol- 

 ogy and archaeology of the Pacific coast, we learned of the probable existence of bur- 

 ial-places at a spot some 12 or 15 miles up the coast, known as Dos Pueblos. Dr. Taylor 



