1894.] Abalone or Haliotis Shells of the Californian Coast. 857 
knives, etc. is desired, yet in mosaies and work enriched by a 
display of iridescent tints the nacre of abalone shells stands 
preéminent. Inlaid work is so universally used that an enu- 
meration of articles ornamented in this way is unnecessary, 
but mention may be made of one use of these shells in lac- 
quer that to an American or European may seem unique; its 
use in a “ pillow end." When we think of a pillow we imag- 
ine a billowy roll all done up in white, but, a Japanese or 
Korean has a very different idea. In the Korean collection in 
the U. S. National Museum are some small pillows and the 
following description is given of the ends of. two of them ê 
“ Pillow end (Be-ga-mo). Circular piece of wood, lacquered, 
incrusted with Haliotisshell. Figures represent a tiger under 
a pine tree; along the border is a band of arabesque.” “ Pil- 
low end (Ja-ga-be-ga-mo). Disk of wood fastened in the end 
of a cylindrical pillow case, in black lacquer with Haliotis 
shell. Subject, the great dragon rising from the sea into the 
sky in the spring season.” In describing these pillow ends 
Mr. Walter Hough says: “The Korean pillow is a cylindri- 
cal case stuffed with hair or rice straw. It has ornamented 
ends. The first one mentioned is 8} inches in diameter, but 
is ‘not part of a regular pillow, being used as a ‘ arm-rest.’ 
The second one is 8 inches in diameter.” 
As a medium for trade among the Aborigines of North 
America, abalones have been highly esteemed both for their 
beauty and importance when used as ‘shell money. The shells 
in the latter case being cut “into oblong strips from one to 
two inches in length, according to the curvature of the shell, 
and about as third as broad as long.” These were strung on a 
string and were used both as money and ornaments. Dr. 
Robert E. C. Stearns, Adjunct Curator of Molluses in the 
National Museum, has written a comprehensive monograph 
upon the use of shells by the Indians, entitled “ Ethno-Con- 
chology, a study of Primitive Money,” and in it is figured 
money made from abalones, which the Indians termed “ Uhl- 
lo.” In the recent excavations at the old historic town of 
*Report of the U. S. National Museum, 1891, page 465. 
