Evening star., 1926-02-08
OLD INDIAN GUIDES
AID ETHNOLOG|ST
Valuable Archaeological Data
Literally Saved From
Brink of Grave.

j. p. Harrington, ethnologist of
the Smithsonian Institution, whose
discovery in California of the skull of
the ancient so-called Santa Barbara
man year ago last Summer raised
anew the question Of the antiquity Of
man on the American continent, is
continuing his explorations in Cali
fornfa. He IS expected back in
Washington in March with new and
valuable chronological and archeologi-
cal information. Mr.. Harrington is
one Of the foremost experts on the
languages Of the American aborigines.
He recently made a study Of the Ian
guage Of the white Indians" brought
back from Panama by T.. c. Marsh.
Mr.. Harrington has sent word TO
DIR. J. Walter Fewkes. chief of the
Bureau Of American Ethnology, that
he is rescuing rare data from the
brink Of the grave through old and
feeble Indian guides who alone pos
sess any information Of the ancient
village sites visited.
Goes Into Lost Valley.
on an expedition into Lost VALLEY
Mr.. Harrington Went with Francisco
Laus on horseback and remained SCI
eral days in the mountains, discover
ing rare runcheria sites and filling IL
a space hitherto blank on the archeu.
logical map OF California.
The Indian Francisco is very Old
and feeble writes Mr.. Harrington.
and the trip was very hard on him.
All the information which he gave OF
these places was rescued from the
brink Of the grave, and there is no
one else that knows even a fraction
of it. 1t is therefore work OF the
greatest Importance to record this in
formation"
Mr.. Harrington visited place
where the Indians formerly captured
eagles by letting Il man down the face
OF cliff by means Of a rabbit net
During the entire trip, Mr.. Harring
ton says, he moved in a fairyland
Of indian mythology.
Another Of Mr.. Harrington's guides
is Angel Cuilpe. 10i years old. who
accompanied him on trip down the
Canada de las Twas. which proved
rich in discovery along many lines.
Sites Untouched for Years.
Many Of the archaeological sites
which we visited" writes Mr.. Har-
rington, apparently had not been
touched since Indian times, and we
found without difficulty the old hut
circles on the surface of the ground
either marked by rings of rock which
were formed by the Indians clearing
| the surface for the circular hut or by
rings of raised earth which marx the
former walls
! The largest village which We dis
covered was that known to the Mis-
sion Indians as Milyahu. This dif
/ fered from the other sites in being
located on a detached rocky hill which
| has the appearance OF a great tower
ing citadel when seen from the ar
| royo. The little Indian wigwams
| varying in diameter from IA to 20
| feet, nestle all over the summit OF
| this hill, and the circles are as fresh
as II the place had been abandoned
! yesterday"
| On a hill in the Santa Maria ranch.
| near Ramona, Mr.. Harrington discov-
cred an ancient Indian fortifcation
wall, which is evidently in much the
same condition as when 1t was abau-
! doned. IT is made of rocks piled in
the form OF a parapet, feet or more
! in height. The wall forms a CORA
! around the top of the hill. Command
| ing a fine view of the valley, Il was
used, according to tradition, as an
outlook.
In Palm Canyon he reaped rich
harvest in hitherto unrecorded place
names and archaeological sites On
| this trip, Juanito Razon, more than
100 years old. was his guide. He
proved to be perfect mine of Indian
Information" They went across the
sand washes and rocky arroyos in an
automobile hard trip. They visit
ed ancient water holes, painted rocks.
caves. sacred stones and magical
springs.