Flocks of birds.—Groups of small crosses on the sides of Eskimo bow drills represent flocks of birds (Cat. Nos. 45020 and 44211, U. S. N. M.). They are reproduced in [fig. 322]. Colonel Mallery’s fig. 28, page 67, represents a cross copied from the Najowe Valley group of colored pictographs, 40 miles west of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, Cal. The cross measured 20 inches in length, the interior being painted black while the border is of a dark red tint. This design, as well as others in close connection, is painted on the walls of a shallow cave or rock shelter in the limestone formation. Fourteen miles west of Santa Barbara, on the summit of the Santa Ynez Mountains, is a cavern having a large opening west and north, in which are crosses of the Greek type, the interior portion being painted a dull earthy red, while the outside line is a faded-black tint. The cross measures nearly a foot in extent. At the Tulare Indian Agency, Cal., is an immense bowlder of granite. It has been split, and one of the lower quarters has been moved sufficiently to leave a passageway six feet wide and nearly ten feet high. The interior walls are well covered with large painted figures, while upon the ceilings are numerous forms of animals, birds, and insects. Among this latter group is a white cross about 18 inches in length ([fig. 323]), presenting a unique appearance, for the reason that it is the only petroglyph in that region to which the white coloring matter has been applied.
Fig. 324.
PETROGLYPHS FROM OWEN’S VALLEY, CALIFORNIA.
(a, b) Greek crosses, (c) double Latin cross, (d-f) Latin crosses representing human figures.
Tenth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology, fig. 1230.
An interesting example of rock sculpturing in groups is in Owens Valley, south of Benton, Cal. Among them are various forms of crosses, and circles containing crosses of simple and complex types. The most interesting in this connection are the groups in [fig. 324], a and b. The larger one, a, occurs upon a large bowlder of tracite 16 miles south of Benton, at the “Chalk grave.” The circle is a depression about one inch in depth, the cross being in high relief. The small cross b, found three miles north from this is almost identical, the arms of the cross, however, extending to the rim of the circle. In this locality occurs also the cross, c, same figure, and some examples having more than two cross arms.
Fig. 325.
CROSS IN ZIGZAG
LINES REPRESENTING
THE HUMAN FORM.
Navajo Indians.
Human forms.—Other simple crosses represent the human form. Some of these are engraved or cut on the rocks of Owens Valley and are similar to those above described ([fig. 324]), but they have been eroded, so that beyond the mere cross they show slight relation to the human body ([fig. 324], d, e, f). Col. James Stevenson, describing the Hasjelti ceremony of the Navajoes,[288] shows the form of a man drawn in the sand ([fig. 325]). Describing the character shown in [fig. 326], Keam says: “The figure represents a woman. The breath is displayed in the interior.”[289]