While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Chumash. The
Santa Rosa islanders, o the Chumashan family of California.
Bowers in Smithson. Rep., 3`6, 1877
Chumashan Family.
A linguistic family on the coast of south California, known also
as Santa Barbara Indians. Like most Californian aborigines, they
appear to have lacked an appellation of general significance,
and the term Chumash, the name of the Santa Rosa islanders, is
arbitrarily chosen for convenience to designate the linguistic
stock. Seven dialects of this family are known, those of San
Luis Obispo, Purísima, Santa
Inez, Santa Barbara, and San Buenaventura missions, and of Santa
Rosa and Santa Cruz islands. These are fairly similar except the
San Luis Obispo, which stands apart. It is probable that there
were other dialects. The Chumashan languages show certain
morphologic resemblances to the adjacent Shoshonean and Salinan,
especially the latter, but constitute an independent family, as
their stock of words is confined to themselves. The territorial
limits of the Chumashan Indians are not accurately known. The
area shown on Powell's map (7th Rep. B. A. E., 1891) includes
the entire Santa Maria river drainage, Santa Inez river, the
lower half of the Santa Clara river drainage, and Somis creek,
the east boundary line on the coast lying between Pt Dame and
Santa Monica. Since the language of San Luis Obispo was
Chumashan, this region north of the Santa Maria and south of the
Salinas drainage must be added. The northern of the Santa
Barbara Islands (Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel) were
inhabited by the Chumash, but the 3 southern islands of the
group belonged to Shoshonean people.
The Chumashan Indians, both of the islands and of the
coast, were visited by Europeans as early as 1542, when Cabrillo
spent some time in their territory, meeting with an exceedingly
friendly reception. Vizcayno in 1602 and Portola in 1769 also
came in contact with them, and have left accounts of their
visits. Five missions were established by the Franciscans among
the Chumash; those of San Luis Obispo, San Buenaventura, Santa
Barbara, Purísima, and Santa
Inez, founded respectively in 1771, 1782, 1786, 1787, and 1804,
the missionaries meeting with little opposition and no forcible
resistance. The early friendship for the Spaniards soon changed
to a sullen hatred under their rule, for in 1810 it was reported
by a missionary that nearly all the Indian women at Purísima
had for a time persistently practiced abortion, and in 1824 the
Indians at Santa Barbara, Santa Inez, and Purísima
revolted against the mission authority, which they succeeded in
shaking off for a time though the Spaniards apparently suffered
no loss of life at their hands. Even during mission times the
Chumash decreased greatly in numbers, and in 1884 Henshaw found
only about 40 individuals. This number has been reduced to less
than half, the few survivors being largely "Mexicanized," and
the race is extinct on the islands.
In character and habits the Chumash differed
considerably from the other Indians of California. All the early
voyagers note their friendliness and hospitality, and their
greater affluence and abundance of foal as compared with their
neighbors. They appear to have had a plentiful supply of sea
food and to have depended on it rather than on the vegetal
products which usually formed the subsistence of California
Indians. With the islanders this was no doubt a necessity. Their
houses were of grass or tale, dome-shaped, and often 50 ft. or
more in diameter, accommodating as many as 50 people. Each was
inhabited by several families, and they were grouped in
villages. The Chumash were noted for their canoes, which were
not dug out of a single log, but made of planks lashed together
and calked. Most were built for only 2 or 3 men, but some
carried 10 and even 13 persons. As no canoes were found anywhere
else on the coast from C. San Lucas to C. Mendocino, even where
suitable wood is abundant, rafts or tule balsas taking their
place, the well-built canoes of the Chumash are evidence of some
ethnographic specialization. The same may be said of their
carved wooden dishes and of the figures painted on posts,
described as erected over graves and at places of worship. On
the Santa Barbara islands stone killer-whale figurines have been
found, though almost nowhere else in California are there traces
of even attempted sculpture. An unusual variety of shell
ornaments and of work in shell inlaid by means of asphaltum also
characterize the archeologic discoveries made in Chumashan
territory. Large stone jars similar to those in use among the
neighboring Shoshoneans, and coiled baskets somewhat similar to
those of their southern neighbors, were made by the Chumash.
Their general culture has been extensively treated by Putnam
(Wheeler, Survey Rep., vii,1879). Of their religion very little
is known, and nothing of their mythology. The gentile system was
not recognized by them, marriage between individuals of the same
village being allowed. On Santa Catalina island birds which were
called large crows by the Spaniards were kept and worshiped,
agreeing with what Boscana tells of the Shoshonean condor cult
of the adjacent coast. The medicine men of one of the islands
are said to have used stone pipes for smoking, sucking, and
blowing to remove disease, dressing in a hair wig, with a belt
of deer hoofs. This practice was similar to that which prevailed
through Lower California. The dead among the Chumash were
buried, not burned as in many other parts of California;
property was hung on poles over their graves, and for chiefs
painted planks were erected. The Franciscan missionaries,
however, rightly declare that these Indians, like all others In
California, were not idolaters.
True tribal divisions were unknown to the Chumash as to most
other Indians of California, the only basis of social
organization being the family, and of political, the village
settlement. The names of village sites are given in great number
from the time of the earliest voyage in the 16th century, but
the majority can neither he located nor identified. The
following is a list of the villages, most of the names being
taken from the mission archives: Santa Inez Mission:
Achillimo, Aguama, Ahuamhoue, Akachumas, Akaitsuk, Alahulapgas,
Alizway, Asiuhuil, Awashlaurk, Calahuasa, Cascel, Cholicus,
Chumuchu, Coloc, Geguep, Guaislac, Huhunata, Hunawurp, lalamne,
Ionata, Jonatas, Kalak, Kalawashuk, Katahuac, Kulahuasa, Kuyam,
Matiliha, Mekewe, Mishtapawa, Nipoma, Nutonto, Sapelek, Saptuui,
Sauchu, Shopeshno, Sikitipuc, Sisuchi, Situchi, Sotonoemu,
Souscoc, Stucu, Suiesia, Suktanakamu, Tahijuas, Takuyumam,
Talaxano, Tapanissilac, Tarkepsi, Tekep, Temesathi, Tequepis,
Tinachi, Tsamala, Tujanisuissilac. San. Miguel Island:
Nimollollo, Zaco. Santa Rosa Island:
Kshiwukciwu, Lilibeque, Muoc, Ninumu, Níquesesquelua,
Niquipos, Patiquilid, Patiquiu, Pilidquay, Pisqueno, Poele,
Siliwihi. Santa Cruz Island:
Alali, Chalosas, Chosho, Coycoy, Estocoloco, Hahas, Hitschowon,
Klakaamu, Lacayamu, Liyam, Macamo, Mashcal, Mishumac, Nanahuani,
Niakla, Nichochi, Nilalhuyu, Nimatlala, Nimitapal, Nitel,
Nomkolkol, Sasuagel, Xugua. San Buenaventura Mission:
Aguin, Alloc, Anacbuc, Chihucchihui, Chumpache, Eshulup,
Kachyayakuch, Kanwaiakaku, Kinapuke, Lacayamu, Liam, Lisichi,
Lojos, Luupsch, Mahow, Malahue, Malico, Matilhja, Miguihui,
Miscanaka, Piiru, Sespe, Shishalap, Simi. Sisa, Sisjulcioy,
Sissabanonase, Soma, Tapo, Ypuc, Yxaulo. Purísima Mission:
Alacupusyuen, Ausion, Esmischue, Esnispele, Espiiluima, Estait,
Fax, Guaslaique, Huasna, Huenejel, Huenepel, Husistaic, Ialatnma,
Jlaacs, Kachisupal, Lajuchu, Lipook, Lisahuats, Lompoc, Nahuey,
Naila, Ninyuelgual, Nocto, Omaxtux Pacsiol, Paxpili, Sacsiol,
Sacspili, Salachi, Sihimi, Silimastus, Silimi, Silino, Silisne,
Sipuca, Sisolop, Sitolo, Stipu, Suntaho, Tutachro. Santa Barbara Mission: Alcax, Alican, Alpincha,
Alwathalama, Amolomol, Anejue, Awhawhilashmu, Cajats, Cajpilili,
Casalic, Cashwah, Chiuchin, Cholosoc, Chuah, Cinihuay, Cuyamus,
Eleunaxciay, Eljman, Eluaxcu, Estuc, Geliac, Gleuaxcuqu,
Guainonost, Guina, Hanava, Hello, Huelemin, Huililoc, Huixapapa,
Humalija, Hunxapa, Inajalaihu, Inojey, Ipec, Ituc, Lagcay,
Laycayamu, Lintja, Lisuchu, Lugups, Majalayghua, Mishtapalwa,
Mistaughchewaugh, Numguelgar, Otenashmoo, Salpilel, Sayokinck,
Sihuicom, Silpoponemew, Sinicon, Sisahiahut, Sisuch, Snihuax,
Sopone, Taxlipu, Texmaw, Xalanaj, Xalou. Miscellaneous:
Anacoat, Anacot, Antap, Aogni, Asimu, Bis, Caacat, Casnahacmo,
Casunalmo, Cayeguas, Chwaiyok, Cicacut, Ciucut, Ciyuktun, Elquis,
Escumawash, Garomisopona, Gun, Helapoonuch, Honmoyaushu, Hueneme,
Humkak, Immahal, Isha, Ishgua, Kamulas, Kasaktikat, Kashiwe,
Kashtok, Kashtu, Kaso, Katstayot, Kaughii, Kesmali, Koiyo,
Kuiyamu, Lohastahni, Mahahal, Malhokshe, Malito, Malulowoni,
Maquinanoa, Masewuk, Mershom, Michiyu, Micoma, Misesopano,
Mishapsna, Misinagua, Mismatuk, Mispu, Mugu, Mupu, Nacbue,
Nipomo, Nocos, Ojai, Olesino, Onkot, Onomio, Opia, Opistopia,
Paltatre, Partocac, Potoltuc, Pualnacatup, Quanmugua, Quelqueme,
Quiman, Salnahakaisiku, Sapaquonil, Saticoy, Satwiwa, Shalawa,
Shalkahaan, Shisblaman, Sholikuwewich, Shuku, Shup, Shushuchi,
Shuwalashu, Simomo, Sisichii, Sitaptapa, Siuktun, Skonon,
Spookow, Sulapiu, Susuquey, Sweteti, Swino, Tallapoolina,
Temeteti, Tocane, Topotopow, Tukachkach, Tushumu, Upop, Walektre,
Wihatset, Xabaagua, Xagua, Xocotoc, Yutum.
The books presented are for their historical
value only and are not the opinions of the
Webmasters of the site.
