Most of the information on villages of the Mattole is taken from
Goddard's notes. (See map 14.). In addition, there are a few data
recorded by Merriam. Below, Goddard's information is indicated by (G),
Merriam's by (M).
1. sitc[=i]b[=i]' (named from sand bar?) (G). On the S side of
Domingo Cr. nearly a mile from the surf. The county road leaves the
coast at this point. Plenty of signs of occupation but no definite
pits.
2. sesnoik[=o]', "rocks stand up creek" (G). About 1/2 mi. E
of the line of the surf, close to the hill through which the stream
in McNutt Gulch comes from the SE. A large quantity of cooking
stones and shells have been exposed by the blowing away of the
soil. Salmon run in the creek.
3. sesn[=o]t, "rocks stand up" (G). N of a large rock which
is 30 or 50 ft. higher than the surrounding sand. Another large
rock stands 300 yds. W, with a chain of rocks and ledge running
out into the surf. Many shells and stones mark the village site.
This village stood in the middle of a 2-mi. stretch of sandy beach,
which reaches from gotxenin to a mile N of this village.
4. sedjildaxdiñ (G). Close up under the hill. The wind has
carried away the soil, leaving a great pile of shells. Just S, a
stream comes down the hillside with only a gulch [La Rue Gulch], no
valley.
5. gotxenin (G). Known to white people as Mussel Rancheria. On
a bench with Peter B. Gulch at the southern end and La Rue Gulch in
the middle. A great quantity of shells were to be seen but no pits.
Joe said the houses were scattered along for nearly a mile. Many
rocks are in the surf.
6. ne'bitt'a, "earth fold" (G). On a bench 1/2 mi. long in a
cove a mile N of the mouth of Mattole R. There is a creek at the S
end, a small gulch in the middle, and a larger one at the N end.
These probably furnished water in winter. Joe said the houses were
scattered along the whole length of the bench. [It is likely that
this is part of no. 5.] Between 500 and 800 yds. from the shore is
a large flat rock (tciyatcise) occupied by sea lions. The Indians
used to swim to it and club the sea lions to death. They kept a
fire going near a rock on shore to warm themselves afterward.
7. seb[=i]ye (G). Perched on the steep mountainside just N of
the mouth of the Mattole R. At the southern end two pits could be
made out in the weeds. Slides had covered or taken away most of the
evidences of occupation. The trail was evident and pieces of lumber
were still lying about. The village was not burned, according to
Joe. The burying place is 100 yds. N on a separate bench of the
same mountainside.
s[)a]-be´-ah (M). On the ocean beach 1 mi. N of the mouth of
the Mattole.
Goddard and Merriam do not give quite the same location for
these villages but Merriam's description is vague and the names are
evidently the same.
[Illustration: Map 14. Villages and tribelets of the Mattole.]
8. beken[=o]'adiñ (G). This was 300 yds. S of the mouth of
the Mattole R. and 100 yds E of the present surf line. There is an
elevation of broken shells and other refuse on the sandy beach. Joe
Duncan remembers seeing the village when it was inhabited.
9. lasaidûk (G). On the sand of the beach 1/3 mi. S of the
mouth of Mattole R., the second village S of there. The wind has
blown the sand and soil away exposing the shell fragments.
10. dzindiñ (G). By the mouth of a small stream 3/4 mi. S of
the mouth of the Mattole R.
11. sastecdiñ (G). On a small bench N of a little stream a
mile S of the mouth of the Mattole R. Fragments of shells were to
be seen.
12. senalindiñ (G). About a mile and a half S of the mouth of
the Mattole R.; on a small flat with a point of land S of it and a
rocky bluff to the E. Broken shells are to be seen. There are now a
hut and corral on this flat. The point S, a part of Punta Gorda, is
called "Windy Point"; sevinnagintcidin is the Indian name.
13. kailistc[=i] (G). A flat of 3 or 4 ac. immediately N of
the mouth of Four-mile Cr., about 2-1/2 mi. S of the mouth of the
Mattole R.
14. saitc[=i]bi^{=e=} (G). On a bench on the coast S of a bold
headland. A small stream here [Lion Gulch] has a large delta of
gravel. This was the southernmost of the villages of the Mattole R.
tribelet. A house and barn said to belong to John Mackey are on a
higher bench.
15. bitc[=i]b[=i]' (G). On the N side of Cooskie Cr. (called
k[=u]sk[=i]c by the Indians), 1/4 mi. from its mouth. Unlike
most such streams, this one has something of a valley behind the
bordering sea wall, through a gap in which it reaches the ocean.
Salmon enter it. This was the northernmost village of the Cooskie
tribelet.
koos-ke (ko^{ch}kshe) (M). A very large band and village
("hundreds of people") formerly on Cooskie Cr. on or near the coast
2-1/2 mi. SE of Punta Gorda Lighthouse. Joe Duncan said these were
the most warlike people of the region.
16. dec[=i] (G). On a large flat in a cove on the coast,
immediately N of Spanish Flat. A row of shallow but evident pits
are to be seen 200 yds. S of the northern end of the flat.
17. y[=i]nak[=i] (y[=i]natc[=i]) (G). On a flat, called
Spanish Flat, 3/4 mi. long and 300 yds. wide between the ocean and
the terrace. It has a creek at its southern end (Spanish Cr.),
with a large deposit of gravel which has almost entirely buried a
group of buildings. Plenty of evidence of Indian occupation but no
decided pits. It is said to have been a very large village. The
men of this village were killed by a band of white men who came
down from the mouth of the Mattole R., which they had likewise
occupied. An Indian ran down the coast to give warning but arrived
too late. The women also were killed some years later.
18. seyetc[=i] (G). On a bench at the W end of a flat on the N
side of the Mattole R. about a mile from its mouth.
19. sedanadaaib[=i]^{=e=} (G). On the E end of the same flat
on which seyetc[=i] is situated. The site is now said to have been
washed away.
20. daxdeginkatik (G). On a rocky timbered point which is an
extension of the hills N of the Mattole R. This point is 25 ft.
higher than the main flat, called nestik. Several indistinct pits
are still to be seen. The Goff buildings are close by and occupy
part of the village site. This flat was plowed for the Indians in
186..(?). There is water in a gulch W (Jim Goff Gulch).
nes-te´-be (M). On the present Goff Ranch on a bench on the N
side of the Mattole R., about 3 mi. upstream from the ocean.
The names are different but the locations are identical, so
these are no doubt the same village.
21. daaib[=i]^{=e=} (G). On the SW part of the large flat W of
Petrolia, on the S side of the river. It was here that the Indians
settled when they came back from the reservation.
seb´-bin-ne bug´-gah-be (M). An acorn camp on the S side of
the Mattole R. a little below the present Hanson place, 3 mi. from
the mouth of the river.
The locations for these two villages are the same but the
descriptions are obviously different. It may be that this was
an acorn camp in pre-white times and was subsequently used as a
village site when the preferred land had been taken by the settlers.
22. bisyet'ob[=i]^{=e=}, "slide place" (G). On a point on the
N side of the Mattole R. W of Petrolia, overlooking Wright's place.
Buckeye and peppernut trees are growing there. It has fine exposure
toward the S. There are pits still to be seen.
23. tcegiltcexb[=i]^{=e=} (G). On the E bank of the North
Fork of the Mattole R.; the site is now included in the village of
Petrolia. It is said to have been a large village.
24. s[=o]Lkaiye (G). On a large flat on the W side of the
North Fork of the Mattole, E of the road to Ferndale. A white man's
house, on a higher flat near the creek, has been burned. It was
here the Indian village stood.
25. djetxeniñ (G). On the N side of the North Fork of the
Mattole just W of a creek flowing into it from the N. It is at the
western end of a long crooked canyon. Under a point were five very
large distinct pits. There were evidences of occupation on the
point above (the creek is called Wild Goose Cr.?).
26. djinsibbai, "elbow" (G). In the bed of the North Fork of
McNutt Gulch. The inhabitants of sitc[=i]cb[=i] (no. 1) camped here
in summer to hunt. Timber and brush.
27. djibbedaxtûkkab[=i]^{=e=} (G). On a point on the S side of
North Fork of Mattole R. Opposite djetxeniñ. Joe saw people living
here when he ran away from the white man who was taking him away
for a slave.
28. natsinnadaat (G). At the junction of two streams which
make up the North Fork of the Mattole (North Fork Mattole and East
Branch, North Fork Mattole). The stream valleys are wide. The
northern one (North Fork Mattole) is badly washed out, as is also
the main valley of the combined streams. A group of ranch buildings
belonging to Si Minor now occupies the village site, and Billy Wood
once lived there. There was a pit on the W side of the stream from
the N and two pits on the N side of the main stream 1/4 mi. below
the junction.
29. sedjegûnk[=o][-l]diñ, "right angle" (?) (G). On a flat on
the N side of the Mattole R. E of the bridge. It is now occupied by
John Evarts.
30. djegaslinab[=i]^{=e=} (G). At the mouth of the creek
flowing into the Mattole R. from the N, 3/4 mi. W of the county
bridge SE of Petrolia (Conklin Cr.).
31. da[-l]oidiñ, "wild grape place" (?) (G). At the mouth of
a creek (Indian Cr.) flowing into the Mattole R. from the SE at
the northern end of a flat nearly a mile long. Saw what may have
been pits, one on each side of the road by the duck pond near the
buildings belonging to Cummings. This was the northernmost village
of the Cooskie tribelet.
32. djan[=o]ldin (G). On a bench 1/8 mi. long and 200 yds.
wide on the E side of Mattole R., which here flows N. It is at the
ford.
33. saiq[=o]tLûndiñ (G). On a long flat bordering the eastern
side of the Mattole R. Joe said the village was at the southern end
of the flat, which is now owned by Lee Minor.
34. g[=o]danindjaib[=i] (G). Just E of the mouth of Squaw Cr.,
a large stream flowing into the Mattole R. from the S. The regular
inhabitants were joined by others, who camped here to gather acorns.
35. n[=o]willeneb[=i] (G). On a large flat on the E side of
Mattole R. upstream from the mouth of Squaw Cr. Exact location of
village uncertain. The name may be that of the section, not of the
particular village.
36. g[=o]nsakke (G). A large flat through which the Mattole R.
flows toward the NW. Roscoe lives on the N side. Exact location of
the village is uncertain.
37. L[=o]itsiske (G). On a flat on the E side of the Mattole
R. The river is here no distance from the road. "Joe got very angry
when I wanted to look for pits."
38. [=i]kediñ, "foot place" (G). On the N side of a small
stream flowing into the Mattole R. from the E, at the SE side of
a flat. There are two deep pits and several, less deep, on the E
side of the wagon road. A large group of buildings are on a higher
flat SE. There is a large flat on the W side of the river also. The
whites killed all of the inhabitants while they were fishing for
eels.
39. [-l][=i]gûcLûndiñ, "snakes many place" (G). Probably on
the W side of the river where there is a large flat around which
the river flows, keeping near the high bank on the E. The road runs
along the eastern side of the river and climbs a considerable grade
at the N.
40. [-l][=o]n[=i]tc[=i], "middle of prairie" (G). On the S
end of a flat on the E side of the Mattole R. Fifteen Indians were
killed here by white people.
41. n[=o]wilkediñ (gacdûlyaidiñ, "like a necktie") (G). Said
to be situated between the Upper North Fork and the Mattole R.
42. djegûllindiñ (G). On the W side of the stream coming into
Mattole R. from the S close to the Humboldt Meridian (Honeydew
Cr.). Indians may also have lived on the E side of this stream. The
application of this name is uncertain.
Goddard also gives the following summer camps of the Mattole, which I
have not been able to locate.
djindillegaxye. A flat on the S side of Mattole R., near its
mouth.
innaslaibi. A long level bench crossed by the county road N
from Petrolia, 1-1/12 mi. from that place. Indians used to camp
here to gather tarweeds. An Indian battleground.
kuntcegilcannebi. Sec. 32, T. 1 S., R. 2 W. On the E side
of the county road. The section lines given by Goddard are not
reliable.
sekexge. A sloping place on one of the branches of McNutt
Gulch.
_Upper Mattole villages._--The following village locations were given
to Goddard in 1908 by the Sinkyone named Charlie. Goddard did not
visit them so they cannot be accurately located. I am giving Goddard's
township and range locations, but these were made by guess from an
imperfect map, hence they must be used only with the greatest care.
de'tci'. At the mouth of a big creek (de'kok) flowing into
Mattole R. at Upper Mattole. Perhaps de'kok is Squaw Cr., mentioned
in the Elk and Coyote stories. NW 1/4, sec. 30, T. 2 S., R. 1 W.
ne'nûnyadûñ. On the E side of the river 3 mi. above de'tci'.
There are two creeks there. This may be the village, and de'tci'
the whole Upper Mattole flat. Notes say 3 mi. from Mattole, which
is Charlie's name for Petrolia.
k'atinta'. Above ne'nûnyadûñ on the Mattole R. at the mouth of
kutsai'kok. NE 1/4, sec. 33, T. 2 S., R. 1 W.
tcûlgûnnak'e'. Some distance above k'acinta' on Mattole R.
tcintcûsk[=o]dûñ. On a hill on the E side of Mattole R.
tcûst[=i]m[=i]'. On the W side of the Mattole R. on a big
flat, S of tcintcûsk[=o]dûñ. No creek empties there.
istannaladûñ. On a large flat on the Mattole R. No creek
empties there.
setûggûttc[=i]'. On the E side of the Mattole R. at the mouth
of setuggukkok. Sec. 14, T. 3 S., R. 1 E.
tceliñk[=i]'. On both sides of a small creek which enters
a larger stream near the latter's junction from the E with the
Mattole R. The valley of the river is wide at this point. A large
group of buildings is now standing on this site. "I rode to this
place in July, 1908, when hunting for Jack's place. The name was
supplied by Charlie from my description." Sec. 31, T. 3 S., R. 2 E.
Lenill[=i]mi', "flow together in." At the junction of two
streams on the W side of the Mattole R. There were formerly many
grizzlies there, and the Indians were afraid of them. This was the
last village S of the Mattole R. Sec. 7. T. 4 S., R. 2 E.
Merriam gives a number of other village names with rather vague
locations. No doubt each of them corresponds to one of Goddard's, since
both men used the same informant, but I have been unable to identify the
villages either by location or name.
tah-tah´-ke-ke. On a small flat on the S side of the Mattole
R. about 1/4 mi. back from the ocean.
tahn'-hr[=a]´-lah-be. At the mouth of the Mattole R. (on a
lagoon near Indian Joe Duncan's place).
yes-s[)a]-cheb´-be. On or near the site of an old barn S of
the junction of the North Fork with the main Mattole R., near
Petrolia.
e-nah-sal-li´-be. On a flat on Mattole R., 1/2 or 3/4 mi. S of
Petrolia.
choo-wil^{ch}´-kah-be. On the North Fork of the Mattole R. at
Petrolia. The name tek-ko-li-be is also given for a village on the
site of present Petrolia.