Excerpt from William H. Ellison, ed., The Life and Adventures of George Nidever [1802–1883]: The Life Story of a Remarkable California Pioneer Told in his Own Words, and None wasted. Santa Barbara: McNally & Loftin: Southwest Monuments and Parks Association, 1984. 83.
The site of the inclosure or hut where we found her was on the N.W. side and near the top of a ridge that forms the upper end of the island. It was not far from the best springs of water, near to the best point for fish and seal, and it commanded a good view of the greater portion of the Island. Just outside the inclosure or wind break, as I should call it, was a large pile of ashes and another of bones, showing that this had been her abode for a long time. Nearby were several stakes with blubber on this, as we had seen around the other (inclosures). There was blubber also hanging on a sinew rope, similar to the other already described, which was stretched between two stakes. Near the inclosure were several baskets, some in the process of construction, also two bottle-shaped vessels for holding water; these, as well as the baskets, being woven, and of some species of grass very common on the Island. There were also several other articles, as fishhooks made of bone, and needles of the same material, lines or cords of sinews for fishing and the larger rope of sinews she no doubt used for snaring seals on the rocks where they came to sleep.
Last updated: November 21, 2016