Annual Report United States National

7/28/2019 Annual Report United States National

1/228

ANNUAL REPORT

011' THE

BOARD OF REGENTS

OF THE

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,SHOWING

THE OPERATIONS, EXPENDITURES, AND CONDITIONOF THE INSTITUTION

FOB

THE Y E A R 1884 .

PART II .

WASHINGTON:GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFIOE.

1885 .


2/228

Q; IIUnl: .J i lY ' ,Y

L IBRARYaC f l t l PPS I N S T I T U T I ON

OF. OCEANOGRAPHYUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

LA JOLLA. CALIFORNIA"3 '/ ':

The Annual Report of tlle Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1884 consists of two parts, viz:PART I.-Report of the Smithsonian Institution proper, showing its

operations, expenditures, and condition.PART n.-Report of the United States National Museum, showingitR progrCi'ls and condition.

11


3/228

REPORT01' THlI:

UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM,UNDER THt: DIRECTION OF

THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,"011

THE YEAR 1 8 8 4 .

III


4/228

CO:KTENTS.

Department of Lithology and Physioal Geology. By George P. Merrill. . . . . . .D . - p ~ l r l l 1 l ..nt of M e t a l l u r g ~ - and Economic Geology. By Fred. P. Dewey .

PART I lL-PAPERIS RAISEL> UX C U L U : C T l O ~ 1 S IX THE :KATlO:'(AL MUSEUM.

IX

L-Throwiug",tick", ill the National Museum. By Otis 1'. Masoll . . . . . . . . . . 279Il.-Basket-work of the North American Aborigines. By Otis T. Mason. .. 291I I I . -A study of the Eskimo Bows in the U. S. National Museum. By John

Murdoch.... . . . 307IV.-Ou a Spotted Dolphin, apparently identical with the Prodelphinl'8 doriB

of Gray. ByFrederickW.True 317V.-The Florida Mnskrat, Neoftbtfl" A.lUmi, True. By Frederick W. Trne ~VL-Dn the West Indian Seal, M01laC1Iu, tropicaliJ, Gray. By FrederickW.

True ami F. A. Lucas _.__ 331

PART IV.-BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM FOR 1884.Part 1. PublicationB of the Museum . . . . . . 339Pa rt II. Papers officers of the } I u s e u ~ _ _.. __ .. . .. .. 34[,Part HI. Papers b;V investigators not officers of the Museum, b&ll6d on' MuseumIllaterial '" .. . .. 371

PART V.LIST ' OF ACCESSIONS TO THE III IJSF.U)l IN 1 ~ . . . . . 385


5/228

PART III.

SCIENTIFIC PAPERS ILLUSTRATING THE COLLECTIONS IN THEU. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884:Pago.

I. Throwing-sticks in the National Museum. By OTIS T. MASON . . . . . , 279-289II. Buket-work of the North American aboriginell.By OTIS T. MASON. __ . 291-300III. A Stndy of the Eskimo bows in the U. S. National Mnseum. By.JOHNMURDOCH . . . . . . __ . . , . _. . . . . . . . . . , .. __ . _. 3 0 7 ~ ' n 6IV. On 11 spotted dolphin apparently itlelltical with the Prodelpllinu8 dl'is

of Gray. By :FREDERICK W. T R U ~ ' __ . . . . . . . . . . . 317-324V. The Florida Muskrat (Neojiber .,Welli ' fmc). By FREDERICK W. TRUE . . 32,'}-330

VI. Ou the Weet Indian Seal (MonachWl tropicaliB Gray). By I"REDERICKW. TRUll: and F. A. LUCAS . _. _. . _. . . . . _. _. . . _ 331-335

Zl7


6/228

I.-THROWING-STICKS IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM .By OTIs T. MAsoK.

Col. Lane Fox tells us there are three areas of the throwing-stick:Australia, where it is simply an elongated spindle with a hook at theend; the country of the Oonibos and the Porus, on theUpper Amazon,where the implement resembles that of the Australians, aud the hyperboman regions of North America..

I t is of this last group that we llhaU now speak, since the NationalMuseum pOllse8ses only two specimens from the first-named area andnone whatever from the second.The researches and collections of Bessels, Turner, Boas, Hall, Mintzner, Kennicott, Ray, Murdoch, Nelson, Herendeen, and DaH, to all ofwhom I R{lknowledge my obligationl!l, enable me to compare widely separated regions of the hyperborean area, and to distinguish these regionsby the details in the structure of the throwing-stick.The method of holding the throwing-stick is indicated in Fig. 1by a drawing of H. W. Elliott. The Eskimo is just in the act oflaunching the light seal harpoon. The barbed point will fasten itselfinto the animal, detach itself from the ivory forellhaft, and unwind therawhide or sinew line, which is securely tied to both ends of the lightwooden shaft by a martingale device. The heavy ivory foreshaft willcause the shaft to 38sume an upright position in the water, and thewhole will act as a drag to impede the progress of the game. The sameidea of impeding progress and of retrieving is carried out by a multitude of devices not necessary to mention here.

The Eskimo spend much time in their skin kyaks, from which itwould be difficult to launch an arrow from a bow, or a harpoon from theunsteady, cold, and greasy hand. This device of the throwing-stick,therefore, is the "lObstitute for the bow or the sling, to be used in thekyak, by a people who cannot procure the proper materials for a heavierlance-shaft, or at least whose euvironment il!l prejudicial to the use ofsoch a weapon. Just as Boon as we pal!!s Mount St. Elias going southward, the throwing-stick, plus the spear or dart of the Eskimo and theAleut, gives place to the harpoon with a long, heavy, cedar shaft, weighing 15 or 20 pounds, whose momentum from both hauds of the Indian,without the throw-stick, exceeds that of the Eskimo and Aleut darts

279


7/228

280 REPORT Ol!' NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.

-.

and harpoons, with the additional velocity imparted by the throwingstick. I t must not be forgotten, also, t,hat t.he kyak is a very frail, unsh'.ady thmg, and therefore not mnch of the momentum of the body canbe utilized, as it is by the Northwest Indians in making a luuge witha heavy shaft. The throwing-stick is also said by some arctic voyagers to be useful in giving directness of aim. Perhaps no other savagedevice comes so near in this respect to a gun barrel or the groove of a.bow-gun. Its greatest advantages, however, are the firm grip whichit gives in handling a harpoon or dart, and the longer time which i tpermits the hunter to Hl)ply the force of his arm to the propnlsion ofhis weapon. Having practiced with a throwing-stick somewhat, I haveimagined also that there was a certain amount of leverage acquired bythe particular method of holding the stick and straightening the arm,as in a toggle joint. That implement, which seems so simple, and whichis usually' mentioned and dismissed in a word, possesses several marksor organs, which help to distinguish the locality in which each formoccurs, as well as to define the associations of the implement as regardsthe weapon thrown from i t and the game pursued. These marks are:

1. Shape, or general ontline in face and side view, and size.2. Handle, the part grasped in the hand.3. Thumb-groove or thumb-lock, provision for the firm and comfortable insertion of the phalanx and ball of the thumb.4. Finger-grooves, provision f9r each finger according to its use inthe manipulation of the implement.

5. Finger-pegs, little plugs of wood or ivory to give more certain gripfor tIle fingers and to preveut their Idipping. The devices for the fingers are the more necessary where the hands are cold and e\"t"rything iscovered with grease.

6. Finger-tip cavities, excavations on the front face of the implement,into which the tips of the three last fingers descend to assist in grasping and to afford a rest OIl. the back of these fingers for the weaponshaft.

7. Index-finger cavity or hole, provision for the insertion of the index finger, which plays a very important part in the use of the throwing-stick.

8. Spear shaft groove, in which the shaft of the weapon lics, &8 anarrow or bolt in the groove of a bow-gun.

9. Hook or spur, provision for seizing the butt end of the weaponwhile it is being launched. These may be ridges left in the wood byexcavation, or pieces of wood, bone, ivory, &c., inserted. The size andshape of this part, and the manner of insertion, are also worthy ofnotice.

10. Edges: this feature is allied to the form and not to the functionof the implement.11. Faces: upper, on which the weapon rests; lower, into which theiudex finger is inserted.


8/228

THROWING-.STICKS. 281The figures illustrating this article are drawn to a scale indicated by

inch marks in the margin, every dot on the line sta.oding for an inch.By the presence or absence, by the number or the shape of some of

these marks or structural characteristics, the type and locality can beeasily detected. The Eskimo have everywhere bows and arrows forlaud hunting, the former made of several pieces of bone lashed together,or of a piece of driftwood lashed and re-enforced with sinew. The 1101'-

r o w ~ are of endless variety.I t should also be noticed that the kind of game and the season of the.

year, the shape and size of tLe spear accompanying the s t i c k ~ and thebare or J.{loved hand, are all indicated by language expressed in variouspartB of this wonderful throwing-stick.

GREENLAND TYPE.The Greenland throwing-stick is a long, fiat trapezoid, slightly ridged

along the back (Fig. 2). I t has no distinct handle at the wide end,although it will be readily seen that the expanding of this part securesa firm grip. A chamfered groove on one side for the thumb, and asmaller groove on the other side for the index tinger, insure the implement against slipping from the hunter's grasp. Marks 5, 6, 7 of theseries on page 280 are wanting in the Greenland type. The shaft-groove,in which lies the shaft of the great harpoon, is wide, deep, and roundeda t the bottom. There i8 no hook, as in all the other types, to fit theend of the harpoon sbaft, but in its stead are two holes, one in the frontenll of the shaftgroove, between the thumb-groove and the finger.groove, with an ivory eyelet or grommet for a lining, the other at thedistal end of the shaft-groove, in the ivory piece which is ingeniouslyinserted there to form that extremity. This last-mentioned ho1e is notcylindrical like the one in front, but is so constructed as to allow theshaft-pt'g to slide off easily. These holes exactly fit two ivory pegsprojecting from the harpoon shaft. Wben the hunter has taken histhrowing-stick in his hand he lays his harpoon shaft upon it so thatthe pegs will fall in the two little holes of the stick. Bya sndden jerkof his hand the harpoon is thrown forward and released, the pegs drawing out of the holes in the stick. At the front end of the throwingstick:a narrow piece of ivor.y is pegged to prevent splitting. As before intimated, this type of throwing-stick is radically different from all othersin itB adjustment to the pegs on the heavy harpoon. In all othcr examples in the world the hook or spur is on the stick and not on the weapon.

UNGAVA TYPE.One specimen from Fort Cbimo in this region, southeast of Hudson

Bay, kindly lent by 1\11'. Lncien Turner, i8 very interesting, having littlerelation with that from Greenland (which is so near geographically),and connecting itself with aU the other types as far as Kadiak, in


9/228

282 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.Alaska (Fig. 3). The outline of the implement is quite elaborate andsymmetrical, resembling at the hook end a fiddle.head, and wideningcontinnou!lly by lateral and facial curves to the front, where it is thinand fiat. A slight rounded notch for the thumb, and a longer chamferfor three fingers, form the handle. Marks 5 and 6 are wanting. Thecavity for the index finger extends quite through the implement, as itdoes in all cases where it is on the side of the harpoon-sha.ft groove,and not directly under it. The shaft groove is shallow, and the hook.at the lower extremity is formed by a piece of ivory inserted in a parallel groove in the fiddle-head and fastened with pegs. It is as thougha saw-cut one-eighth inch wide had been made longitudinally throogh the fiddle-head and one-half inch beyond, and the space had been filledwith a plate of ivory pared down flush with the wood all round, excepting at the projection left to form the hook or spur for the harpoon shaft.This peg or spur fits in a small hole in the butt of the harpoon or spearshaft and serves to keep the weapon in its place until it is launched fromthe hand. The Unga\'a spear is heavier than that of the western Eskimo,hence the stick and its spnr are proportionately larger. It is well 'toobserve carefully the purport of the spur. A javelin, assegai, or otherweapon hurled from the hand is seized in the center of gravity. TheGreenland spears have the pegs for the throwingstick sometimes atthe center of gravity, sometimes at the, butt end. In all other uses ofthe tllrowing-stick the point of support is behin.d the center of gravity,and if the weapon is not fastened in its groove in cannot be hurled.This fastening is accomplished by the backward leaning of the peg inthe Greenland example, and bythe spur on the distal end of the throwing-stick in all other cases.

CUMBERLAND GULF TYPE.

The Cumberland Gulf type is the clumsiest throwing stick in theMusenm, and Dr. Franz Boas recognizes it as a faithful sample of thosein use throughout Baffin Land (Fig. 4).In general style it resembles Mr. Turner's specimens from Uugava;

but every part it! coarser and heavier. It is made of oak, proba.bly obta.ined from It whaling vessel. Instead of the fiddle-head at the distalend we have a declined and thickened prolongation of the stick without ornament. There is no distinct handle, bnt provision is made forthe thumb by a deep, sloping groove; for the indexfinger by a. perforation, and for the other three flngers uy separate grooves. These givea splendid grip for the hunter, but the extraordinary width of the 'handle is certainly a diGadvantage. 'rhere are two longitndinal grooveson the npper face; the principal one is squared to receive the rectangular shaft of the bird spear; the other iM chipped out for the tips of thefingers, which do not reach across to the harpoon shaft, owing to theclnmsy width of the throwing-stiok. In this example, the hook for the


10/228

THROWING-STICKS. 288end of the bird-spear shaft is the canine tooth of some animal driveninto the wood at the distal end of the l o n ~ - s h a f t g r o o v ~ .

FURY AND HEOLA STBAITS TYPE.In Parry's Second Voyage (p. 508) is described a throwing-stick of

Igloolik, 18 inches long, grooved for the shaft of the bird-spear, and having a spike for the hole of the shaft, and a groove for the thumb andfor the fingers. The index-finger hole is not mentioned, but more thanprobably it existed, since it is nowhere else wanting between Ungavaand Cape Romanzoff in Alaska. This form, if properly described byParry, is between the Ungava and the Cumberland Gulf specimen,haviug no kinship with the throwing-stick of Greenland. The NationalMuseum should possess an example of throwing-stick from the Fury andHecla Straits. ANDERSON RIVER TYPE.

The Anderson River throwing-stick (and we should include the }lackenzie River district) is a very primitive affair in the National Museum,being only a tapering flat stick of hard wood (Fig. 5). Marks 2, 3,4, 5, and 6 are wanting. The index-finger cavity is large and e c c ~ n t r i oand furnishes a firm hold. The shaft-groove is a rambling shallow slit,Dot over half an inch wide. There is nohookor spur of foreign materialinserted for the spear end; but simply an excavation of the hard woodwhich furnishes an edge to catch a notch in the end of the dart. Onlyone specimen has been collected from this area for the National Mn-senm; therefore it is unsafe to make it typical, but the form is so nniquethat it is well to notice that the throwing-stick in Eskimoland has itssimplest form in the center and not in the extremities of its whole areaIt is as yet nnsafe to speculate concerning the origin of this implement.A rude form is as likely to be a degenerate son as to be the relic of abarbaric ancestry. Among the theories of origin respecting the Eskimo,that which claims for them a more southern habitat long ago is ofgreat force. If, following retreating ice, they first strock the frozenocean at the mouth of Mackenzie's River and then invented the kyakand the throwing-stick, thence we may follow both of these in two directions as they depart from a single sonrce.

POINT BARBOW TYPE. Through the kindnessof Mr. JolmMurdoch, I have examined a nnmberfrom this locality, all alike, collected in the expedition of Lientenant

Ray, U. S. A. (Fig. 6). They are all of soft wood, and in general outline they resemble a tall amphora, bisected, or with a slice cut out ofthe middle longitudinally. There is a distinct" razor-strop" handle,while in those previously described the handle is scarcely distinct fromthe body. Marks 3, 4, 5, and 0 are wanting. The index-finger hole isvery large and eccentric, forming the handle of the" amphora." The


11/228

284 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.groove for the harpoon or spear-shaft commences opposite the indexfinger cavity a s , shallow depression, and deepens gradually to i ts otherextremity, where the hook for the spear-shaft is formed by an ivorypeg. This form is structurally almost the same as the Anderson Rivertype, only it is much better finished.

KOTZEBUE SOUND TYPE.The KotU'bue Sound type is an elongated truncated pyramid, or obelisk, fluted on all sides (Fig. 7). The hundle is in the spiral shape 80frequent in Eskimo skin-scrapers from Norton Sound and vicinity, and

exactly fits the thulllb and the last three lingers. Marks 5 and 6 arewanting. The index cavity is a cul de sac, intowhich the forefinger is tobe hooked when the implement is in use. Especial attention is called tothis characteristic because it ~ c u r s here for the first time and will notbe seen again after we pass Cape Vancouver. From Ungava, to PointBarrow the index-finger hole is eccentric and the finger passes quitethrough the implement and to tile right of the harpoon or spearshaft.In the Kotzebue type theiudex finger cavity is subjacent to the spearI:lhaft groove, consequently the forefinger would be wounded or atlell8tin the way by passing through the stick. The spear or harpoon-sbaftgroove is wide and shallow and passes immediately over the indexcavity. The hook is of ivory and stands up above the wood. I t needsonly to be mentioned that this type, as well as those with eccentrioforefinger perforations are used with the naked hand.In the quarto volume of Beechey's Voyage, page 324, is mentioned athrowing-stick from Eschscholtz Bay, with a hole for the forefinger anda notch for the thumb, the spear being placed in the groove and em

braced by the middle finger and the thumb. This last assertion is veryimportant. When I first began to examine a large number of the implements, I could not explain the cavities for the fingertips until thisnote suggested that the shaft rides outside of and not under the fingers.To test the matter I had a throwing-stick made to fit my hand, andfound that the spear could get no start if clamped close to the throwing-stick by all the fingers; but if allowed to rest on the back of thefingers or a part of them, and it is held fast by the thumb and middlefinger, i t had just that small rise which gave it a start from the propelling i n s t r u m e n ~ .In the national collection is a specimen marked Russian America,collected by Commodore John Rodgers, resembling in many respects

the Kotzebue Sound type. The handle is of the same razor-strop shape,but on the upper side are three deep depressions for the finger-tips. Inseveral of the objects already described provision is made for the tipsof the last three fingers by means of a gutter or slight indentations.But in no other examples is there such pronouuced separation of thefingers. In very many of the Norton Sound skiu-dressers, composedof a stone blade and ivory handle, the fingers are separa.ted in exactly


12/228

THROWING-STICKS. 285the same manner. These skin-dressers are from the area just south ofKotzebue Sound. The back of the Rodgers specimen.is ornamented inits lower half by means of grooves. In its upper half are'representedthe legs and feet of some animal carved ont in a graceful manner. Theindexfinger c a v i t ~ ? is central and is seen on the upper side by a verysligh t rectangular perforation, which, however, does not admit the extrusion of any part of the indexfinger. The upper surface is formed bytwo inclined planes meeting in the center. Along this central ridge isexcavated the groove for the spear-shaft, deep at its lower end andqnite running out at its upper extremity. The hook for the end of theharpoon-shaft in this specimen resembles that seen on the throwinl1;-sticks of the region south of Cape Vancouver. Thewhole execution ofthis specimen is so much superior to that of any other in the Museumand the material so different as to create the suspicion that it was madeby awhite man, with steel tools (Fig 8).

EASTERN SmERIAN TYPE.The National Museum has no throwingstick from this region, but

N ordenskjold figures one in the Voyage of Vega (p. 477, Fig. 5), whichis as simple as the one from Anderson River, excepting that the formerhas a hook of ivory, while tbfl latter has a mere excavation to receivethe cavity on the end of the weapon. Nordenskjold's birdspear accompauying the stick has a bulb or enlargement of the shaft at the pointoPpo!lite the handle of the throwing-stick, which is new to the collectionof the National Musenm. Indeed, a systematic stndy should now bemade of the Siberian throwingsticks to decide concerning the commercial relationships if not the consanguinities of the people of that region.

PORT CLARENCE AND CAPE NOME TYPE.The specimens from this area are more or less spatnlate in form, bntvery irregular, with the handle varying from that of the razor-strop to

the spiral, twisted form of the Eskimo skin-scraper (Fig. 9). On thewhole, these implements are qnite similar to the next group. A sectionacross the middle of the implement would be trapezoidal with incnrvedsides. In two of the specimens not figured these curved sides arebronght npward nntil they join the upper surface, making a gracefulornament. Tbe handles are not symmetrical, the sides for the thumbbeing tlhaved out so as to fit the mnscles conveniently. Places for thefingers are provided thus: There is an index-finger cavity quite throughthe stick indeed,.but the indexfinger catches in the interior of the woodand docs not pass through as in the eastern Arctic types. The middlefinger rests against an i\'ory or wooden peg. This is the first appearance of this feature. I t will be noted after this on all the throwingsticks as the most prominent feature nntil we come to Kadiak, bntthe Unalashkans do not use it on their throwingsticks. Oavities forthe tbree last finger tips are not always present, and the hooks at the


13/228

286 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.distal ends for the extremities ofthe weapons are very large plugs ofwood or ivory and have beveled edges rather than points for the ~ception of the butt end of the weapon to be thrown.

NORTON SOUND TYPES.These types extend from Cape Darby around to Cape Dyer, includ

ing part of Kaviagmut, the Mahlemut, the Unaligmut, and the Ekog-mutareaofDall, and extending up theYukoll River as far as theEskimo,who use this weapon. The characteristics are the same as those of thelast named area, excepting that in many specimens there are two fingerPegs instead of one, the first peg inclosing the middle finger, the secondthe ring-finger and the little finger (Figs. 10-13). A single specimencollected by Lu


14/228

THROWING-STICKS. 287the mainland opposite Nunivak (Fig. 17). In these three-peggedstick! the ringfinger and the little finger are inclosed together. Thisshonld be compared with Mr. Turner's Saint Michael specimen, in whichthe last three fingers are inclosed together (Fig. 14). I t remains to beseen and is worthy of investigation whether crossing a narrow channelwould add a peg to the throwing-stick. One of these Nunivak speci.mens is left-handed.

BRISTOL BAY TYPE.The throwingstick from Bristol Bay resembles in general character

istics those from Nunivak Island and Oape Vancouver. In outline ithas the shape of the broadsword. Its crosssection is bayonetshaped.It has no distinct handle beyond a slight projection from the end. Thethumbgroove is shallow and chamfered on the lower side to fit exactly.There is a long, continuous notch for the four fingers, inwhich the indexfinger and the middle finger are set off by pegs. There is a depression,more or less profound, to receive the tips of the fingers. The groovefor the harpoon or spear-shaft is at the lower extremity and runs outentirely near the index finA'er. The ivory plug at its lower extremityis beveled to reooive a notch in the eJ;ld of the spear or harpoon shaft(Figs. 18-19).A freshly-made implement. looking as i f cut out by machinery, re8(\mbling clol!lely those just described, is labeled Kadiak. The con,stant traffic between Bristol Bay and Kadiak, across the Alaskan peninsula, may account for the great similarity of these implements. Funthermore, since the natives in this region and southward have beenengaged for more than a century in fur-sealing for the whites, there isnot the slightest doubt that implements made by whites h3ve been introduced and slightly modified by the wearer to fit his hand.

KADI.A.K OR UNALASHKA. TYPE.In the National Museum are four throwingsticks, one of them left

handed, exactly alike-two ofthem marked Kadiak and two Unalashka(Figs. 20-22). They return to the more primitive type of the area fromKotzebne Sound to Greenland, indicating that the implement culminated in Norton Sound. In outline this southern form is thin andstraight-sided, and those in possession are all of'hard wood. The backis carved in ridges to fit the palm of the h a ~ d and muscles of the thumb.There is no thumb-groove, the eccentric index-finger hole of the Northern and Eastern Eskimo is present in place of the central cavity of thearea from Kotzebue Sound to Oape Vancouver, and there is a slightJrroove for the middle finger. Marks 5 and 6 are wanting. The shaftgroove is very slight, even at its lower extremity, and runs out in a fewinches toward the handle. The hook for the end of the weapon resembles that of Nunivak, but is more rounded at the point. Of the Eskimoof Prince William Sound, the extreme southern area of the Eskimo onthe Pacific, Captain Cook Bays, in the narrative of his last voyage:


15/228

288 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, last."Their longer darts are thrown by means of a piece of wood aboot afoot loog, with a small groo\-e in the middle which receives the dart.At the bottom is a hole for the reception of one finger, which enablesthem to grasp the piece of wood much firmer and to throw with greaterforce." Captain Cook't:; implement corresponds exactly to the specimens just described and renuers it probable that this thin, parallelsIded, shallow-grooved throwing.stick, with inucx-finger hole placedat one siue of the spear-shaft groove, extended all along the southernborder of Eskimoland as far as the Alents of Unalashka and Attoo.In aduition to the informatIOn furqished by the specimens in hand, Dr.Stejneger'describes a similar /Stick in use ill the island of Attoo. Onthe coutrary, Mr. Elliott assnres me that Aleutian fur-sealers of Priby-lov Island use throwing-sticks precisely similar to those of NortonSound and Nunivak.This list might be extended further by reference to authorities, botthat is from the purpose of this article and the series of ethnologicalpaperfJ commenced in this volume. The most perfect throwingstick ofall is that of the Mahlemut, in Norton Sound, in which are present thehandle, thumb-groo\-e, finger-grooves, and pegs, cavities for the fingertips, index finger cavity, shaft-groove, and hook for the harpoon. Inshort, all the charactetistics present on the rest ~ r e combined here.Ulassifications of these implements may be varied according to theorgan selected. As to the book for the attachment of the weapon, inGreenland this is on the shaft, in all other parts of the world it is on

the throwing-stick. As to the index finger, there is for its reception,from Point Barrow to Greenland, an eccentric hole quite through which,the finger passes. From Kotzebue Sound to Norton Sound there is acentral pocket on the back of the weapon, directly under the groove,for the shaft of the weapon to receive the inuex finger. From CapeVancouver to Bristol Bay un ivoQ' or wooden p e ~ serves this purpose.At Kadlak and Unalashka the e c < ~ e n t r i e inuex-finger hole returns.

I t is more than probable that further inveliltigation will destroy someof the t'ypes herein enumerated or merge two more of them into one;but it will not destroy the fact that in changing from one environmentto another the hyperboreans were driven to modify their throwing-stick.A still more interesting inquiry is that concerning tho origin of theimplement. It is haruly to be supposed that the simplest type, that ofAnderson River, was invented at once in i ts present form, for the Australian form is ruder still, having neither bole for the index finger norgroove for the weapon slJaft. When we recall that the chief benefitconferred by the throwing-Iiltick is the ability to grasp firmly aud launchtruly a greasy weapon from a cold hand, we n a t u r a l l ~ ' ask, have theEsldmo a n ~ ' other device for tbe same purpose' 'fhey have. On theshaft of the light-seal harpoon, thrown withont the stick, and on theheavy, ivory-weighteu walrus harpoon-shaft an ivory handrest is lashedjust behind the center of gravity. This little object is often b e a u t i f u l l ~ '


16/228

THROWING-STICKS. 289canoed and prevents effectually the hand from slipping on the shaft,even witJl the greatest lunge of the hunter. From this object to thethrowingstick the way may be long and crooked, or tbere may be noway at all. So far as the Nation1l1 Museum is concerned there is nothing to ~ i d e us over this waste of ignorance.

THROWINGSTIOKS IN THE U. S. NA'l'IONAL MUSEUM.

lITo. Loc.,llly. I Collector.1

IZllIIS lITorton'aSound,Alaska ~ . ~ ~ . ~ . = . = ] E . W . N e l a o ~ - - -300111 Cnmberland Gulf I w. A. Mint.ner, U. S. N.lIIIlM2 Norton's Sonnd, AI""kll E. W. Nelson.lIlIlI87 . 110.... .. Do.lI39lIO do , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Do.:u:l38 SaInt Micbael's Sound, Alaska.. . . . . . Lnelen M. Tnmer.24337 do , . . . . . . . . . . . Do.24338 do " . . . . . Do.4CI052 Pori Clarence, Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W. H. Dall.4GO/iIl do Do.4l1Ol1l1 Raabonlsky, L. yukon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. W. Nelson.8il8f1l Yukon River.. . . . . Do.llI!e05 do .. Do.llIiOI4 Kuebunuk, Sabotnisky, Alaska. . . . . . . . . . . . . Do._18 Knsknnuk, Alaska Do.:= . ~ . ~ ~ ~ i a ~ : : . : ' : l ~ . k ~ . : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : . ~'1lI327 T.'nalaahka... . Catlin.22111 Anderson River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . R KlOunlcott.lI0461 Ugaebak WiIli"mJ. Fisher.~ Cape Nome, A1. .ka E. W. Nelson.'1'25111 : COOk's Inlet . Willlnm J. Fisher.18242, Nnni k Island, Alaska W. H. Dall.18288 I do Do.1412C1 , llolaleinberg, Greeuland . . . . George Mereha.nt, Jr .121181 IUnalubb . . . . 1 w. H. Dall.8IlOO1 Point Barrow, Alaska.. . . . . .. Licnt. 1'. H. Ray.38lIIlI i Chalitmut E. W. Nelson.2t3a5 , Saint Michael's, Norton's Sound, Alllskll I,Delen M.1'umer.33lI14 I do ' E. ,V. Noison.1m 1 Kadlalt Island, Alaska .. : Dr. T. '1'. Minor, U. So R. M.3lIUIlI . Sabolnl.k .., Alaskl l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . E. W. Nelson.72l1lI8 I Bristol Bal,' Ala8kll Chari"" L. }oleKsy.JlJ244 I Nonlvak s\nnd, Alaska I w. II . Dall.]\3441 Brilltol Bay, Alll8ka Vincent Col;rer,16285

1

Kotzebue Sound, Alaska.. . .. . . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . i E. I' . Ilc .....ndon.J6lKl Nunivak, Alll8ka W. II . Hall.IlJ217 do I Do.18Zll1 '" do . . . . .. .' . Df).18U761 Unnlashka, Aleutlnn Island. Sylvanus Bailey.Ui! : ~ ~ : i ! r : ~ ~ ~ : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :::::::: :::::::::::::::::::::: 'V. H ~ t l l .= : : : : : : : ~ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~

S. Mis. 33, pt. 2-19


17/228

PLATE I.(MaaoD. Throwingsticka.)

FIG. 1. E8kimo launchiug a sool harpoon by meaD8 of the throwing-8tica Mr. John.Murdoch statu8 that lbe band is held lIIuch lower by tho Point BarrowEskimo, the barpoon re8ting lUI low lUI the 8houlder, and that the movement of throwing the harpoon is quick, a8 in cll.IIting a lly in fishing.


18/228

Report Nllt. MUll. i864.-MaaoD. Tlirowing.8tioka. PLATE L

D t j ,Coogle


19/228

PLATE n.(Haaon. Throwing-.ticka.)

FlO. 2. Greenland typo of throwing-stick. Tho specific characteristics are th e broadform i th e scanty grooves for t hu mb a nd fingers; the absence o f pegs, separate finger gTQoves, or index perforation j but tb e most noteworthy are th etw o grommets or eyelets to fit ivory pegs on the harpoonsbaft. The pecnliar method of strengthening the ends with ivory pieces should al80 be noted.From Hoisteinbnrg, Greenland, 1884. Catalogne number, 74126.


20/228

Report Nat. 11111. 1S8'.-Huon. 'DhrowingltlckL PLATE n

FIG. 2. Greenland throwing-Btick, back and front.

Googk


21/228

PLATE III. (MallOn. Tbrowtngstlcka.)

FIG. 3. Ungava type of throwing-stick. The specific marks are t he g en er al oulline,especially thll fiddlo-bend ornament a t th e bott.om j the bend u p wa rd a tth e lower extremity, th e eccentric perforation for tile index finger, an d th egroove for throe fingers. Collected at Ungava, by Lncien M. Turner, 1884.MUlI6um nnmber, 76700.


22/228

Report Nat. Vas. 1884.-MMon. ThtowiDg-Iticu. PLA'l'11 m.

FIG. 3. Ungava throwinistick. front and back.


23/228

PLATE IV.(M.uoo. Throwloi-aUakL)

FIG. 4. Cumberland Gnlf tyPA of throwing-s ti ck . The 8pecific mark8 are the broadclum8y form, the separate proviRion for the thumb and each finger, thebent lower extremity, and the broad furrow for the binl-8pear. Accideutnlmarks nro the mending of the lmndlll, tho materi al of tho stiok, and thecanine tooth for the spur at the bottom of the 8quare groove. Collectedin Cumberland Gulf, by W. A. Mintzer, in 1!:l76. Musenm number, 30013.


24/228

Report Nat. Mila. l ~ . - M 8 0 8 0 D . ThrowIDjt-aticka. PLATE IV.

I , ' (' ,

II \I!: "

FIG. 4. Cumberland GulffbrowinIC-stick, back and front.


25/228

PLATE V.(KIllIOn. Throwing-eUcka.)

FIG. 5. Anderson River type. The specific marks are the extreme plainneu of form,the lack of accommodations for the thuwb and fiugers, excepting the eccen-tric index-finger hole, the poor groove for the harpoon-shaft, and the absence of a hook or spur at the bottom of this groove. The accidental marksare cuts running diagonally acrou the back. Iu another specimenseen fromthe same locality tho shaft groove is squared after the manner of the Cum-berland Gulf type. Collected at the mouth of Auderson River, by R. Ken-nicott, in 1866. Museum number, 2'267.

FIG. G. Point Barrow type. Thespeciflc marks are the distinct handle without fingergrooves, the very eccentric index-finger hole, the method of inserting thespur for the shaft, and the harpoon. shaft groove very shallow above anddeep below. In the specimeus shown by Mr. Murdoch there is great uni-formityof IIhape. Collected at Point Barrow, by Lieut. P. H. Ray, in 1883.MU8IIuw number, 89902.


26/228

Report Nat. Mus. IB&i.-MallOn. Throwing-sticka.PLATE V.

"j

Ii

FIG. G. An!lerRon River t.hrowing-stick, front and back.FIG. 6. Point Burrow throwing-stick, frunt and back.


27/228

PLATE VI.(llAlOD. ThrowiDg.atlcKL)

FIo.7. Kotzebue"Sound type. The specific marks are the twisted handle, the broadshallow shaft grooV(\, nnel, notably, the pocket for the indexfinger t ipvisible on the lower side, but nearly absent from the npper side, aud lyingdirectly under the shaft groove. In the examples beforenoted all the holesfor the index finger are to one !.Iide of this shaft groovo. Collected in Kotzebue Sound, by E. P. Herendeen, in 1874. MU'leum number, 16235.FIo. 8. The Rodgers type, 80 called becaulle the locality is doubtful. In specific characters it reM'mbles Fig. 7. The differences are thc three cavities for fingert ips in the handll', the shaft groove very shallow and running out beforereachfng the index-finger cavity, and the delicate hook for tho spear shaftresembling those farther 8Outh. Since writing this paper two throwing sticks from Sitka have been seen in manyre81lects resembliugthisform, butcovered all over their surfaces with characteristic Thlinkit mythologicalfigurell, and haviug iron hooks at the lower end of tho shaft groove. Collected by Commodore John Rodgers, in 181>7. Museum number, 2533.


28/228

, . :Bepon Nat. MUll. 1ll84.-MasoD. ThrowiDll-8UCU. PLATE VL

8

I I I:;1 1 \ , I, i\ ,I

ii"1,1 I ,rII I ,

It

FIG. 7. Kotzebue Sound tbrowing-tltick, front aod back.FIG. 8. The Commodore Rodgers throwing-stick, front and back.

Conglc


29/228

PUTB m.

FIa. 9. T he P or t Clarence an d Cape Nome type. Th e notable ohuacterilltice IK'8 theoccurrence of an ivory peg in the handle for the middle finger, the v e r y8JIlall sise of the handle, and th e central index-finger pocket central in p o -sition ! tu t q ni te pieroing th e stiok. Colleoted by E. W. Nelson, a t C a p eNome, in 1880. )luseUJU number, 4439'.l.


30/228

Report Nat. MIlA. 1884.-ll.-oll. Thrmrinll-atlcb. PLATE vn.

,

Flo. 9. Port Clarence and Cape Nome tbrowing-8tick, front and back.


31/228

PLATE VIII.(l(uon. Throwlng-etlob.1

FIo. 10. Norton Bouud type, Bingle-pegged variety. Except in the better finish, thistype :reeembles the one last described. Collected by L. M. Turner, at SaintMiohael'alBland, iu 1876. Museum number, 24338


32/228

:Report Nat. :Mus. 113B4.-:MasOD. TbrowlDjl.tick. PLATB vm.

Fig. 10. Norton Sound throwing-stick, front and baek.


33/228

PLATE IX.(ll_ Throwing. .tlob.)

FIG. 11. Norton Bound type, two-pegged variety. In all respects, excepting thennmber of pegs, this resembles Figs. 9 and 10. In all of them the peg atthe bottom of the groove is very clumsy. Collected in Norton Souud, byE. W. Nelson, in 1878. Museum lIumber, 32995.FIG. 12. Throwing.stick from Sabotnisky, on the Lower Yukon. I t belongs to theNorton Sound type. The cavity c.n the upper side of the handle for thefinger.tips is remarkable for the carving of a bird resembling flgnrea _non obJeets made by the Western Indian8 of the United States. Collectedby E. W. Ne1llon, at 8abotni8ky, in 1879. MIl88UID number, 36013.


34/228

Report Nat. Mua. lRM.-Mnaon. Throwing.atlcka. PLATE IX.

12

11

FIG. 11. Norton Sound throwing.stick, front and back.FIG. 12. Sabotniskr throwing-stick, front and back.


35/228

PLATE X.(MlUlOn. Throwing-sticka.)

FIo. 13. Specimen from Yukon River, belonging to t.he Northern Sound one-peggf"lvariety. Collected by E. \V. Nehion, in 1879. Museum number, 38849.


36/228

Report Nat. lIus. lSM.-lIason. Throwlngsticks. PLATE X.

1/

FIG. 13. Yukou River throwing-slick, front and lJack.


37/228

PLATE XI.(liMOn. Tbl'Owlngstlcka.1

FIo. 14. Throwinjtstick from Saint Michael's. This speciml"n is v e r ~ ' noteworthy QDaccount of tho absence of tbe indcx.finglr pockl't , n mark charncteri8ticof the Vancollvl'r type, Fig. I i . If the middle p('g of the Vancouver ex-ample were r('Ulove


38/228

Report Nat. M11lI. 188!.-Mason. Throwlngetlcb. PLA'1'Il x t

FIG. 14. Saint Michael's throwing-at.ick, front and back.


39/228

PLATE xn.(lIUOD. Thro'lriDg-Sticb.)

FIo. 15. Nunivak type. The characteristic marks arc the absence of any cavity forthe Index finger, the nicely-fitting handle, the disposition of the fingerpegs, and the delicate point on the ivory spur at the bottom of the lIhaftgroove. Collected by W. H. DaH, at Nunivak Island, in 1874. Mnseumnumber, 16239. (Thia specimen I.e left-handed.)


40/228

Report NAt. MUM. l ~ . - : M " ' O n . ThrewingAtlrk8. PLA'rB XlI.

FIG. 15. Nunivak Island throwing-stick, front and back, left-handed.


41/228

PLATE XIII.(Huon. Throwing.ticks.)

FIG. 16. Speclmcn from Nllulvak, right-handed. The cUt8 on the f ront and back arenoteworthy. Collectell by W. H. DaH, at Nuuh-ak 181aud, in 1 8 7 ~ . Mn&eum number, 16z.J8.


42/228

Report Nat. Mol. 1 8 8 4 . - ~ [ ~ " " n . TbrowinKatlcka. PLATE XIlL

FIG. 16. Nnnh'ak I8laJ1(l t h r o w i n g - ~ t . i c k , fr4lDt and back.


43/228

PLATE XIV.(Muon. ThrowlDgltlcka.)

FIo. 17. Specimen from Cape Vancouver. In all respects it is like those ofNunivak,excepting a peg-rest for the little finger. Collected by E. W. Nelaon, atCape Vancouver, in 1879. MU!lenm number, 38669.


44/228

:Report Nat . MM. 18M.-:\IasoD. Thro....ingsllcks. PLATE XIV.

FIG. 17. Cape Vancouver throwing-stick, front and back.


45/228

PLATE XV.

FIGS. 1B,19. Brlatol Bay type. In no ll88ential characte1"8 do these 8ticks differ fromthose of Nnnivak. T he ha ndle i8 smaller, Bnd t he y a pp ea r to havebeen madewith 8teel tools. Fig. 18 colll'cted hyCo L. McKay, a t BrilltolBay,.AIBllka, in 1883. MUllel1m nnmher,72398. Fig. 19 collected byWilliam J . Fieber, a t Kadiak, in 1881. MlllIeum number, 90467.


46/228

Report Nat. Mua. 1884.-MaaoD. ThrowiDll-atlcb. PLATIJ XV.

IIII III

18

FIo. 18. Bristol Bay throwing-stick, front and back.FlO. 19. Bristol Bay throwing-stick, front and back.

Conglc


47/228

PLATE XVI.(MlUIOn. Throwing-aUckL)

FIG. 20. UnalBllhkan throwing-stick. I t would be better to call this form theSouthern type. The noticeable featnres in all onr specimeos are theparallel sides, the hanl material, thinness, the carving for tho fingers, bntabove al l the reappearance of tho eccentric ca\'ity for the index finger.This cavity is not a great perforation, liS in the Point Barrow type, bnt aneccentric pOllket, a compromise between the Northern cavity and that ofthe East. Collected by Sylvanus Bailey, at Unalashka., in 1874. MU86UIDDumber, 16076.


48/228

Report Nat. HUll. 18114.-Haaon. Throwing.Bticka. PLATE XVI.

Flo. 20. Unaluhltl6D throwing-stick, front and back.


49/228

PLATE XVII.(Kaaon. ThrowiDe. .Ucb.)

FIGB. 21, 22. Tbrowinlt-sticks of the Southern type. Fig. 21 is left-handed, collectedby Dr. T. T. Minor, at Kadiak, in 1869. Museum number, 7933. Fig.2'..l collected by W. H. DaH, at. Unalaahka, in 18iJ. Museum number,12981. At Sitka two specimens were collected, unfortunately not figured, with the following characters laid down in the beginning of thispaper: 1. Short, very narrow and deep, and carved all over with devices. 2. No hllUdle distinct from the body. 3,4.5,6. All wanting.7. The index-finger cavity i.e near the center of the back, very like athimble. Indeed this is a vel) ' striking feature. 8. The shllft grooveoccupies only the lower half of the upper snrface. 9. The spur for theend of the weapon shaft i.e a long piece of iron like a knife-blade driveninto the wood, with the edge toward the weapon shaft.


50/228

Re p o r \ Xat. Mue. I l l M .- Huon. Throwlne-8UOu. PLATE xvn

2122

FIG. 21. Kadiak throwing-stICk, f ro nt a nd back, le ft ha nded.FlO. 22. Unalashkan throwing-stick, f ron t a nd b ac k.


51/228

291

II.-BASKET-WORK OF THE NORTH AMERICAN ABORIGINES.By OTIs T. MAsON.

" Barbara de pictill veni baaoollda BritaDnis,Sed me jam mavult dicere Roma SI1I1U1."-MARTIAL, xiv, 99.

The study of the minutest. technique in the distribution of aboriginalarts is very necessary in making lip our opinions 011 questions of Anthropology. The archreologist is f r e q u e n t l ~ ' caused to halt in the reconstruction of ancient society-by his ignorance of the artK of the savages around him. This is especially true of an art which had its cuImination in 8avagery or barbarism, and which began to decline a.t thetouch of civilization, or at least to give place to higher types of the sameart. For the discussions of problems that have arisen ill the past thedata then in hand have been sufficient; but as the investigations ofsocial progress become more intricate the demallds for greater detail inthe observation of anthropological phenomena. around us is imperative.I have lately had occasion to examine all the ba8kets in the NationalMuseum, and the results of this research may 1I0t be uninteresting asa contribution to exact technology in an art which ma.y be calico parexcellence a savage art .In a basket there are several characteristics to be observed, whichwill enable ns to make a classification of the objects themselves and torefer them to their several tribal manufacturers. These characteristicR

are the material, the jrame-work, the methods of weaving, tlle coiling or,ewing, the decoration, their use, &c.The tool almost universally used in their manufacture is a bone awl

or pricker and the makers are the women. Of the manipulation of thematerial previously to the weaving little is known.In the drawings accompanying this paper the actual size of the specimens is indicated by a series of inch marks in the margin. The incheson the standard line are shown by spaces between dots. In order toindicate exactly the manner of weaving, a square, usually an illch indimension, is taken from a portion of the surface wherein all the methods of manipulation occnr. This square inch is enlarged sufficiently tomake the structure comprehensible. This plan enables us to show form

and ornamentation in the whole figure as well as the method of treatment in the enlarged illch.


52/228

292 REPORT O}O' NATIONAL MOSEUM, 1884.ALEUTIAN ISLANDS.

Mr. William II. Dall has contr ibuted to tbe National Museum a largenumber ofAleut ~ r u s s wallets, conoidal in form when filled (Fig. 1). Thewurp is of coarse stl'HW8, l 'luliating from tIle center of the bottom. Thl\covering or woof is made by plaiting 01 ' twisting two straws in a coil ortwine, crossing thelll between each pair of warp straws. I t is as if atwine of two strands had a straw or 0 8 i ~ r passed down through everyhalf tUI'll (Fig. 2). This plait 01 ' twine nHLy be driven close llOmo so asto be absolutely water-tigbt, or the weav('r may leave spaces from onetwine to the next wide l'nough to make a net. A very pretty effect isproduced by these Aleutian hasket-weavers by splitting. the wll,rpstraws aUll twining woof straws around two of the half straws. joining1 by 2, :3 by 4, 5 by u, at one round, and the Jlext twine inclosing 0 by1, 2 by 4 by 5, and so on. This produces a series of lozenge openings (Fig. 2). TIle split warp strands are often crossed to form X-shaped openings, or carried 8traight so as to produce parallelograms.I have obser\"eu the !'>ame dl'ect in Perm'ian IllUtIllll.Y cloth, but a greatervariety of network is there produced by ~ L l t e I ' l l a t i n g the rectangular andlozengo meshes ill hantls varyiug in whltb.In the "Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge," No. 318, plate 7,

Mr. Dall figures a1ll1 descrilJe:i the matting of tbe Aleutian Islandersfound in the caves iu the Catherina Archipelago.The method of manipulation in tbe matting is tbe same as that just

described for t,he basketry of the Aleuts, amI the delicacy of workmanship is most admirable. This method of weaving by means of twiningtwo woof strands around a sl'ries of warp strands occurs iiI many plaees,and will hereafter in this paper receive the name of "twined basketry."In a covercu basl.et made of :split ba,mboo from the Malabar coast the

fastening oU' at the top of the basket and the weaving of the cover ha\ 'ca three-strandeu twiue. At e\'ery tIJird of a turn the RpUnt that is in-ward is hookel} or passed behind the warp splint at tlmt point. Thisproduces a YeQ" slllooth eUect on the insille alJ(1 a rough surface witllOut.The llIats of the Aleuts are made of tbe fiber of the Elymus treated

as hemp. The ornamentation on tbe outside of the mats and basketsis formeu by embroidering on the surface with strips M the straw instead of tbe macerated fiber whicb forms the body of the fabric. The

e m l J r o i d e r ~ ' stitches in these, as in most sa\ 'age basketry, does not alwayspass through the fabric, but are more frequently whipped on, the stitcIJes}lassing alway!'> between the two woof strands, as in aresene embroidery,showing only on the outside. Mr. Dall justly praises the marvelousnicety of tIJis Aleutian gra5s-weaving, both in mats and basketry.There is no Chinese or Japanese basket in the NlLtionall\Iusenm show

ing this piaitcli weft. The grass of these Aleutian wallets is exceed.. E1Ylllus mollis, Sitka, Nort.on SOllud, Kotzebull SOUIlIl; E. art"llllriUJI.Norton Sound,

to Poin t Barrow; E. Sibiricl/s, Sitka. (See Rot,hrock, Srnitb80nian Report, 1867.)


53/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORK. 293ingly fine, the plaiting done with exquisite care, the stitches being oftenas fine as 20 to the inch, amI frequently bits of colored wor8teu are embroidered arouml tIle upper portion, giving a pleasing eftect. The borders are braided in open work f!'Om the ends left in the weaving, asfollows (Fig. 1):

At some point on the border, when the solid part of the wallet isfinished, the weaver bends two warp strands in opposite directions andgives each a twist with its next neighhoI'. These two are braided withthe next warp thread; these three with the next. Now, start at aproper distance frOID the first point of departure and braid both ways,as before. These braids will meet and form a set of scallops aroundthe edge, fastened at the ends and loose in tbe middle. Also, at theapex of each scallop will be a lot of warp straws, braided indeed at thebase but loose for any required length. 'rhe weaver commences withany set of these to make a four-ply braid, catching np the next set andbraiding them in as she went along, and fastening off a set as each newset is taken up. The upper border is thus a continuous braid, connected at regular intervals with the apices of tbe braided sca))ops.'When the braider reaches ller starting point she catches one braid into3nother, in a rather clumsy manner, and continues to braid a long fourply str ing , which, carried in and out the scallops, forms a drawingstring.ALASKAN ESKIMO.-Two tspes of baskets are found in close proximity in the neighborhootl of Norton Sound-the twined and the coiled.In the former (Fig. 3) the treatment is precisely the same a.s in thoseof Alentian Islands, but tll'e B15kimo wallet is of coarser material andthe plaiting is a little more rudely done.

The bask!.-try of this type, however, is very strong, and useful forbolding food, weaIlons, implements of all Idnds, and various other articles. 'Vhen not in use, the wallets can be folded up iuto a small spacelike a grocer's paper bag (Fig. 3). In the bottoms of the wallets of thisclass the weft is very open, leaving spaces at least one-balf inch wideuncovered. The borden; are produced by braiding four strands of seagrass into the extremities of the warp strands.

Ornamentation is produced hy darning or whippiug 011e or more rowsof colored grass after the !JOlly is formed-not necessarily after thewhole basket is completed, for each row of whipping may be pnt onjust after the row of coil on whidl it is based (Fig. 4). Another planof attaching the ornamentation is very ingenious but not uncommoll.Two strands of colored straw or grass are twined jnst as in the body ofthe basket , and at every half turn one of the strands is hooked under 11stitch ou the body of the basket by a kind of aresene work. This ornament has a bold relief effect on the outsille and is not seen at all onthe inside.

The coiled variety of tile Eskimo basketry, mentioned above (Fig. 5),consists of a uniform hunch of grass sf'\,\,('(l in a continuous coil by awhip stitch over the bunch of grass and through just a few bits of grass


54/228

294 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.in the coil just beneath, the sti tch looping under a stitch of the lowercoil. When this work is carefully done, as among the Indians of NewMexico, Arizona, and California, and in some exqnisite examples inbamboo from Siam and in palm-leaf from Nubia, the mOi!'t beautiful results are reached; but the Eskimo basket-maker does not prepare hercoils evenly, sews carelessly, passing the threads sometimes thronghthe stitches just below and sometimes ootween them, and does not workher stitches home tFig. 6). Most of these baskets iu the collection ofE. W. Nelson have a round bit ofleathel' in the bottom to start npon(Fig. 5, b). The shape is either that of the uncovered bandbox or ofthe ginger-jar. Especial attention should be paid to this form of stitching, as it occurR again in widely-distant regions in a great variety ofmaterial and with modifications producing striking effects.The association of this coiled form of basketmaking with the markBon the most primitive types of pottery-making has been frequentlynoticed by archmologists. I t is also well known that the modern savages of our Southwest build np their pottery in this manner, either allow

ing the coils to remain or carefully obliterating them by rubbing, firstwith a wet paddle of wood, and afterwards, when the vessel is dry, witha very fine-grained stone.The Eskimo women employ in basket-making a needle made of a birdbone ground to a point on a stone (Fig.1(0). Fine tufts of reindeer hair,taken from between the hoofs, are extensively used in ornamentation,especially in the Aleutian area.

TINNE INDIANS.A few specimens of basketry from the vast Athapasean area contiguous to the Eskimo belong to the coiled type (Fig. 7). Instead of abunch of grass, however, a rod of willow or spruce' root is eanied.

around in a coil and whipped on with a continuous splint of similarmaterial (Fig. 8). The stitches of the coil in process of formation,passing regularly between those just below and locking into them,alternate with them and give a somewhat twilled effect to the surface(Fig. 8). I f now a strip of bast or grass be laid on the top of the osieror spruce root coil and carried arouud with it, and the sewing pass always over these two and down between the bast and the osier of thecoil below, a much closer ribbed effect will be produced. Severalspecimens of this kind of coiled basketry, in which a strip of toughmaterial is laid on top of the coiled osier, were collected at the mouthof the Mackenzie River by McFarlane and Ross, and Mr. Murdoch liasshown me a basket similarly wrought, from Point Barrow, which hethinks many have been obtained by barter from the Tinn6 Indians inthe vicinity. The ornamentation on one specimen of this type is very

-Tbe working of this s ti tch is described and fignred by Panl Schumacher in XIIReport of Peabody Museum, p. ;,24: the coils are lIot, however, interlocked in all c88ClIithat is, if tho fOllnuation rous wero plllleu out tho stitches would separate and thewhole stmcture come apart in some cases.


55/228

ABORIGINAL BA8IGlT-WORK. 295curious and elaborate (Fig. 9). The basket-maker had a number oflittle loops of bark and quill of different color prepared, and every timea stitch WM about to be taken the lower end of one of these loops wascaught over the splint thread and held down. The next stitch fastened lhe two ends ofthe loops home (that is, each stiooh caught the lowerpart of a new loop and fastened down both ends of the preceding oneafter it had been doubled back), giving a series of imbrications (Fig. 10).On this specimen are between 3,000 and 4,000 separate loops sewed.This is one of the most striking examples of savage patience and skill,and most have occupied in its construction many hours of a renownedartist.Mr. Jones tells us, in the Smithsonian Report (1856, p. 323), that theHong Kutchin Indians, who live on the headwaters of the Yukon River,make basket-kettles of tamarack roots woven very neatly and ornamented with hair and dyed porcupine quills. The water is boiled bymeans of hot stones thrown in. For dyeing the roots and quills theyuse berries and a kind of grass growing in the swamps.

In looking at these coiled baskets, standing geographically so far removed flOm the Apache and Navajo country, one is reminded that themigration which separated these branohes of a great stock may havebeen northward and not southward, and that the Tinn6 may havecarried with.them the art ofmaking coiled baskets learned in a regionwhere its beauty culminates.

CHILKAHT INDIANS.The basket work of these Indians is superb. Everyone who seesit is struck with its perfection of workmanship, shape, and ornamentation. All the specimens of the National Museum collection are of

the bandbox shape; but they can be doubled up flat like a grocer'sbag (Fig. 11). The material is the young and tough root of the spruce,split, and used either in the native color or dyed brown or black.The structure belongs to the twined or plaited type before mentioned,and there is such uniformity and delicacy in the warp and woof that awatertight vessel is produced with very thin walls. In size the walletsvary from a diminutive trinket basket to a capacity of more than abushel. All sorts of lovely designs in bands, crosses, rhombs, chevrons, triangles, and grecques are produced thus: First, the bottom iswoven plain in the color of the material. Then in the building up ofthe basket bands of plain color, red and black, are woven into thestructure, having the same color on both sides. Afterwards littlesquares 01 ' other plain figures are sewed on in aresene, that' is, onlyhalf way through, giving the most varied effect on the outside, whilethe in8ide showR only the plain colors and the red and black bands.The wild wheat straws are used in this second operation, whipped overand over along the outer threads of the underlying woof, or two strawsare twined around in the manner explained above (page 293, bottom).


56/228

296 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.No more attractive form amI ornamentation of basketry are to beseen than tlJOse produced by tlle Indians of tllis Thlinket stock extend

ing from Mount Saint Elias to Queeu Charlotte Archipelago, inclndingSitka.BAIDA INDIANS.

These Indians live on Queen Gharlotte Archipelago and adjacentislands. Their basket work differs in form from that of the Chilkahts,or Thlinkets, owing luobably to the demands of trade; but the twinedmethod is followed (Fig. 12) and the ornamentation is produced in asimilar manner. The quality of the ware, however, is a little degenerated and more gaudy (Fig. 15). The Baidas are very skillful in imitating all sorts of chinaware in basketry, such as teapots, sugar bowls,toilet articles, table mats, bottles, and hats. They also introduce cur\""edlines and spirals with good effect. The basketry hats of spruce roots,the most striking of tlleir original designs, are made by the twiningprocess (Fig. 14). The crown is twined weaving of the most regularworkmanship and the fabric is perfectly water-tight when thoroughlSwet (Fig. 15). An element of ornamentation is introduced into the brimsby whieh a series of diamond patterns cover the wllole surface (Fig. 16).This decoration is produced thus: Beginning at a certain point theweaver includes two warp strands in a half twist, instead of oue; thenmakes two regular twists around single-warp strands. The n ~ x t timeshe comes around she repeats the process, but her double stitch is one inadvance of or behind its predecessor. A twilled effect of any shapemay be thus produced, and rhombs, triangulated fillets, and chevronsmade to appear on either surface.

The" fastening off" of the work is done either by bending down thefree ends of the warp and shoving tllem out of sight under tlle stitcheSof the twisted web, or a braid of four strands forms the last row (Fig.16), set on so that the whole braid shows outsidQ and only one row ofstra.nds shows inside. The ends of the warp splints are then croppedclose to the braid. This appearance of the entire fonr-stranded braidon the external surface is produced by passing each of the four strandsalternately behind one of t l H ~ warp sticks as tlle braiding is being done(Fig. 16). (Compare this with what was previonsly said about the basket from the :Malabar coast, page 292.)Special attention should be paid to the painted ornamentation onthese hats (Figs. 14 and 15) showing head, wings, feet, and tail of theduck, laid on in black and red in the conventional manDer of ornamentation in v;ogue among the Baidas and used in the reproduction of theirvarious totems on all of their houses, wood and slate carvings, and theornamentation of their implements.-

"A very interesting instance of snrviva l is to he seen in the rag carpets of theseIndians. The missionaries have tanght the womcn to saVII np tlleir rags and tilcover their floors with pretty mats. T h c ~ - are a llowed to weave them ill thciro\mWII.), huweYer, arid the result is a mat coustructell ou the ancient twincd model, preciBelyas the weaving is done on the mats and hats.


57/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORK. 297The method of manufacture of Baida twined basketry is shown byMr. J. G. Swan in a specimen collected expressly for the NationalMuseum (Figs. 17-19). Mr. S\yan says, "This Rt,}'le of making bas

kets differs from that of Cape Flattery. There the women sit 011 theground and weave baskets and mats, both of which rest on the ground."With the Baidas the mats are sURpended on a frame and the basketssupported on a stick as in Fig. 17. The black color of the spruce root

used in making ornamental patterns is prodnced by soaking it in themud. Fig. 18 shows the bottom of the basket made by tbe twiningprocess. The border of the bottom is marked off by a row of doubleweaving or a twine built outside the body of tbe basket just as in theEskimo basket before described (page 293). A section of the structureis shown in Fig. 19 where the border ends.

BILHOOLAS, ETO.Along the coast of British Columbia tbe great cedar (Thllja gigantea)grows in the greatest abundance, and its bast furnishes a textile rna

terial of the greatest value. Here in tbe use of this pliable materialtbe savages seem for the first time to have thought of checker,wl.'aving(Fig. 20). Numerous mats, wallets, and rectangular baskets are produced by tbe plainest crossing of alternate strands varying in widthfrom a millimeter to an inch (Fig. 21). Ornamentation is effectl.'dboth by introducing different-colored strands and by varying the widthof the warp or the woof threods. In several examples the bottom ofthe bo.sket is bordered with one or more lines of the twined or plaitedstyle of w e a v i n ~ , to give greater stability to the form. Cedar mats of.great size and made with the greatest care enter as extensively intothe daily life of the Indians of this vicinity a.s do the bnffalo robes intothat of the Dakota Indians. They may be seen upon the floors, sleeping berths, before the doors of' the bouses, and tbey are also used assails for their boats and wrapped around the dead.

I t is not astonishing that a material so easily worked should bavefound its way so extensively in tbe industries of this stock of Indians.Neither should we wonder that the checker pattern in weaving shouldfirst appear on the west coast among the only peoples possessing a material eminently adapted to thill form of manipulation. I t is only another example of that beautiful harmonybetween man and nature whichdeligbts the anthropologillt at every step of his journey.

MAKAHS AND CHIHALIS.We are now introduced to still another style of basketry, very primi

tive but capable of very delicate treatmcnt. I do not know of its ex-istence outside of the Nutka stock living on the southwest side ofVancouver Island and on the northwc8t corner of Washington Territory, except ill two cases, to be presently mentioned. I t may be calledthe "fish-trap style," since withont donbt the finer basketry is the


58/228

298 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.lineal descendant of the rude wicker fish trap. Imagine a number ofstakes driven into the ground pretty close together. A horizontal poleis laid against tbem in the rear, and by the wrappings of a withearound the pole and each upright stake diagonally on the outside andvertically on the inside, a spiral fastening is produced (Fig. 23). Thisstitch crosses the two fundamentals in front at an angle and the horizontal framepiece in the rellr at right angles, or vice verBa, and thelacing may always run in the same direction, or the alternate rows oflacing may ron in opposite directions, as in Fig. 23. As a matter offact, in soft and pliable material this operation constantly pushes theuprights forward a little, giving to the fabric an appearance of theback of a watch (Figs. 24-26). .The Clallam Indians of the Selish stock make a carrying basket in

this manner (Figs. 22, 23), the frame (warp and woof) sticks being abontoneeighth inch in diameter, lashed in place with split ozier or root.The Japanese also make a fishtrap similarly, with the exception thatthe coiled splint passes alternatE'ly backward and forward, so that i f thehorizontal were pulled out the fabric would tumble to pieces. The oblong oval shields of bamboo, made by tbe Bateke negroes of the LowerCongo, imitate this structure exactly. The frame of the shield is anoblong hoop on which are stretched splints of rattan, running longitudinally on one side and transversely on the other, crossing at right anglesexcept at the planoconvex space at the ends. Splints of bamboo, abontoneeighth inch wide, are woven into these cross strands precisely afterthe manner of the Makah basketry, the consequence being a series ofsquare stitches on the back and diagonal stitches on the front, closelyfitting, and coving the surface completely. Now, if the framewere cedarbark threads abont the size of pack threads, and the lashing of whiteseagrass, we would have the Makab basket (Figs. 24-26). I t takesthree seta of threads (Fig. 25), the radiated warp, the coiled woof, andthe spiral.binding thread, to finish tbe compound. No other area isknown to the writer where tbis peculiar pattern is wrought into delicate fabrics. The Makahs belong to the Nutka stock, most of which areon the southwest shore of Vancouver Island, including the greatgl'Onpof Aht tribes. No Aht basketry is in the Museum, but it would be extremely interesting to trace this unique method of basket-weavingamong all the tribes of the stock. Bauds of serrate patterns are produced in color by using different wrapping threads, the principal onebeing W-ass dyed black in mud.There is one specimen of the cedarbark mat from Vancouver Islandin which the shreded bark which scrves for warp is fastened at intervals of about an inch by a chainstitch instead of the twine. This musthave been a modern innoyation; at least there is not another evidencein this collection of sava,ge acquaintanee with the chainstitch.The Clallams, adjoining the Makalis, but of the SeHsh or Flatheadstock, in addition to the fish trap or bower style, are the first going


59/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORL 299southward to produce a twilled pattern over the entire surface of thevessel (Figs. 27, 28). A slight exception to this statement is the ornamentation on the brim of the BahIa rain-hat. I t occurs again in Mexicoand among the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chetimachas, and in Souta America. A moment's redection will show that the administration of thethree-ply method of the Makahs is a derivation of the plicate or twistedsort. I f dther strand of a twist, the inner or the outer, be drawnstraight, the plait will become the fish trap pattern. In most of theMakah baskets the straight piece is laid inside the nprights, but thereare examples in which it is laid outside resembling the regular plaited.stitch. The Indians of this coast prim' to the advent of the white manmade heavy and beautiful blankets of the wool of the Rocky Mountainsheep, and of the oair of animals killed in the chase, dyed in differentcolors. The patterns are all geometric, and are, in fact, woven mosaics,each figure b e i n ~ inserted separately by twisting two woof threads backward und forward around the warp strands. Scarcely ever does thetwine t'xtencl ill stripes an the way across the blanket in a direct line.Like the Huirias the l\Iakahs prepare a great many forms of basketryfor trade. A great variety of colors is used in the d e c o r a t i ~ n . Thehatch surface, produced by the use of three strands in weaving, givesto the basketry of this type a very unique and pleasing effect. Fig.25 represents a common specimen of 1rlakah basketry.Fig. 29 shows a bottle covered with ornamental basketry. In thebottom the radiating warp is inclosed in the twined weft. The warpthreads are carried over the snrface of the bottle, crossing each otherand producing rhomboids, after the manner of the Japanese basketry.The twined coil (Fig, 31) connects the crossings of the warp threads.'rhis is a very interesting specimen, inasmuch as the bower or fishtrapstyle is replaced by tile regular twined weaving of the Indians farthernorth.Figs. 32, 33 represent a specimen from the Clallams, which soom8 to bean example of commerce. The coil is sewed on collveniently, and theornamentation upon toe sidcs is produced by laying the straw or quill Qfdifferent color upon the regular stitching, and sewing it on one stitchover two original stitches. This is a very beautiful and strongly made8pecimen.

OREGON AND OALIFORNIA TRIBES.Along toe western coast of the United States from Puget Sound toLower


60/228

300 REPORT OF NATIONAl. MUSEUM, 1884.and white threads in stripes and geometric figures of endless variety(Fig. 35), A wry p r c t t ~ coarse wallet is produced by using verticalrushes for the foundations and twining bands of two or three rows atintervals of a few inches.The coiled and whipped structure is emplo;yed uy lUauy tribes through

out California (Figs, 36, 37, from Eel HiveI' tribe). In most of them thedouble coil is 1Iscll; that is, two rods or osiers are carried around, oran osier overlaid with I t strip of bark or yucca (See TinnQ Indianbasl;:ets, page ~ ! ) 4 , ) Thc sewing is 0\'1'1' both and down under ouly theupper one of the coil just beneath. Some of the baskets of this area areof the greatest beauty, both in form, texture, and in ornamentation.The principal shapes are the inverted trnncated cone, the ginger jar,

and the shallow dish or tra;\', From willow twigs and pine roots theyweave large, round mats for holding acorn tlour; various sized, tlattish,squashshaped baskets, water tight; deep conical oues of about abushel capacity to he carried on their hacl;:s; skull caps, which are al80drinking CUPR, worn by tIle 8qnllws. They ornament the baskets byweavIng in black rootlets or hark in squares, diamonds, and zigzags.(Powers: Cont. N. A: Ethnology, III, p. 47.)On Tule Rh'er long stalks of Sporobolus a,re used for warps. For

thread pine root is used for white, willow hark for the brown, and someunknown bark for the black. The 'needle is a sharpened thighbone ofDo hawk. (Id., p. 377.)The Modok women formerly made a baby-basket of willow.work, in

shape resembling a tailor's slipper or an old-fashioned watch-holder,and having various devices to shade tile face. The warp is of straightrods, the woof consists of bands of twined work, just enough to hold thewarp together, most of the space being left open. Some of the NorthernOalifornia tribes make a baby-basket similar in shape to the Sionx andOheyenne beaded cradle-boards.The Californian Indians from Tnle Lake to the Gulf of Californiause the greatest care in secnring uniformity and fineness to the foundation and the stitch. Their skill will compare favorably with thatof the Siamese, who do very similar work. The needlc is the l o n ~bOlle of a bird 01' mammal, the joint rem,tining for I t handle and thepoint being forward of the central lUll'll portion of the bone. Thefemale basket-weaver pierces a hole in the fabric at the proper point,draws the thread of grass or woodJ- fibre throngh the aperture, bitingthe end to sharpcn her threa


61/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORK.band. Beads are also laid on, and bits of worsted, even, making animalforms. The most beautiful ornament is that produced by feathers, onebeing laid ou for each stitch, forming an imbricated covering, concealing the entire surface. When parti-colored feathers are used the effectis very wonderful.

SAHAPTIN STOCK.In the mountn,ins of Idaho live the Nez Perces Indians belonging to

the Sahaptin stock. The Museum possesses a few samples of theirbasketry." Figs. 38, 39, represents a flexible wallet made of the bast ofIndian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum). There is not,hing remarkablein t,he manufacture of this specimen. The weaving belongs to thetwined type.

Tbe body color is the natural hue of the material. Nearly the wholesorface, llOwever, is covered with ornamentation in patterns of brown,green, 'red, and black. This ornamental portion is produced by thesewing of embroidery o\'er the entire surface of the bag, the stitchespassing o n l ~ half way througb, so that tlJe fabric is plain on one sideand ornamented on the other.

'l 'HE GREA'l' INTERIOR BASIN.

Leaving now the WC::lt coast, we lllay examine the basketry of theGreat Interior Basin, including tbat of the Shoshones, the Apaches,the Pueblos, and tbe tribes living around the mouth of the Colorado. -

SllOslwnes.-This great Rtock of Indians employ both structures, thetwined and the whipped coil. The plaited stitch is used in the conoidalbasket hats 01 ' mush howls (Figs. 40, 4]), the roasting trays (Fig. 42),and the fanlling or seed gathering trays (Fig. 43), and wands (Fig. 44).The coiled and wllipped titl'llct ure is u::led in the pitched water bottle8(Fig. 45), and the lwsket traYti Wig. 47).Conoidal basket hats arc made of willow splints or RllUS, the warpradiating from the apex, the woqf splints being carried around andtwined in pairs, in the manner so frequently described (Fig. 40).The woof is so thoroughly .lrin n home as to give the appearance ofthe simple osier of the east. Oruamentation iii produced by using oneor more rows of black splints, dyed with the Sued,a diffusa.

The roasting traJ"s arc shape!! like a scoop, rimmed with a largetwig (Fig. 42). The warp is made of parallel twigs laid close together,and held in place by cross plaitiugs about half an beh apart. It issaid that Shoshone8 place the seed8 of wild plants in these trayswith hot stones and thus roast them. The specimen figured is muchcharred on the upper side. Dr. Edward Palmer also describes theiruse in fanning the hulls and epidermis of the Pinus monophylla seed."The Indians remove the hulls by putting a numbel' of nuts on a metateand rolling a flat pestle backward and forward until the hulls are


62/228

302 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.loosened. The mass is then put iu a flat basket tray and the hullsblown off." (Am. Nat. 1878, p. 594.)

In Schoolcraft's History of Indian Tribes, pt. 5, pIs. 26, 27, will be seenIndian women gathering seeds in conical baskets, beating the plantswith a spoonshaped wand towards the basket, held in the left hand,with the mouth of the basket just under the plants (Figs. 43, 44). Thebaskets are made in every respect like the conoidal hats and the fansare made of twigs closely woven on the Bame pattern.The water bottles belong to the coiled and whipped structure. Asbefore mentioned, this style can be made coarse or fine, according tothe material and size of the coil and the outer thread. If two twigs ofuniform thickness are carried around, the stitch will be hatchy andopen; but if one of the twigs is larger than the ot,her, or if yucca. orother fiber replace one of them and narrower sewing material be used,the texture will be much finer. These bottles differ ill shape; one classhas round bottoms, another long, pointed bottoms; one has widemouths, another small mouths; one class has a little osier handle onthe side of the month like a pitcher, but the majority have one or twoloops of wood, horsehair, or osier fastened on one side for a carryingstrap. All of these are quite heavy, having been dipped in pitch.The same form is found among the Apaches, Mohaves, Mokis, and RioGrande Pueblos; but it is not improbable that they were obtained fromthe Utes in barter or by purchase.. The basket trays of the Utes do not differ essentially in general stylefrom those of the Gila. River tribes, but they are much coarser. Amongtbe coiled basket trays in the collection accredited to the Utes are indeed two styles, but one of them resembles so much those of theirApache neighbors on the south as to raise the suspicion that they wereobtained by barter. However that llIay be, we are permitted to callthem the Ute pattern and the Apaclle pattern. The Ute bas'k:('t tray ismade like the Ute waterbottle. A bundle of grass stems, two, three,or four, are coiled around and sewed to the upper twig of the coil justbelow. By the way in which the coil turns it is easy to tell whetherthe upper or the under surface was towards the sewer, the work alwayslleceBsarily moving to the left hand. As 0. matter of fact, most of thesecoarse baskets were -built up with the concave towards the workman,that side presenting a more finished appearance. On the other hand,the finer baskets, here called Apache, are coiled the other way. Thefoundation is a slender bundle of yucca fiber or a twig and yucca leafcombination, which enables the workman to produce a. compact wah')'tight stitch similar to that in the California baskets just described.The Apaches understand thoronghly the use of this stitch, and theirornamental patterns in black have the greatest variety. The ornamentof o ~ e specimen in the collection, snpposed to be Apache, but p088iblymade by some California tribes, consists of a series of spiral bands


63/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORlt. 303widening from the bottom towards the rim; in each of the spiral bandsa row of fi.e men extends from midway in the basket to the upperedge, their places below being taken by smaller patterns- (Figs. 49-6:.

Moki baskets.-Of the seven Moki pueblos six speak the Ute language. I t will not be surprising also to see them making similar.baskets. This is partly true and partly false. The Moki have bothcoiled and plaited or twined baskets. Their twined basket8 are few innumber. Their coiled baskets, except the water-bottles, are of a perfectly uniqne pattern. In addition, they use one method of work common enough in other parts of the worlli, but thus far unknown west ofthe H.ocky Mountains. I speak of the common single-coiled osier or~ p l i n t employed by all eastern Indians and by the negro and whiteba8ketmaker. The Moki also imitate the checker weaving of the BellaBellas, and the twilled weaving of the Clallams.The plaited ware of the Mokis are a few peachbaskets, made in the8ame manner as the Ute hats, but there is enough dissimilarity of form

to give the Moki the credit of inventing this peculiar style (Figs. 6H-79).The coiled and sewed ware, aside from the w a t ~ r b o t t l e s and a. few

bread trays, which are evidences rather of barter than manufacture, delllaud our special attention. Among the Mokis and nowhere else, so faras the Museum is concerned, except in Nubia, .are to be found thickcoiled baskets called sacred meal-trays, having about the concavity ofold fashioned pie-plates, and varying in diameter from a few inches toover twenty. A bundle of graM or the nerves of the yucca leaf, fromhalf an inch to an inch in diameter, is coiled around and sewed withstrips of yucca leaf of uniform width, rarely exceeding the twelfthof an inch. The thread is passed regularly around the coil, drawntightly, and passed between threads and through a few fibers of thegrUBS in the coil beneath. I t is difficult to tell whether any paius istaken to lock the threads of the coils or not. At first the coil is verysmall and wideus as the dish enlargetl. These plates are all made to belooked at inside, the coiling being invariably towards the left on thenpper surface. I have not seen one exception. True to this instinct,wheu a Moki constructs a hat of the same material to please some whiteman, he makes the convex of the hat correspond to the concave of histray, the outside of the hat being thus rough and the inside Bmooth.The ornamentation of these trays is produced as follows: One Bide of[-NoTE.-Says Dr. E. Palmer; "In Utah, Arizona, Southern California, and NewMexico the Indians depend 801elyon the RhtU aromatioa, var. tribola (squawberry) for

mater ial out of which to make their baakets. I t is far more durable and tongherthan the willow, which is not used by these Indians. The twigs are soaked in waterto BOften them and to loosen the bark, which is soraped oft' by the females. The tWig!!are then split by the use of the mouth and hands. Th.eir b811ketll are built up by a.nccbSllion of small rolls of g r a . ~ s , over which these twigs are firmly and closely bound.A bone awl is U86d to make the holes under the rim of the graBll for the split twigs.Baeketll made thus are very durable. will hold water, and are often used to cook in,bot lltones beiug dropped In until the food 18 done." (Am. Nat. 1875, p. 598).]


64/228

30t REPORT Q}' NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884.the strippl'd yucca leaf is dark grecn, tbe other light green and whitestriped fading into yellow. Now by deftly turning the thread where i tpass:t:l throngll tile coil in sewing a variety of shades is produced, asin shaded worsted work. Again, by d ~ ' e i n g the threads black, blne,red, yellow, and combining color effects with the natural shades of theleaf, the most beautiful ornamentation is produced. There is somemethod ill the patterns which usnally commences from a blank centerof a few coils with four brown spots of six stitches each. From thesefundamental points all sorts of geometric fignres are produced by thesimple process of sewing with ~ i f f ' e r e n t . c o l o r e d threads.The coiled and decorated ozier bread trays of the .M:okis are made, I

have been informed, at only oue pueblo, Oraibi. The frame consists oftwo cross sets of twigs, from 12 to 16 in each bar of tile cross. These a.refirmly held together at tlleir intersection by sewing and plaiting. Theythen are spread out radially, tile space being from time to time supplemented by additional twigs. The workman provides himself withbunches of white, yellow, orange, purpll>, black, blut', and green twigsonly a few inches in lengtll. These he proceeds to weave into patternsof the greatest beauty, e\'cn imitating cloud effects seen on Japanesescreens, using short or long twigs as the occasion demands, hiding theends between the ribs and the filling of tile preceding coils. The processis t h ~ same as that e l l l p l o ~ ' e d the Navahos in making the cloudedblankets, and by the llolthwest coast Indians in their ancient mountainsheep blankets. The greatest variety of ornament is produced, but, 8 8in the coiled work, the center is always plain. Under the influence oftrade, however, tile ancient patterns are giving way to those demandedby the purchasers. As the patterus are really mosaics and could bepicked out it will be easily seen that the figures on the back and frontuo not exactly conform, the corresponding square on the back beingalways one space to the right or left of the same in front.'rhe Moki common twig IJaskct is as rough as rough can be; the sameis true of the flat mats used about their dwellings. They are woven inthe samo manner as the market baskets which we are accustomed tosee every day. The twilled effect on the flat mats is produced. byoverlapping two warp strands by each of the woof strands.Yucca baskets aud trayl! of a very coarse character are made by thel\lokis, woven sometimes ill plain checker, at other times in twill. Although the material is ver.r coarse, quite pleasing effects are producedby the two sides of the leaf and by the different shades of the sameside.

ZU11i basketry.-Although one may see at Zulli all sorts of baskets,the most of them, includiug' coiled or whipped trays, .M:oki coiled andtwig basket trays, none of the8e are made there. The only basket ofthe Zullis is their l it tle, very rough twig peach basket, hardly worthyof notice except for its ugliness and simplicity (Figs. 80-82).


65/228

ABORIGINAL BASKET-WORK.SOUTHERN INDIAN BASKETRY.

305

In the States of North Oarolina, ~ u t h Oarolina, Georgia, Florida, 'Alabama,Mississippi, and Louisiana are many Indians still living, remnants of the Oherokees, Ohoctaws, Oreeks, Ohickasaws, and Seminoles,removed fifty

Annual Report United States National

Documents

Transcript of Annual Report United States National