240 



braid, 3 mm. (one-eighth inch) wide, the strips being repeatedly moist- 

 ened to make them more pliable (see EB No. 33). Then these braids 

 (see EB No. 33) are carefully trimmed and worked into the hat, two 

 being sewed in at a time. They are sewed together with thread made 

 from agave fiber. The thread is made up by the workman only as 

 needed. lie keeps a large skein of the fiber at his side (see EB No. 

 35), and as he needs a new thread withdraws several fibers from the 

 skein. These he draws through his mouth to moisten, and then rubs 

 them with the palm of his hand over the upper part of his bare leg. 

 Then he draws them through his mouth again and then over his leg, 

 and repeats the process until the thread is complete (see KB No. 30). 

 A tall wooden form is used to shape the hat. A phi in hat made in 

 this manner sells for $10. 



Rain coats are also made from the leaves of palm and other similar 

 leaves. They are formed of numerous overlapping leaf segments, and 

 are said to make very satisfactory coats. 



The accompanying photograph (PL XXXV) shows a party of Guerrero 

 Indians returning from the Pacific coast with bundles of bleached palm 

 leaves. 



The following specimens were secured : 



EB No. 3. An odd little brush made from palm leaves. It was bought from an 

 Indian who lived in the mountains east of Acaponeta. 



EB No. 2. A fly brush made from tin; common Sah;il of Sinaloa and Territorio do 

 Tepio. 

 Sabal sp. 



Along the coast a species of Sabal (Sabal sp. nov.) which has a slender 

 trunk is used in making corrals, the framework of huts, etc. In some 

 places great quantities of the leaves are used to form the sides or roofs 

 of rude huts. In Acaponeta many houses are covered in this way. 

 Leaves for this purpose are cut in the dry season and brought to the 

 town on the backs of donkeys. Here they are piled up and allowed to 

 dry and bleach. In the country the roofs are not repaired until after 

 the first hard rains have located all the leaks, and in the meantime 

 have spoiled much of the contents of the huts. 



LILIACEAE. 



Dasyliriou sj>. SoTOL. 



Nolina sp. SOYATE. 



The leaves of both these plants are used in the making of hats, 

 cither separately or together, or mixed with wheat straw or palm 

 leaves (PI. XXXVI). It is very common to see bundles of leaves 

 about the huts of the Indians or Mexicans. The leaves are laid into 

 swaths and dried and bleached in the sun, and then stowed away 

 for use. 



They are also made into floor mats. While many of these are 

 roughly made, others are carefully and tastefully put together. These 

 are sometimes banded with blue and red. The latter color is obtained 

 by dyeing with Brazil wood and the former (so I was told) by adding 



