250 



then rapidly revolved about the second niece as an axis. The person who is doing 

 the spinning retreats as the thread lengthens until the required length is reached. 



In making ropes the process thus tar is the same. This thread is now doubled and 

 the twisting is continued anil then again doubled until a rope of the proper size is 

 obtained. Sometimes both persons use instruments, twisting, of course, in opposite 

 din etiouH. These spinners are made of various materials, such as bamboo, oak, etc. 



Another instrument of this kind was composed of a stiek about 3 dm. (1 foot) long, 

 with a notch near one end, as in the above. Below the middle was a small wheel 2 

 dm. (8 inches) in diameter which had a toothed margin. This stick is made to 

 revolve rapidly by striking the wheel, which is made fast to the axis, with a rude 

 bow strung with rawhide, 



EI) No. 17. An instrument used in making a coarse thread from agave which I 

 secured at the hacienda of San Juan Capistrano, in western Zacatepas. 



This was a combined spinner and reel (i'l. Lit, rig. I!). It was obtained of a 

 Huichole Indian, although similar ones are used by the Mexicans themselves. This 

 instrument has the advantage over the one described above of permitting one per- 

 son to feed and spin the thread at the same time and for an indefinite period, for as 

 soon as (he thread becomes too long to handle it is wound about the reel. The 

 instrument is used in making a coarse thread or string employed in making the hand 

 hags so much carried in Mexico. 



The instrument is composed of two upright strips of a bamboo stem 22 and 2,"> cm. 

 (!) and lOinches) long, respectively. These are joined together by two small strips 10 

 cm. (4 inches) long about one-fourth the distance from each end, and there fastened by 

 small strings. This forms the reel proper. To make a spinner of this a notch is cut 

 near the end of the longer upright piece and a small stiek about 12 inches long is 

 used as the axis of 1he spinner, which is put through the two upright pieces about 

 one-third of the distance from the top. One end of this stick is tightly wrapped 

 with a small string made of agave fiber, and a small leather washer is placed 

 between this and the reel. To make the thread, a portion of the mixed liber is 

 fastened about the notch of the reel, which is then revolved rapidly with one hand 

 and the liber fed with the other. The reel 1 obtained was in use, and the thread and 

 all the mixed tiber in the process of spinning was purchased with it. 



The liber here used is from one of the most widely distributed agaves in western 

 Mexico. It is called "tapemete," and is probably Agave rivipara.' The cleaned fiber 

 is about 6 dm. (two feet) long, and, although coarse, is pliable and strong. For mak- 

 ing the pocket bags a coarse double thread is used. The needle is made of a small 

 piece of bamboo about 12 cm. (a inches) long. 



EXPLANATION OV I'l.ATI'.S. 



Plate L.— Fig. 1 , n lm^ made from agave fiber ; fig. 2, a bunch, of agave litter used us n wasli rag. 

 I'l.ATE LIT.— Fig. 1, a bunch of Agave vivipara fiber; lig. J. the same being worked into a small 

 ba^, together with bamboo needl" ; tig. 3, a spinner and reel used with this liber. 



MALVACEAE. 

 Ceiba spp. 



Tree cotton, a fiber obtained from the seed pods of several species of 

 Ceiba. is gathered by the Mexicans along the west coast and used for 

 stuffing pillows, etc. At the little village of Ooneepcion, Siualoa, 1 

 saw two large trees of Ceiba casearia Medic., one being about 27 din. 

 (0^ feet) in diameter and evidently a very old tree. This species is 

 supposed to have been introduced into Mexico. A native species, ('. 

 gremdiflora Kose, more common and widely distributed, is said to fur- 

 nish cotton which is used like that from the above species. (EB No. 1, 

 tree-cotton liber from Ceiba caxeariu Medic.) 



See above, J). L46. 



