SEDGE-ROOT BASKETS. 317 
fully collected during the summer and early fall, must first be split into 
fine strands for direct use. As carried on at Round Valley under my 
observation, the process is as follows: The rootstocks, denuded of their 
two outer coverings, are thoroughly soaked in warm water, and one end 
of a root is divided to the center by means of the finger nails into three 
parts. One of these parts is held firmly between the teeth while, by 
means of the fingers, the whole root is carefully and very evenly split 
into three sections. Each of these sections is again separated into three 
parts in the same manner, and the same process is carried out until the 
strands are as fine as may be desired, the value of the basket depending 
in great measure upon the fineness of the strands, as well as upon the 
general beauty of the finished fabric. These strands are used, not like 
those from the pine root, to wind in and out between vertical withes, 
which constitute the vertical skeleton of the cheaper baskets, but more 
like thread to wrap around horizontal withes. In beginning the basket 
three very pliant withes are so selected that when placed together their 
combined cross sections will be nearly circular. The use of three 
‘+ sticks” instead of one, as is sometimes the case in less costly baskets, 
gives much more elasticity and greater strength to the basket. The 
strand is wrapped tightly about one end of the compound withe, and 
as the wrapping progresses the wand is bent intoa minute circle. The 
central hole is filled in by stitching over and over again, and with this 
asa basis the little plaque is built up by the addition of other coils 
into the admirably water-tight baskets, which are used by the maker 
for ornamental and useful purposes, and which, on account of their 
beauty and durability, are often handed down as heirloonts to her chil- 
dren. Some are used as cooking vessels in a way which is described 
later on pages 312, 337. 
The general shape and plan of the basket must necessarily be carried 
in the mind, for there is no skeleton to serveasa guide. Infinite care 
must therefore be exercised, not only in preserving the symmetry of 
shape, but also the symmetry of the designs, which are worked in with 
the black and white strands. It requires many months, sometimes 
years, of leisure work to complete a first-class basket. But when they 
are complete they are frequently genuine works of art, and are highly 
prized by collectors of curios, who pay from $2 to $5 or $10 and even 
as much as $125 for a single basket. Some of the very best are most 
exquisitely decorated with brightly-colored feathers, the bases of which 
are woven in with the strands. All are more or less individual in their 
shape and pattern. The accompanying illustration (PI. XIV) was 
reproduced from a photograph of a part of the Hudson collection of 
baskets, which is now the property of the United States National 
Museum. It well illustrates some of the prominent styles and patterns. 
