BY R. BTHERIDGE, JUNR. 275 



: section would be roughly quadrangular (tigs. '2 and 5) ; in the 

 second the plaiting is such that the cord is flat above and below, 

 top and bottom, but running along one of the flat faces is an 

 extra median I'idge (figs. 7 and 9). The material used for the 

 strands seems to be tightly-twisted rush or grass, more com- 

 monly seen in the square-sinnet gaskets, or a less tightly twisted 

 beaten-bark string, the latter having the greater flexibility. In 

 some of them there may possibly be an admixture of coco-nut 

 fibre," as described by Labillardiere, but I have not seen one 

 entirely composed of the ]lousette fur spoken of by Mr. Hood. 



The Eye is formed by returning the cord on itself, and in all 

 but three instances the two parts are held together by a thimble, 

 the free ends of the returned portion being plaited into three, 

 and always three, projecting tags (fig. 8) which are invariably 

 more or less highly ornate. Of the three exceptions, two are 

 Cook's specimens, in which the free ends of the returned plaits 

 are allowed to remain in a frayed condition (fig. 2). In the third 

 example a much more ingenious contrivance is made use of, the 

 free end of the plait being divided into two tags, which are again 

 plaited under and over one another round the main cord and 

 their ends knotted for security (fig. 1). 



The Thimble. — I have used the term thimble to designate the 

 band that holds the two portions of the plait together to form 

 the eye (figs. 3, 6 and 9). It is also very variable both in width 

 and material. In its simplest form it is broad and consists of red 

 trade wool, which is used in three of the gaskets (figs. 4, 8 and 10), 

 in one instance being confined purely to the thimble (fig. 4); in a 

 second tightly wound a short distance up the cord as well (fig. IS), 

 whilst in the third example two lengths of the wool are continued 

 from the thimble and wound loosely over and under for half the 

 length of the cord from the thimble proper (fig. 10). In five 

 specimens this encircling band is composed either of the fur or 

 woolly hair of the Rousette or Flying- fox [Pteropus vetuliis, Jouan) 

 or the latter mixed with beaten bark string. In the remaining 

 specimens the thimbles are made of plaited rush or grasswork, 

 similar to the cords themselves (fig. 3). 



