i8 



Mat and Basket Weaving, 



shields of a more common sort serve well to explain the material and stru(5lure of the 

 shield just described. The shape of the shield No. i860 differs considerably from that 

 of the one first described, and the weaving becomes a very secondary part of its compo- 



SSfeftfltffl 



FIG. 22. RATTAN .SHIPII.DS FROM THE SOI.OMON I.SLANnS. 



sition. The shield consists, as may be seen in Fig. 22, of seventeen strips of rattan 

 graduated in diameter from the central one, which is the largest. Besides these rattan 

 strips, which gave the clue to the material of the first shield, where the skeleton is 

 completely concealed by the weaving, are rounded strips of dark colored palm wood 

 which bind the whole together with the help of thirty-two transverse braids. The 

 length is 33 in., and the greatest width is 9.2 in. This specimen is from Ysabel. 



