Decorated Dilly Baskets. 



91 





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and the curved base of the basket lias a row of white squares, then a zigzag line below 

 which are other triangles and dots. The basket is closely woven and of good form. 



It does not seem to have 



been figured by Mr. Eth- 

 eridge, whose familiaritj^ 

 with all forms of Austral- 

 ian decoration might have 

 explained more clearly the 

 designs. A more complete 

 description of this import- 

 ant basket is as follows : 



/>^ * ' 





No. 8755. Length 14 in., 

 diameter 5 in., rounded bot- 

 tom. Upper rim sewed with 

 stout twisted cord : surface 

 divided into seven zones by 

 double raised bands ; painted 

 dull red, on which ground are 

 black and white designs which 

 extend over more than one- 

 third of the circumference, 

 and there are indications of 

 other marks on the side worn . 

 next the bodj' now unde- 

 cipherable. Upper zone nar- 

 row and plain ; second has 

 14 vertical white stripes and 

 rosettes at each end of the 

 series ; third has 7 similar 

 stripes, but shorter, and with 

 rosettes at each end ; fourth 

 has what seem to be hiero- 

 glyphics(?); fifth has a cor- 

 roboree with 5 male figures ; 

 sixth has confused marks, 

 unintelligible ; .seventh has 7 

 rectangles forming a zigzagr 

 with a figure in the midst 

 FIG. 92. KETE OF H.\R.\K.\KE FIBRE. rcsembling a three - barred 



gate, triangular spots within lower angles of band which extends two-thirds of the circumference ; 



5 square spots above the band and the same number below, this zone ending in 5 concentric rings. 



Inside of basket unpainted ; carried by five cords attached in two places on one side of the rim. 



A plain dilly basket in the Australian Museum is shown in Fig. 91 by the kind- 

 ness of Mr. Etheridge. It has a rather flatter base than the others, and the rim is 

 slightly detached from the filling. 





UHKNiCE fAUAHl BJSHiJF MU^hUM 



