Fern Stem Baskets. 



73 



given to the Rev. Rufus Anderson, D.D., Secretary of the American Board of Commis- 

 sioners for Foreign Missions at the time of his visit to these Islands in 1863. About 

 the same time I saw in the streets of Honolulu a powerfully built native clad onl3' in 

 such a hat and his scanty nialo. To the present day the Hawaiians show a respect 



for this form of hat, 

 although now select- 

 ing the imported va- 

 riety. The specimen 

 illustrated weighs 

 10.5 ounces. 



In the M u s e u m 

 collection is No. 8090, 

 shown in Fig. ']2,^ a 

 graceful modern bas- 

 ket made for sale 

 rather than for use. 

 It is Japanese, but 

 was brought by two 

 old natives, known 

 to me for many years 

 as dealers in mats 

 and baskets, with the 

 assurance that it was 

 made by Hawaiians. 

 On their statement 

 the figure was in- 

 serted and remains 

 as a warning to col- 

 ledlors of basketry. 

 On the other 



FIG. 73. MODERN JAPANESE FERN-STEM BASKET. ffrouDS to the south- 



ward more use was made of fern stems, especially for fish traps and baskets, as they 

 are not readilj^ rotted in water. In New Zealand are made fine eel traps {Hinaki) and 

 baskets in which to keep fish alive i^JVhakarapa)^ both shown in Fig. 74. These are 

 made of vieiigemenge fern {^Lygodiiini articulattini) a twining fern with stems of great 

 length. The genus is fovmd as far away as New England. The stipe of the Henthcru 

 fern ( Todca {Lcptoptcris) superbd) is said'" to be used in the manufa<5lure of combs, 



^°A. Hamilton, Maori Art, p. 302. 



