So/oiiioii Is/aiids Baskets. 



25 



the navel or point of beginning of an ordinary basket is 

 diameter, the edge finished off as if the basket was 

 complete at that place, as can be seen in Fig. 31, 

 which represents the bottom of this basket, No. 

 8312. To complete the basket the maker sews in 

 a square patch, which seems like putting a square 

 peg in a round hole, but as the square patch is 

 sufficientl}' large to cover the round hole the bas- 

 ket is complete. The patch is solidly interwoven, 

 but as may be seen in Fig. 32, which presents the 

 inside of the bottom, it is not a verj' trim contriv- 

 ance. What the object of this feature is I do not 

 know, but conje(5lure that the maker finds it more 

 convenient to pass her hand through the hole 

 while weaving. In two similar baskets in this 

 Museum, although only half the size of the one 

 illustrated, the bottom is pierced with a hole of 

 the same size. The collector of these baskets did 



found here is a hole 3.5 in. in 



Fig. 33. BASKET From nkw hkbrides. 

 in Fig. 33, where the central portion of a coconut basket 



Pig. 32. INSIDE OF NO. 8312. 



not notice the peculiarity, and 

 so did not inquire the reason, 

 and letters sent to the island 

 Florida where they were made 

 have not yet brought a reply. 

 That the constru6lion is not 

 peculiar to this particular 

 form of Ijasket is seen in an- 

 other made of coco leaves 

 shown in Fig. 34. This bowl- 

 like basket is 13 in. in diame- 

 ter and 6 in. high. The mat 

 plug" is ornamentall}' woven 

 to match with the basket, and 

 the ends of the strips are 

 knotted in the rim and left 

 long, which would seem to be 

 an objection to the pattern. 



In the New Hebrides we 

 find a similar stru6lure, shown 

 is filled with a rude "darn" of 



