98 BULLETIN 134, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



bone weave from the fourth side, thus building a flap or lid to fit over 

 the neck orifice approximately 20.3 cm. (8 in.) long. The filament 

 ends are then bent back and tucked under. A striking resemblance 

 may be noted between this basket and a basket of similar dimensions, 

 also constructed in hexagonal openwork weave, employed by the 

 Nambikuaras Indians of southern Brazil. Both baskets appear to 

 be constructed from the same material, and are reddish brown in 

 color. 



The telescoping baskets previous^ described are of various di- 

 mensions, ranging from a small 3-inch pouch used by the Choco 

 hunters to keep matches and fire caps dry (Cat. No. 272586, U.S. 

 N.M.), to a large basketry trunk, " kakku tummadi " (Tule), several 

 feet in dimension (Cat. No. 327566, U.S.N.M.), such as was con- 

 structed by the Choco in 1924 for Mr. Baer, of the Marsh-Darien 

 expedition. 



A large carrying basket, "mudede'' (Tule). made in twilled 

 weave from the split stems of marantella is cylindrical in shape 

 with rectangular base and one lateral surface flattened to fit the 

 back. There are two grommets attached for suspension. The bas- 

 ket stands 43.2 cm. (17 in.) high and has a marginal diameter of 

 50.9 cm. (20 in.). Decorative design is attained through alternating 

 of brown colored natural and the white split surfaces of the splints 

 (Cat. No. 327565, U.S.N.M.). 



A basket^ mat collected by Pittier from the Choco in the Sambu 

 Valley is made in twilled or " herringbone '' weave and shows the 

 same variety of color and is made from the same material. The mat 

 is 53.4 cm. (21 in.) wide and 67.9 cm. (26.7 in.) long (Cat. No. 

 272589, U.S.N.M.). 



BODILY ORNAMENTATION AND CLOTHING. 



Deformation of body. — In early accounts concerning the natives 

 of southeastern Panama no reference is made to the practice of 

 bodily deformation. Ornamentation of the person by the Indian 

 tribes of Darien probably never took the form of artificial mutilation 

 of any part of the body; bodily deformation as was the practice with 

 the early Caribs and other tropical American tribes seems to have 

 been unknown. Wafer in writing about the Darien Indians speaks 

 of their high forehead, white, even teeth, thin lips, and moderately 

 large mouth. Their cheeks and chin were well proportioned, and 

 in general they impressed "Wafer as being handsome. If Wafer in 

 1699 did not observe artificial deformation of any kind practiced by 

 the Darien Indians, he probably chose to disregard certain practices 

 that continue to the present time. 



