ANCIENT PUEBLOS OF UPPER GILA REGION. 



71 



From the frequent occurrence of fragments of feathered cord in 

 the Tularosa Cave debris, one may judge that its use was quite com- 

 mon; only one whole garment, however, was recovered. (See fig. 

 149.) The process of feathering cord was to strip the downy piles 

 of the turkey (fig. 148 «, Cat. No. 246649 U.S.N.M.), and wind them 

 spirally around a cord of fiber (fig. 148 c; at h is shown the strip un- 

 wound), crossing the larger end under the first one or two winds and 

 securing the smaller end under the beginning of the next winding. 

 The finished cord is shown in figure 148 d. Strips of fur were wound 

 in the same manner. (Fig. 148 e.) In some cases pairs of strips of 

 fur were twisted together, forming a cord, and these cords joined by 

 twining, as in the feathered cord ; again, one strip of fur was twisted 

 on itself, making a neat cord. 



Fig. 148. — Feathbe cord making from Tularosa Cave. 



In using very fine down or very soft hair the method was to twist 

 it between two-cord strands whose grip would hold the material 

 firmly. Bits of tender skin of mice, etc., were also twisted up with 

 the strands and laid up into cord. Skin strong enough was twisted 

 spirally, forming an element like a cord, which was made into a 

 fabric by twining. These interesting devices by which fur can be 

 worked like cords admits of the skins of small mammals becoming 

 in effect one skin, but more flexible and perhaps warmer than a 

 bear or a buffalo skin. 



Cords of fur and of feathers were used to form clothing, blankets, 

 pouches, ornaments for parts of costumes, for necklaces, and probably 

 for waist ornaments. 



