422 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



bottom and side.s are in the same type of weaving. By an endless 

 variety of real and proportional width of warp and weft and by col- 

 oring some of the strips an indefinite number of patterns may be 

 produced. (See fig. ISi.) 



In many cedar-bark receptacles of this region the two sets of fila- 

 ments — warp and weft — run diagonall} ; that is, they are not woven 

 as in a loom, but the maker begins at the corner. Looked at verti- 

 cally, the surface has a diamond rather than a checker appearance, but 

 from the point of view of the maker the intersections are square. 

 Again, but much more rareh', three sets of filaments are involved, 

 two belonging to the warp and the other one to the weft. The warp 

 elements cross at right angles or less, and the weft element runs 

 across through the intersections, making a series of rhombs. This 

 same technic is ahnost universal in Japan. 



Fjg. 154. 



checkerwork basket. 



Bilhula Indians, British Columbia. 



Collected bv James (i. Swan. 



In addition to the oblique method of weaving the checker patterns 

 in cedar ])ark, occasional diagonally or twilled weaving is to ]>e seen 

 in the same area. 



A large collection of these were gathered l)y James CI. Swan along 

 the coast of r>ritish Cohnnbia, and are now for examination in the 

 U. S. National Museum. 



Ornamentation in bark work is effected both ])y introducing different 

 colored strands and 1)y varying the width of the warp and the woof 

 threads. In many exanq^les the bottom of the basket is bordered and 

 outlined with one or more rows of the twined or plaited style of weav- 

 ing to give greater stabilit}^ and definition to the form. Cedar mats of 

 large size and made with the greatest care enter as extensivel}" into 

 the daily life of the Indians of this vicinit}^ as do the buffalo robes into 

 that of the Dakota Indians. 



The Bilhulas made ver^^ neat baskets, called "•Zei))usqna"' as well 

 as hats and water-tight vessels, all of fine cedar roots. 



