434 



BEPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1902. 



grass or other material, which seems to l)e tlie tirst step toward imbri- 

 eation. The grass lies over two stitches and is caught under the next 

 stitch, passing under and over as in '•l)eading." In other examples 

 the straw is covered and revealed in the alternate stitches. It can be 

 seen that a great variety of effects is possible in this manipulation. 



A square inch from the surface of this specimen enlarged (tig. 160) 

 will show more clearly what has hevn hitherto described — the inter- 

 locking stitches, the furcation of the stitches, and the overlaying with 

 ornamental filaments. 



Catalogue No. 23512, in the [J. S. National ^Museum, was procured 

 in Washington by James G. Swan. 



Flii. 159. 



WATER-TIGHT BASKET. 



Clallam Indians, Washington. 

 Collected by J. li. Swan. 



Charles C. Willoughby, who was agent among the Quinaielt or 

 Quinault Indians in northwestern Washington, makes the following 

 report of their basketry: 



They have the cedar l)ark for the foundation of basketry and strips 

 of the pine root for rigid work, hem}), rushes, and grass for the weft 

 and ornamentation. The grass used in strengthening the borders of 

 mats, rain cloaks, etc., grows on flat places. It is prepared like flax 

 b}^ soaking in water until the outer portion decay's, when it is beaten 

 with sticks until onh^ the fiber remains. The yellow fiber of squaw 

 grass used by Indians for the outside of baskets is a great source of 

 traffic, as it is only found in this locality. The basket grass is 

 gathered carefull}^, one blade at a time, to secure that part of the 

 stalk that reaches about 6 inches under the ground before it meets 



