NO. 8 DRAWINGS BY GEORGE GIBBS BUSH NELL 21 



After encountering many difficulties and delays, Gibbs arrived 

 at San Francisco December 28, 185 1, "having been absent on the 

 Expedition nearly five months." 



The specimens collected by Gibbs on the Klamath River in 

 California, which are now in the United States National Museum 

 and many of which are shown in figures 3, 4, and 5, are believed 

 to have been obtained by him during the autumn of 1851. Several 

 of the pieces represent forms of objects mentioned specifically in 

 his journal as being used by the Indians who were met during the 

 journey up the valley of the Klamath, and these may have been 

 collected at that time. All are excellent examples and were evidently 

 chosen with care. 



The bow, made of yew, is strengthened on the back by sinew 

 which, although originally glued to the wood, has become detached. 

 The cord, as shown in the photograph, is 34 inches in length. 



The headband, d, figure 3, is described in the old list of specimens 

 as '"a ribbon for the hair," and is an unusual piece to have been 

 preserved. If extended it would be about 20 feet in length, but it 

 is arranged in 15 coils, held together at one place by an end being 

 passed around the coils several times and fastened. The average 

 width is ^ inch, the average thickness about -^-^ inch. As shown 

 in the enlarged photograph, c, figure 3, it is formed of two twisted 

 cords of' vegetal fiber, each cord being made of two strands which 

 are loosely twisted. The two cords of fiber are held together, parallel, 

 by a light-colored grass, braided so as to allow the cords to remain 

 separated. At irregular intervals the braided grass is omitted, thus 

 allowing the two twisted cords to be exposed. There is a small loop 

 at one end of the cords. 



All baskets, basket hats, and trays are beautiful pieces and may 

 be the oldest existing examples from that part of California. 



The shallow tray, no. 7561, d, figure 5, is reenforced on the 

 bottom by the attachment of pliable twigs or shoots, probably of the 

 willow, which are bent to form circular bands, each band or ring 

 being composed of two coils. Two such bands were used, one 

 rather small and the other near the outer edge. 



The two small spoons, a, b, figure 5, are typical examples and 

 show the effect of much use. 



