86 NOTKS ON THE HUNTING STICKS, ETC. 



From the above nicasureincnts it will be seen that some- 

 of the baskets were of considerable size ; the cubical contents 

 of th.^ largest (No. 1247) (24) being 26i litre (26522 cub. 

 cent.). The smallest (No. 4281) contains, on the other hand 

 not more than 905 cub. cm., that is to say, less than one 

 litre. 



Though in general appearance remarkably alike, it al- 

 most seems as if two kinds were made, a spherical and a 

 cylindrical kind. The largest (No. 1247) is atypical spheri- 

 cal basket, which is widest in the middle and nari'ower at 

 the opening and the bottom. No. 4280 (see pi.) is of cylin- 

 dical shape, maintaining its width throughout. Only two 

 cylindrical baskets have come under examination, all the 

 others are of the spherical type. This difference in shape 

 may, however, only be accidental ; at the same time it can- 

 not be quite denied that the different kinds may have served 

 different purposes, and this theorj^ would explain the differ- 

 ent names. 



The plaiting is exactly the same in all the baskets, 

 whether of spherical or cylindical shape ; the only difference 

 is that sometimes the meshes are smaller, sometimes larger, 

 but the work is of the simplest kind. 



A careful examination of the specimens has convinced 

 me that they were made differentlv from th" modern basket. 

 The modem basket is commenced at the bottom ; the Tas- 

 manian basket was commenced at the top. 



The basis of the tughbrana was a ring of twisted flat 

 fibres of about 6 to 7 mm. thickness. The vertical strands 

 were not twisted, but the flat fibres were nicely rolled. These 

 were inserted into the basal ring, and kept in position by a 

 thin twisted chord, which was firmly wound between the 

 vertical strands round the basal ring. Each ring of the 

 horizontal strands consists of two pieces of rolled grass, which 

 were twisted round the vertical strands in a very regular 

 way, which the figure illustrates very well. 



The illustration also demonstrates how the vertical 

 strands were joined, and how eventually the bottom was 

 made. 



The ba-skets were probably all made of a reed, juneus 

 acutus, which grows in abundance in the swamps of 



(24) ThlP s!i)ecimen. as well as No. 4. ha«! been figured by LlnR Koth, 

 Aborlg. Tasman. Plate to face page 153. 



