124 



THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



often meant excursions to the mountains or 

 down to the rivers. She tanned and fashioned 

 the skins into garments, besides caring for her 

 children, for the aboriginal mother is wel' 

 known to be an unselfish and tender one. 



Some baskets are covered throughout from 

 top to bottom with the decoration, while others 

 have a pattern appearing only at intervals, 

 allowing the spruce not to intentionally form 

 the background. The figures are always tri- 

 angular or angular, never round in the original 

 shapes, as the circular figure meant civilization. 



The scallops before mentioned were for 

 utility, for if broken and worn a new edge 

 could be made more easily than a solid edge, 

 or when filled and covered the contents could 

 be held in place by a lashing made from wild 

 hemp, and passing back and forth through the 

 scallops. 



The shape is well planned: The bottom is 

 almost always round, then it flares rapidly at 

 first, and then ver} gently until the top is reach- 

 ed, when it usually converges toward the center, 

 for if it flared all the way in proportion to the 

 beginning the mouth would be so large that the 

 contents would be lost; but even the strength 

 of these firm baskets would he s nely tested. 



One is rarely seen other than round; if so, 

 they have an oblong b.ise and top, and a rare 

 one has a lid. This shjpe was in imitation of 

 the trunks seen on shipboard in the early part 

 of the century, and copied by the Cowlitz and 

 Lewis river tribes, vsho also belong to the 

 parent stack, Shahaptian; but this shape was 

 not copied by the tribes over the range. 



These large round baskets were carried on 

 women's backs, and are today, by a broad strap 

 passing around the forehead or across her chest, 

 and when gathering berries they are thrown 

 over her shoulder and into the basket; or for 

 convenience sake a small one is secuaed to her 

 belt in front, and emptied at intervals. Her 

 hands are thus left free for work, for she is 

 ambidextrous. 



These baskets were also fastened on either 

 side of a horse in pannier fashion, and the 

 woman sought her cani[) or the nearest settle- 



ment either mounted on the same cayuse, or 

 riding another and driving the berry-burdened 

 beast before her. 



The Indians say that the berries keep sweeter 

 in these baskets than in a metal bucket, and as 

 they are watertight there is no loss. 



The baskets aie prized by the few makers 

 that are left, and by their children. 



And thus is ended a work of art by these 

 rude and untutored people, scorned and de- 

 spised, but sought for by scientists and lovers 

 of the curious and beautiful. 



SOME NORTH CAROLINA MINERALS. 



HIDDENITE. 



As this luineial has gained a world-wide 

 reputation, not only among gemists as a 

 beautiful and expensive gem stones, but among 

 collectors as a new species. I wish to speak 

 of it more in detail than others of equal iin[ ori- 

 ance. 



From traditions of the locality where it is 

 found it is not a very recent discovery, as it has 

 been plowed up by the farmers for many years, 



Mr. Hidden of Newark, New Jersey, can lay 

 claim to nothing but the honor of having had 

 it identified. Prof. Smith of Louisville, Ken- 

 tucky, analyzed it and gave it the name it now 

 bears. 



The mineral was firsi collected and placed 

 on exhibition by Mr. Stejihenson of Statesville, 

 North Carolina, and it was there that Mr. 

 Hidden first saw it. Neither of the above 

 gentlemen knew what it was and from the 

 color and form naturally took it to l)e diopside 

 which mineral it somewhat resembles, Mr, 

 Hidden visited the locality and through his 

 efforts a company was formed to work it. 



Considerable work was done and several 

 thousand dollars worth of stones secured but 

 from some cause the property became entang- 

 led in litigation and for aught I know to the 

 contrary still remams so to-day. 



The mines, which are situated at Hiddenite 

 in Alexander county were worked by open 

 trenches and the finest gems are said to have 



