THE 



Oregon 



■a Naturalist, 



Vol. IV. Palestine, Oregon, January, 1897. 



No. 



BASKETRY OF THE NORTHWEST. 



H. K. McARTHUR. 



The beginning of a collection is ac- 

 cidental. The eye is attracted by a bit of 

 artistic coloring or quaint design, and we 

 become its possessor. The gift of a 

 friend and mementoes of travel are 

 subsequent additions, the collection be- 

 comes interesting and we wish to enlarge 

 it. It may develop into a fad that only 

 pleases for the passing moment, or it may 

 suggest research and study of the habitat 

 of the maker, materials employed, origin 

 of design, manner of construction and 

 utility of the work, and it becomes most 

 fascinating. 



In the limited time allotted to the con- 

 sideration of so comprehensive a subject, 

 it is quite impossible to enter into detail 

 of materials and workmanship, but a 

 passing mention cannot fail to be of 

 Interest. 



The baskets made by the Indians of the 

 western part of the United States are the 

 most beautiful in the world — beautiful as 

 to design and coloring with dyes of their 

 iiwn manufacture — and finest as to skill 

 in construction. 



One cannot but be impressed most deep- 

 ly by the strange incongruity of the 

 wretched lives of degradation, poverty, 



* Reprinted from "Basketry of tbe Coast and Islands 

 of the Pacific, etc." This pamphlet can be had of the 

 J. K. Gill Co., 2nd D. M.'Averill & Co. Price 25 cts. 



ignorance and roaming habits of these 

 oftimes homeless people and the unsurpass- 

 ed results of their skillful and patient labor. 

 Patience is the one char-acteristic of these 

 toilers of an uncivilized race of which we 

 are profoundly conscious— the patience 

 that endures much, suffers with stoical 

 indifference and uncomplaint, and wliich 

 leaves its imprint upon th:;r pathetic faces. 



The labor of gathering materials and 

 preparing them, before th.' work of con- 

 struction begins, occupies many months, 

 and is most arduojs. The weary anil 

 toilsome climb to distant mountain tops, 

 for rare a.id beautiful grasses that only 

 adorn the face of niture in these lofty 

 solitudes. The digging of certain tenacious 

 roots and cutting of twigs, bark and fibre, 

 all of which must be cured, made into 

 proper lengths and macerated to a desired 

 flexibility before being woven into the 

 intricate and enduring beauty of baskets. 

 Coaxing from coy Nature her secrets of 

 dyes, whether from peculiarly colored 

 earth, charcoal, extracts of barks, or 

 immersion in water. 



Who of us, living in the Willamette 

 valley, have not seen some ancient dame 

 trudging home, with dew-bedraggled 

 skirts, with a bundle of hazel sticks on 

 her bent shoulders, after an early ex- 

 pedition to the cops?, or, it may be, grasses 

 and roots from a neighboring swamp? 

 She is ancient; in our day, because the 

 beautiful art is not taught to the young 

 women; they do not desire to know it, and 



