634 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
| you will see that they have been converted, simply by the twisting, 
into a strong thread. Thread thus casually made is naturally coarse 
and rough, but an expert spinner would make in the same way a fine, 
strong, even thread with very few fibers. 
If a small stick, having a hook at one 
end and a weight at the other, be sus- 
pended to the spinning thread, the fur- 
ther even twisting of the yarn will 
become much easier, because regulated 
by the continuous revolution of the 
weighted stick or spindle, as such an 
appliance is called. The spindle is also 
useful for winding the twisted or spun 
thread upon. 
Figure 4 (pl. 2) shows a collection of 
primitive spindles, both ancient and 
modern. A moment’s consideration of 
it will show how widely distributed and 
well-nigh universal this simple indus- 
trial implement has been. One great 
hoy ee advantage the spindle has over all other 
Fre. oar ate (Pres- spinning appliances is that it can be 
carried about by the spinner without her 
having to discontinue her work. An ancient story by Herodotus 
illustrates this point. ; 
King Darius chanced to see a Peeonian woman who was carrying a 
pitcher on her head leading a horse and spinning flax. He sent spies 
after her, and they reported that she filled the pitcher with water, 
watered the horse, and returned, continuing all the while to spin 
with her spindle. Darius asked if all 
the women of Peonia were so indus- 
trious; and being told they were, 
ordered that ali the Peonians, men, 
women, and children, should be re- 
moved from their own country into 
Persia. 
Whether this reward of merit was 
appreciated by the Pzonians Herod- 
otus does not say. 
There is a painting on a Greek vase 
of about 500 B. C. which depicts a spinner holding the distaff in a 
picturesque and graceful but unusual and, one would think, ineffec- 
tive way. 
Figure 5 shows the usual method of carrying the distaff, which, it 
will be seen, leaves both hands of the spinner free for drawing out 
the fiber and twisting the spindle. 
(From Sarawak.) 
