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PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



VOL. 54. 



Vessels of wood. — Vessels of wood were uncommon and were 

 usually procured only when natural shells or knots suggested the 

 use as spoons or small bowls. The cottonwood, which may be termed 

 the culture tree of the Hopi, decayed easily, forming hollow cylin- 

 ders which were adapted with not much work to the shells of drums 

 and gave this tribe their only idea of a boat, expressed in the snake 

 legend. The roots of this tree being of even grain, soft and easily 

 worked, were the favorite material for feather boxes and gaming 

 cups. (See pis. 43, 48.) Feather boxes for holding the plumage 

 necessary for pahos and the decoration of religious paraphernalia 

 are by far the most common wooden vessels 

 employed by these Indians. (See pi. 43, figs. 

 2,3,4; and fig. 4.) 



Vessels of skin, etc. — Vessels of skin, raw- 

 hide, or membrane were also of slight value in 

 the Hopi domestic economy, and those now or 

 recently found in the villages were of scrota 

 of the domestic goat, made by distending the 

 membrane with sand, leaving to dry, and fitting 

 with a rim of bent branch of rhus over which 

 the skin was turned and stitched with sinew. 

 The Hopi, however, knew how to work raw- 

 hide into masks, decoys, etc. 



Gourds. — The light, strong rind of the culti- 

 vated gourd marked this plant for a wide range 

 of usefulness among the Hopi. Despite the 

 discovery of pottery with its attendant econ- 

 omies, the gourd continued in favor, its light- 

 ness and strength being valuable qualities, 

 while its use was not superseded by basketry, 

 which brought in vessels that were lighter than 

 pottery and nonbreakable. 



The species of gourd cultivated by the Hopi 

 are small, and the imposing gourd vessels 

 such as are seen about the Pima houses are ab- 

 sent from the Hopi economics. The small gourds, however, are very 

 useful for many purposes, and the shell, which is more available and 

 more easily worked than wood, has numerous applications. In con- 

 nection with water the gourd is used for dippers (pi. 24, fig. 3, pi. 22, 

 fig. 2) spring bailers, sacred water vessels (pi. 24, fig. 2) and canteens; 

 for household use, as spoons, cups, and dippers ; as tools, for pottery 

 smoothers, and cups for paint ; for special use, as seed bottles and ves- 

 sels (pi. 24, figs. 1, 4, 5), medicine holders, powder horns, etc.; in 

 music, as horns, trumpets, flutes, bells, and rattles; in games, as pea 

 shooters, etc. ; in religious paraphernalia, as parts of masks such as 



Fig. 4.— Box with buck 

 skin cover for sacred 

 feathers. 



