NO. 2230. HOPl INDIAN COLLECTION— HOUGH. 241 



noses, horns, flowers, etc., the mask head of the serpent effigy, also for 

 containing sacred honey and water, and as paJws; in art, as gourds 

 decorated with symbolic designs. The gourd has always been fertile 

 in suggestion to the Hopi and to the tribes of man, as illustrated by 

 the adaptations for masks mentioned above and for the forms it has 

 impressed upon pottery and basketry. 



Cradles. — The Hopi cradle is of two types, the one commonly used 

 consisting of a yolie made by bending a sapling of green wood and 

 weaving across it wicker work of rhus stems (pi. 25, fig. 2). A bow 

 also of wicker is adjusted at the upper end of the cradle to protect 

 the face of the infant. A carrying cord is attached to the limbs of 

 the yoke about one-third of the length of the cradle below the head. 

 An orifice is left in the wicker work of the cradle at the proper place 

 for adjusting an absorbent mass of frayed cedar bark under the in- 

 fant. The baby is folded in a blanket, laid on the cradle and secured 

 to it by means of a woven belt or band of cloth wound continuously 

 around the cradle and infant. The cradle described above is peculiar 

 to the East Mesa and Oraibi. The other type of cradle consists of a 

 thin board with rounded ends and has a collapsible bow made of 

 three withes held in position by cords (pi. 25, fig. 1). The margin 

 of the plank has holes burnt or bored through it in which cord loops 

 are fastened. The band for securing the infant on the cradle is rove 

 through these loops. This type of cradle is peculiar to the Middle 

 Mesa. It is more difficult to make than the wicker cradle, since the 

 working out of a board by primitive methods presents an almost 

 insuperable obstacle. In recent years boards from packing boxes have 

 been utilized for cradles. The old cradles have been preserved for 

 generations and are worn thin and smooth from long use. Especially 

 is the wear noticeable where the head of the infant comes in contact 

 with the board. The cradle of the Hopi appears to be a survival from 

 a former environment which entailed the use of a pack cradle whose 

 necessity is apparent among tribes not having fixed habitations. The 

 Hopi now use the cradle merely as a bed for the infant during its 

 period of sleep, the secondary explanation being that lashing in the 

 confines of the cradle will make the child grow straight, and with 

 this object in view especial attention is given to a boy. The effect of 

 the hard cradle in producing deformation of the skull has been notice- 

 able and the flattened back of the cranium of the Hopi and most 

 other Pueblos is very characteristic. This deformation is observed in 

 the most ancient crania recovered from the graves in this region. 



Fire-Tnaking tools. — Like many other tribes of the world, the Hopi 



have preserved their primitive wood friction fire-making implements 



for the purpose of religion. The abandonment of the fire sticks in 



practical use, however, is recent, and all Hopi men still know the 



3.343— 19— Proc.N.M.vol.54 17 



