266 PliO'CEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUHEVAJ 



shows this (pi. 33, fig. 1; pi. 38, fig. 6). Occasionally in modern 

 coiled baskets the design is aided by overlaid sewing, to show the 

 beaks and feet of the birds, for example. This is an innovation. 



The foundation of coiled baskets is a bundle of grass stems, 

 takashu {Hilaria jamesii) being used. The sewing, which covers 

 and holds together the coil, is of strips of yucca leaf split with the 

 thumbnail into bands of equal width and smoothed by drawing under 

 the pressure of the thumbnail. The wicker basket requires no tools, 

 but the coiled basket demands an awl, preferably of bone, as this sub- 

 stance does not chip or cut the sewing. The beginning coil must be 

 slender and pliable to take the short turns, hence it is formed of 

 shredded yucca leaf instead of the harsh grass, the latter being 

 added when the coils grow larger and less curved. The coil grows 

 less again on the outer edge of the basket where it tapers to a finish. 

 The lining strip or sewing is secured at one end, passed over the coil, 

 through a hole made by the awl, engaging some of the previous 

 turns and foundation grass stems, and so on until used up, when an- 

 other strip is started in. In case the pattern requires a color at 

 some point in the sewing, a splint of the color desired is started in. 

 The pattern is regulated by counting the stitches. Both the coil 

 and the sewing are kept moist bj^ burial in damp sand, which the 

 basket weaver keeps near her. These baskets are very strong and 

 serviceable, and more of these are made than of any other kind. 

 They resemble, in the size and substance of the coil, the baskets of 

 North Africa; but they are of ancient use in the western and north- 

 ern Pueblo region and not the result of foreign influence. Coiled 

 baskets are made in the three towns on the Middle Mesa. 



Coiled basket forms are circular placques, most numerous and 

 sometimes very large; deep bowl forms, sometimes at present with 

 un-Indian handles and covers; and vase forms which are modern. 

 iVbout 1872 coiled sombreros were made as an innovation. Though 

 the coiling was the finest ever made by the Hopi, these hats were too 

 heavy for comfortable wear. 



Mention should be made of the baskets acquired by the Hopi from 

 other neighboring tribes. At the time of the explorations by Major 

 J. W. Powell in Tusayan, great numbers of these baskets were col- 

 lected and at first thought to be representatives of the Hopi basket 

 art. These are now in the United States National Museum. They 

 consist of twined pack baskets and pitched water bottles of the Utes 

 and Apaches; strong fine coiled bowls and twined pitched water bot- 

 tles of the Havasupai ; coiled bowls of Ute-Navaho and water bottles 

 probably from the Mohave. These were also rod and splint baskets, 

 evidently very old, whose origin is unsettled. They were found also 

 at Zufii and in the Rio Grande pueblos. The largest collection of 

 these interesting baskets is exhibited in the United States National 



