NO. 2235. HOPI INDIAN COLLECTION— HOUOH. 281 



A variety of small pouches of buckskin are made, usually being 

 simple pursings of leather, or with little sewing. The most com- 

 plicated is in the shape of a crescent moon, the opening supplied with 

 a flap, being at the center. Thongs for carrying the pouch are tied 

 at the ends of the horns. This pouch resembles those of the Zuiii 

 (fig. 46). 



Another use for leather is in making ceremonial shields and masks, 

 and for this purpose rawhide is used. Some of this. work, especially 

 in imitating the form of horns of the mountain sheep, is very skill- 

 fully done. 



One of the important uses of leather at present is connected with 

 the horse and burro for sinches, hobbles, pack saddles, bridles, whips, 

 etc. Lariats braided from 

 buckskin were formerly 

 made, and the work on 

 them is very neat. 



WORK IN FEATHERS. 



Feathers are of prime 

 importance among the 

 Hopi on account of their 

 extensive use in ceremonial 

 paraphernalia and objects 

 nearly connected with re- fig. 46.-leather waist pouch with waist cobd. 



ligion. In this respect they are used on ceremonial costume, masks, 

 prayer sticks, prayer offerings, and offerings of felicitation at the 

 Soyaluna ceremony (see pi. 43, fig. 1), and many others. There is 

 little if any secular use of feathers, but quills were used in a kind of 

 textile work (see pi. 32), and as bird snares. Anciently feathers of 

 the turkey were applied to cords with which blankets were made, 

 and these blankets preceded the rabbit skin robe. 



MASK MAKING. 



The skill of the Hopi is displayed in the making of masks, which 

 with other complicated religious paraphernalia, demand a many- 

 sided ability for construction.^ Masks covering the head are formed 

 of a width of dampened rawhide, sewed at the edges and pushed or 

 formed into shape. Orifices are cut for the mouth and eyes. When 

 dry the leather is firm and the mask is painted and decorated. Teeth 

 are sometimes cut from a strip of leather and fastened on with sinew. 

 The tongue, if required, is a strip of leather painted red and thrust 

 through the mouth orifice. If a beard is required, it is made from 

 horsehair or fur and sewed on. Lashes of hair are placed over the 



1 Examples may be studied in the west-north hall of the United States Natloinal 

 Museum. 



