304 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1884. 



the stripped yucca leaf is dark green, the other light green and white 

 striped fading into yellow. Now by deftly turning the thread where it 

 passes through the coil in sewing a variety of shades is produced, as 

 in shaded worsted work. Again, by dyeing the threads black, blue, 

 red, yellow, and combining color effects with the natural shades of the 

 leaf, the most beautiful ornamentation is produced. There is some 

 method .in the patterns which usually commences from a blank center 

 of a few coils with four brown spots of six stitches each. From these 

 fundamental points all sorts of geometric figures are produced by the 

 simple process of sewing with different-colored threads. 



The coiled and decorated ozier bread- trays of the Mokis are made, I 

 have been informed, at only one pueblo, Oraibi. The frame consists of 

 two cross sets of twigs, from 12 to 16 in each bar of the cross. These are 

 firmly held together at their intersection by sewing and plaiting. They 

 then are spread out radially, the space being from time to time sup 

 plemented by additional twigs. The workman provides himself with 

 bunches of white, yellow, orange, purple, black, blue, and green twigs 

 only a few inches in length. These he proceeds to weave into patterns 

 of the greatest beauty, even imitating cloud effects seen on Japanese 

 screens, using short or long twigs as the occasion demands, hiding the 

 ends between the ribs and the filling of the preceding coils. The process 

 is the same as that employed by the Navahos in making the clouded 

 blankets, and by the northwest coast Indians in their ancient mountain- 

 sheep blankets. The greatest variety of ornament is produced, but, as 

 in the coiled work, the center is always plain. Under the influence of 

 trade, however, the ancient patterns are giving way to those demanded 

 by the purchasers. As the patterns are really mosaics and could be 

 picked out it will be easily seen that the figures on the back and front 

 do not exactly conform, the corresponding square on the back being 

 always one space to the right or left of the same in front. 



The Moki common twig basket is as rough as rough can be ; the same 

 is true of the flat mats used about their dwellings. They are woven in 

 the same manner as the market baskets which we are accustomed to 

 see every day. The twilled effect on the flat mats i^ produced by over 

 lapping two warp strands by ^ach of the woof strands. 



Yucca baskets and trays of a very coarse character are made by the 

 Mokis, woven sometimes in plain checker, at other times in twill. Al 

 though the material is very coarse, quite pleasing effects are produced 

 by the two sides of the leaf and by the different shades of the same 

 side. 



Zuni basketry. Although one may see at Zuni all sorts of baskets, 

 the most of them, including coiled or whipped trays, Moki coiled and 

 twig basket trays, none of these are made there. The only basket of 

 the Zunis is their little, very rough twig peach basket, hardly worthy 

 of notice except for its ugliness and simplicity (Figs. 80-82). 



