THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



planted fields of corn each year, making use of irrigation 

 when feasible. Their basketry is similar to that of the 

 Eastern Apache, but it is ornamented in black and white, 

 the white obtained by splitting and shaving willow twigs, 

 the black from the long curved pods of the devil's-claw or 

 unicorn-plant. Samples of beadwork, dress, implements 

 of warfare, food and ceremonial objects are shown. 



The Navajo, a large and widely scattered tribe, are well 

 known as the present-day blanket makers of North Amer- 

 ica. In early times they probably wore garments of buck- 

 skin, and they continue to use buckskin moccasins. It is 

 believed that the Navajo did not weave before the coming 

 of the Spanish in 1540. Since the Spanish occupation they 

 have acquired large flocks of sheep, learned how to shear, 

 wash the wool, spin it into yarn and dye it. For a loom a 

 simple frame in which the web is placed vertically is used. 

 The weaving is begun at the bottom, the blanket being low- 

 ered as the work progresses. The woof is inserted by the 

 fingers without the aid of a shuttle, continuing only so far 

 across the web as that particular color is needed. The next 

 color is then taken up. Such a blanket has both sides alike 

 in pattern and color, a result difficult to produce by machin- 

 ery. The woof strands are pressed down with a fork of 

 wood and then firmly beaten down with a batten, the result 

 being a blanket in one piece and quite thick. The collec- 

 tions are replete with wonderful examples of the weaver's 

 art. The Navajo are also adept silversmiths. Many speci- 

 mens of bracelets, belts, rings and other articles of per- 



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