14 BUREAU OP AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 48 



Dyes 



The only colors utilized by the Choctaw before they obtained 

 aniline dyes were yellow, red, and black. These, together with the 

 natural cane, gave them four colors to combine in their work. 



The old Cherokee basket now in the British Museum, known to 

 have been obtained in Carolina in 1721, displays the same colors — 

 yellow, red, and a very dark brown, or black. It is evident that 

 these were the only colors used by the Southern Indians in their 

 basket work. 



The Choctaw method of making the dye and coloring the material 

 is simple. 



Yellow. — To make a yellow dye they gather a quantity of roots of 

 the Rumex crisjms L. (yellow dock), which when dry are reduced to 

 small pieces by pounding in a wooden mortar. The dye is then 

 extracted by boiling in water. The material to be dyed is placed in 

 the infusion and allowed to boil until the desired color is obtained. 



Red. — Equal parts of the bark of the Quei^cus texana (red oak) and 

 the Nyssa aquatica L. (black gum) are burned to a fine ash. Water 

 is then added to the ashes, forming a thick paste. The material 

 previously dyed yellow, as above described, is then placed in a vessel 

 and the ash paste poured over it. After a few hours the strong 

 alkali turns the yellow to a deep red. The intensity of the color 

 depends on the length of time the material remains in the ashes. If, 

 during the first process, the material is dyed dark orange, the appli- 

 cation of the paste causes it to turn reddish puiple. 



BlacJc or dark hrown. — At the present time the Choctaw of Bayou 

 Lacomb do not make a black or dark brown dye. They claim, 

 however, that the "old people" made such a dye from the bark of 

 a tree that grows in the north but not in this region, referring prob- 

 ably to the walnut. 



In addition to the dyes enumerated above the Choctaw make and 

 use a red paint, but this is seldom applied to baskets. It is made thus : 

 Equal parts of the bark of the Quercus texana (red oak) and the Quercus 

 ohtusiloha (post oak) and a smaller quantity of the bark of the Quercus 

 virens (live oak) are boiled together until the liquid begins to thicken. 

 The bark is then removed and the liquid is again boiled until still 

 thicker. Just before removing the mixture from the fire a small 

 piece of yellow pine pitch is added and, when melted, is thoroughly 

 mixed with the extract. The latter is then removed from the fire and 

 is ready for use. The drum (pi. 7) was decorated with paint of this 

 sort. 



Types 



Kislie' (pack basket) , plates 15, 16. The bottom is rectangular; the 

 top flares on two sides. Extreme height, 21 inches. Made entirely 



