Explanation of Chitimacha Basketry — Plate 26 I 



(N. M. Nos. 253512, 253495, 253496, 253504, 253499, 253500, 253501, 253551) 



1 



The triangular designs in a are called aku'ngiud'cactV, "bear earrings." In b we ! 



have kopxJcopxni, "square blocks." The design shown in c, consisting of pairs of 

 triangles with their apexes pointing together, is known as laxt-vid'xtq, "bottom of 

 basket," for reasons explained by d, showing the bottom of a basket. The crosses 

 on e are called apci(V nkentc, "crosses," and the marks on f, consisting of two light 

 weaves meeting in a point, l-et7nic-so, "mouse-tracks." The corresponding marks 

 on g are called pop-V, "rabbit- teeth," and the dots on the cigar case Jt'ts'a^ntem, 

 spots or dots distributed over the surface of a basket to fill in. 



