RoTH] DOMESTIC IMPLEMENTS AND REQUISITES 293 
together. With the sawfish the foundation is made by plaiting one 
set of nine strands more or less diagonally into another series of nine, 
according to the diamond arrangement illustrated (fig. 89 B), where 
will be observed the small central spot of exposed strand which the 
Indians call the eye (e). The superstructure (C) is formed by plait- 
ing 15 or 16 additional strands into the upper edges of the dia- 
mond, care being taken that, whatever be the number plaited along 
the one edge, a similar number must be worked on the other; ab- 
sence of such provision renders the article askew and will ulti- 
mately prevent it fitting properly below. In the wishbone variety 12 
strands are employed in the foundation (D), while another 11 or 12 
may be added on either side to form the superstructure (E). 
369. Gable: On completion of the superstructure the strands pro- 
jecting from its upper lateral half are plaited into one another to 
form the gable (fig. 89 F), in such a manner that as each successive 
strand, starting from the apex of the superstructure, reaches the 
line which will ultimately limit the top edge of the blade, it is bent 
backward, outward, and downward so as to underlie three or two 
(G) others before rejoining the plait. Of course, when the bent 
strand underlies three others, the edge of the article will be much 
stronger than with only two, and hence the former arrangement is 
usually met in the fans employed for everyday Indian domestic 
work; on the other hand, in the specimens made for purposes of 
trade, etc., each bent strand may underlie but one other (H). This 
bending and plaiting process proceeds until four strands remain at 
the top outer corner, provided three strands have been underlapped 
at each bending. Three or two must, however, remain if two or one, 
respectively, have been underlapped. The piece of plaiting being 
now reversed, the other gable is built in similar manner, and, with 
it, the body of the blade is finished. It will be noticed (F) that the 
strands projecting from the gable portions of the body’s two sides 
are all formed of the tapering (distal) extremities (%), while those 
from the foundation and superstructure are composed of the butt 
(proximal) ends (/). : 
370. Wing: Starting, then, on each side with the innermost of the 
four strands projecting from the upper corners of the body, these 
are bent, passed under the three remaining, and plaited parallel with 
the side of the body (by means of the usual underlapping and over- 
lapping of three at a time) until they reach the lower angle of the 
foundation, between the two innermost butts where they cross 
(fig. 90 A), the distal extremity of the one strand being finally 
tucked under and along the corresponding extremity of the other. 
(It should be noted that the size and method of construction of the 
fan are so adapted to the length of the leaf from which the strand is 
