BOAS] THE TECHNIQUE OF COILING 159 
Besides trading with the people of the interior the Lower Thompson 
also sold baskets to the Lower Fraser people on the coast who formerly 
did not make coiled basketry, and the Lower Lillooet did the same. 
Usually Thompson baskets were used from Chilliwack east and 
south, while Lillooet products were seen lower down, or to the west. 
Thompson baskets also crossed the line to Nootsak and beyond, in 
the State of Washington. A few appear to have reached the Skagit 
and neighboring tribes, who also received occasional Wenatchi speci- 
mens from east of the Cascades. 
Nothing definite was learned regarding prices paid by the coast 
tribes for Thompson wares, but it is known that the dugout canoes 
before mentioned, woolen blankets of coarsely spun goat’s hair, the 
best quality of grass stems for imbrication, and shells were some 
of the articles of exchange. 
THE TECHNIQUE OF COILING 
The Indians say that formerly great care was exercised in making 
baskets, in regard to size, evenness, and regularity of stitching, 
and that the people were especially particular in their selection of 
materials. On the whole, coils and sewing were smaller and the 
work tighter than is customary in modern times. The greatest 
attention and skill was lavished on fancy baskets, although it is 
said that the modern fancy types were not made long ago. The 
term applies to forms not serving for general household purposes, 
such as women’s workbaskets, gift, or water baskets. 
Now a much coarser technique prevails for all kinds, as it has 
been found to answer about as well and requires less time, but the 
finer work has not altogether disappeared; in fact, exquisitely 
delicate workmanship is discovered on some of the modern fancy 
shapes, which are offered for the tourist trade or used for special 
purposes by the people themselves. 
While not much information has been obtained as to the work of 
beginners, all the women declare they are much slower and more 
awkward than experts. They are apt to use too large coils and their 
stitching is coarse and irregular. There is great individual variation. 
Some beginners do very poor work, while others, even when quite 
young, almost equal experienced women. Some are much more care- 
ful and neat, having a very good eye and judgment, as well as ability 
to learn rapidly. It is easy for the experienced women to tell who 
will become good basket makers and who will never exceed 
mediocrity. 
Because some women have learned to make certain forms better 
than others they confine themselves almost entirely to their manu- 
facture. The old women seem to make chiefly burden and circular 
baskets or oblong trays. It may be because these were the forms 
