Boas] METHODS OF ORNAMENTATION 227 
imbricated strip the end of the ribbon of bark is caught under a coil 
stitch and then cut off close with a knife. Several women, when 
making a design consisting of a large field of one color, instead of 
cutting it off carry it through underneath the stitches which are to 
be worked in another color, placing the strips for the intervening 
imbrication on top. 
One informant reduced the thickness of her coil very slightly 
where the imbrication was applied, by this delicate adjustment pre- 
venting an embossed surface. She explained that she desired an 
even thickness of wall throughout, and declared that several other 
women pursued the same plan, but none were observed by Mr. Teit. 
Coil reduction is accomplished by special tightening and tapping 
home of the sewing splint or by removing a small part of the founda- 
tion. 
Because of the spiral construction of the basket, imbrication or 
beading which passes in the same coil completely around the basket 
can not be made to meet, but ends one row higher than where it 
began (pl. 8, d; 50, c), unless ring coils are used, which does not often 
happen; hence it is customary to arrange the designs so that any 
such breaks in the lines occur near one corner of a short end (on a 
rectangular burden basket) (pl. 3, 6), but some bring the break on a 
long side, near a corner (pl. 8, ¢). 
All informants of the Upper and Lower Thompson agree that no 
imbrication was placed on the bottoms of any kind of baskets, out- 
side or inside, in former times. Even at the present day imbrica- 
tion on the outside of bottoms is exceedingly rare. In small circular 
baskets an imbricated piece of work which was originally intended 
for a lid is now and then converted into a bottom. 
According to Lower Thompson informants all bottoms were 
formerly devoid of beading except for the dividing line already 
mentioned, although a few Upper Thompson say that small circular 
baskets had bottoms of groups of beaded coils alternating with plain 
ones. The number in each group ranged from one to four. A few 
instances are on record of bowls the bottoms of which were beaded 
over the entire surface, except for one or two groups of from one to 
three undecorated coils. It is said that lids were treated in the same 
way. Very rarely the beaded designs on the sides extended to the 
center of the bottom. If they were placed in radial rows they all 
converged at the center. At the present day many trays are imbri- 
cated on the inside, at the bottom, and on the outside of the sides as 
well. Several Lytton people say that trays used for ceremonial 
purposes were ornamented in this manner very long ago. Whether 
those used in gambling games to toss dice upon were also ornamented 
was not learned. When designs are to be placed on the inside of a 
bottom it is considered better to make this section of the basket in 
