Rl'SSELL] 



ARTIFACTS 



133 



The stems of the cat-tail, Typlia angustifoHa Linn., are used as 

 founchititin in the common baskets. Thc_y are gathered in July when 

 green, and are split and tlried. The stalks curl inward along the split 

 surface while drpng, so that thej' have the ajipearance of round 

 stems vdth a mere line running along one side to show where they 

 were split. These stalks are from 1 to 2 m. long and are kept in 

 bundles, sometimes 25 cm. in tiiameter, but usually much less. 



The ]iods of the devil's claw, Martjmia fragrans Lindl., furnish the 

 third material necessary for the ordinary basket. The supply of 

 wild plants is not large enough, and a few mart^mia seeds are planted 

 each year by the basket makers. These are gathered in the autumn 

 at any time after the plant has dried. They are made into buntUcs 

 (fig. 58) for storing or for 

 barter by tying a few hooks 

 together and then pushing 

 other hooks down into the 

 center and allowing the 

 pods to ciu-ve over one 

 another. Each half of a 

 pod is provided with one of 

 these long recurved hooks, 

 from 15 to 20 cm. in length 

 (fig. 59). They are black 

 on the surface, and hence 

 desired for the purpose of 

 contrasting with the wliite 

 willow to form the designs. 

 Their central portion is 

 pithy, but the outside is 

 very tough and woody. To 

 prepare for use, the devil's 

 claw is soaked over night 

 and then buried in moist 

 earth for a day or more. It is then dug out, usually by a party of 

 women, who make a "bee" of it, ami the outer fiber of each claw is 

 removed by breaking the hooked eml and holding it in the teeth 

 while the split fiber is pulled off with the fingers. Figure 60 shows 

 such a party stripping the fibers, which appear in a coil at the knees 

 of the second figure from the right. In the foreground is a heap of 

 strip|)ed pods. A small board in front of each woman is to lay the 

 s])lint on when tliinning and shaping it. Instead of soaking and 

 burying the devil's claw, some have begun to hasten the process by 

 pouring hot water over it and proceeding at once to strip off the 

 fiber. The strips arc kept in coils (fig. 57, b) similar to those of willow. 

 The}' are valued somewhat more highly than the willow splints, and 



Fig. 59. Martynia pod. 



