RUSSELL] 



ARTIFACTS 



149 



Fortimately, Doctor Palmer obtained in 1885 a complete loom with 

 sample balls of cotton thread (fij;. 74) from the Piiiias. The warp is 

 smoothly and evenly spun into a thread about 1 nun. in (Maineter. 

 The woof tlireaiis are softer and are about 3 mm. in diameter; the ball 

 (Museum no. 7601 2) is 61 cm. in circumference. 



Sinew from the l)ack and legs of deer was made into 

 thread and was used in tying cradle bars', sliield han- 

 dles, arrows, kitiha frames, and even tat to()ing needles. 



An unidentified .species of grass, called a'kivik b}- 

 the Pimas, is said to have been spun into tliread in 

 ancient times. According to the myth, it supplied 

 the s<m of Corn Woman with material for his bow- 

 string. W^ien there is sufficient rain, this grass 

 grows on the Mo'hatflk hills, north of Gila Crossing. 



Weavino 



The art of weaving was not highly ileveloped 

 among the Pimas, yet the few simple fabrics of cot- 

 ton which they produced sufficed to satisfy their 

 needs for clotliing and adornment." Unlike their 

 neighbors, they have all but abandoned the art of 

 weaving; at no time in their history have they ad- 

 vanced as far as the Pueblo tribes. Where they 

 learned the art or if they developed it themselves we 

 may not know. We can only hazard the guess that 

 they had the ingenuity to imitate the fabrics wliich 

 the Hohokam left behind or which the Pimas actu- 

 ally saw them using. 



Early accomits of the Pimas '' contain references to their fields of 



Fig. 73. Spindliv 



the next was a spindle about 18 inches long, with a single fly of four or six inches. Ever and anon she 

 gave it a twist in a dexterous manner, and iit its end was drawn a coarse cotton thread." (Notes, 85.) 



" The implements used by these tribes for spinning and wea\nng are of the most primitive character. 

 .\ slender stick about 2 feet long passing through a block of wood, which serves to keep up the 

 momentum imparted to it, constitutes the spindle. One end of this rests on a wooden cup inserted 

 between the toes and the other is held and twirled by the fingers of the right hand, while the left hand 

 Is occupied in drawing out the thread from a supply of cotton which is coiled on the left arm in loose 

 rolls." (Bartlett, Personal Narrative, ii, 225.) 



The spindle collected is of arrowwood. the cross bar is of cactus rib. Length, 730 mm.; diameter, 

 7 mm.; length of bur. 175 mm.; width, .'il mm. (Fig. 73.) 



a '• I suppose that all are proWded with cotton blankets; but, owing to the almost incessant heat of 

 the day. they seldom wear them," writes Bartlett (Per.sonal Narrative, II. 221) i; but in fact there were 

 many poor Pimas who had no blankets and in winter they must have been miserable, indeed, despite the 

 mildness of the cUmate. Those who were unalile to weave but were well to do obtained blankets by 

 bartering corn, beans, and other produce, or horses at the rate of one horse for two blankets. 



t Bartlett describes the I'iina method of wearing as follows: *■ Inweaving, the warp is attached to two 

 sticks, and stretched upon thegrnun<i by means of stakes. Each alternate thread of the warp is passed 

 round a piece of cane, which, being lifted, opens a pas.sage for the shuttle in the manner of a sley. The 

 operator sits in the fashion of a tailor, and, raising the sley with one hand, with the other passes the shut- 

 tle, which is simply a pointe<l stick with the thread wound upon it, between the threads of the warp. 

 The work is beaten up after the passage of each thread by the use of a sharp smooth-edged instrument 

 made of hard wood. The operation of course progresses slowiy, and from the length of time consumed 

 in spinning and wearing they seta high price upon their lilankets, asking for them ten or twelvedollars 

 innioney,ora new woolen blanket of equal size. The wearing is generally done by the old men." (Per- 

 sonal Narrative, ii, 225.) 



