MATTHEWS.. 



VARIETIES OF BLANKETS. 



385 



There are, however, a few men who practice the textile art, and among 

 them are to found the best artisans in the tribe. 



§IX. Navajo blankets represent a wide range in quality and tiuish 

 and an endless variety in design, notwithstanding that all their figures 

 consist of straight lines and angles, no curves being used. As illustrat- 

 ing the greal fertility. of this people in design I have to relate that in 

 the liner blankets of intricate pattern out of thousands which 1 have 

 examined, I do not remember to have ever seen two exactly alike. 

 Among the coarse striped blankets there is great uniformity. 



Fig. 49.— Navajo blanket of the finest quality. 



The accompanying pictures of blankets represent some in my private 

 collection. Fig. 49 depicts a blanket measuring 6 feet 9 inches by 5 

 feet G inches, and weighing nearly (i pounds. It is made entirely of 

 Gerniantown yarn in seven strongly contrasting colors, and is the work 

 of a man who is generally conceded to be the best weaver in the tribe. 

 A month was spent in its manufacture. Its figures are mostly in ser- 

 rated stripes, which are the most difficult to execute with regularity. 

 I have heard that the man who wove this often draws his designs 

 on sand before lie begins to work them on the loom. Fig. 50 a shows a 

 3 ETF — 25 



