66 PROCEEDINGS OP THE NATIONAL, MUSEUM vol.77 



bending it to the shape desired, forms the frame. To the under 

 side of this, selected reeds were bound by a single yucca-leaf strand 

 in running coiled stitch.^° Such lashing, and a cornhusk pad that 

 covered it and the reed ends, was subsequently inclosed by twilled 

 weaving (over-three, under-three) of unidentified basketry ma- 

 terial. The original dimensions of this exceptional specimen were 

 approximately 12 by 24 inches (0.304 by 0.609 m.). 



Two sets of reeds, at right angles to each other, compose the body 

 of the cradle. First to be attached was the transverse series above 

 mentioned, of which 72 elements now remain. Upon these, 26 longi- 

 tudinal rods were bound in pleasing pattern with two-ply cords of 

 human hair. Close inspection of the illustrations will show the 

 running coiled stitch that binds the outermost stems of the upper 

 set to each one in the lower. The lowermost and each twenty-fifth 

 cross reed above (pi. 45) is fastened to individual rods of the 

 opposite series by a wrapped stitch in which a single cord twines 

 about the horizontal member as it crosses, successively, those placed 

 lengthwise. This method of attachment resulted in a sequence of 

 three rectangles each of which is bisected diagonally by coiled 

 stitching. 



It is to be noted that only 2-ply human hair cord was utilized as a 

 sewing element in binding the two sets of reeds which compose the 

 body of the fragmentary cradle before us. But a shred of yucca leaf, 

 looped over several lateral stems, served subsequently for minor 

 repair. 



Foodstuffs. — Maize has formed the staple food crop of Pueblo 

 peoples since Basket Maker times. Innumerable cobs appeared in 

 the household rubbish with which Betatakin was terraced ; those few 

 we salvaged (312266) average 6i/^ inches (0.165 m.) and are among 

 the longest. We found also three small red beans {Phaseolus vul- 

 garis — No. 312268) -^ and various squash stems, seeds, and frag- 

 ments of rind {Cucurhita pepo — Nos. 312261, 3, 5). Pinyon nuts, 

 the seeds of desert grasses, and edible roots, such as a species of wild 

 potato that grows abundantly in canyons of the Kayenta district, 

 contributed, each in its proper season, to the products of cultivated 

 gardens. No useful list of the divers game animals killed for food 

 can be compiled from the handful of worked bones retained. 



Figure 21 shows two severed fragments of a gourd vessel. It is 

 understood that to-day, as in prehistoric times, young wild gourds 

 are still eaten by several Southwestern tribes. 



-" The thread crosses the twig, goes down and encompasses two reeds beneath ; thence 

 back over the twig and down again to inclose one of the same two reeds and the next 

 beyond ; thence bad? over the twig, and so on. 



^ This and the following identifications were made by Mr. D. N. Shoemaker, of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry, U. S. Department of Agriculture. 



