DIRECTIONS FOR COLLECTORS OF AMERICAN 



BASKETRY. 



By Otis T. Mason, 

 Curator, Division of Ethnology. 



The sallow knows the basket maker's thumb. — Emerson. 

 INTRODUCTION. 



The following instructions are published for the great number of 

 persons who are interested in the collection and preservation of Ameri- 

 can basketry. Besides the assthetic elements involved and the pride 

 of saving the best examples of a rapidly vanishing industry, there is a 

 vast deal of culture studj^ which ought not to be neglected. 



In every collection, public or private, there are opportunities for 

 special investigation that should not be in the possession of onl}' a 

 single individual. If all who are gathering baskets would preserve 

 such information as they are able to obtain, the bringing together of 

 the results of all this study would be a monument to our American 

 aborigines. The perfect understanding of a basket involves a knowl- 

 edge of the following subjects: 



I. Materials. — Natural and prepared. 



1. List of plants, animals, minerals, etc. 



2. Indian name, giving the tribe. 



3. Common name. 



4. Scientific name. 



The following label of a specimen in the Hudson basketr}^ collection 

 will serve as a model to guide the collector in saving information 

 about his specimens. 



BASKET JAR of the Ceeko Indians (Kiilanapan stock). Made from the prepared root of Kahum, 

 or California sedge {Carex viendocinensis), throat and scalp feathers of Katdtch, or woodpecker 

 (Melanerpes formicivorus), breast feathers of Jucil, or meadow lark {Sturndla neglecta), scalp feathers 

 of Kaydn, or mallard {Anas borclias), plumes of TchikAka, or crested quail (Lophortyx californicus) , 

 neck feathers of Tsawalu, or jay {Cyanura steUeri), and K4ya, or prepared clam shell {Saxidomus 

 gracilis), in a style of coiled sewing called Tsai, in which a single rod constitutes the warp. The sew- 

 ing passes over this rod, under the preceding one, and locks in the stitch immediately underneath. 

 Ornamentation, a row of shell disks around the margin and another row serving as a handle. 



Diameter, 5 inches. 



RUSSIAN RIVER, CALIFORNIA, 1896. 203,-115. 



FROM THE BUREAU OF AiMERICAN ETHNOLOGY, COLLECTED BY 

 DR. J. ^V. HUDSON. 



[3] 



