COLLECTORS OF AMERICAN BASKETRY. 



[22] 



Fig. 33. 

 detail of single-rod coil in basketry. 



Rept. U.S.N.M. 1884, pi. 5, fig. 8. 



having- the glistening surface outward. As this is somewhat unyield- 

 ing-, it is difficult to crowd the stitches together, and so the foundation 

 is visible between. 



In America single-rod basketry is widely spread. Along the Pacific 

 coast it is found in northern Alaska and as far south as the borders of 



Mexico. The Pomo Indians use it 

 in some of their finest work. The 

 roots of plants and soft stems of 

 willow, rhus, and the like are used 

 for the sewing, and being soaked 

 thoroughly can be crowded together 

 so as to entirely conceal the founda- 

 tion (fig. 33). 



D. Ttoo-rod foundation. — One rod 

 in this style lies on top of the other; 

 the stitches pass over two rods in 

 progress and under the upper one 

 of the pair below, so that each stitch 

 incloses three stems in a vertical 

 series. A little attention to fig. 31 

 D will demonstrate that the alter- 

 nate rod or the upper rod in each pair will be inclosed in two series 

 of stitches, while the other or lower rod will pass along freely in 

 the middle of one series of stitches and show on the outer side. 

 Examples of this two-rod foundation are to be seen among the Atha- 

 pascan tribes of Alaska, among the 

 Pomo Indians of the Pacific coast, and 

 among the Apache of Arizona. An 

 interesting or specialized variety of this 

 tj^pe is seen among the Mescaleros of 

 New Mexico, who use the two-rod 

 foundation, but instead of passing the 

 stitch around the upper rod of the 

 coil below, simply interlock the stitches 

 so that neither one of the two rods 

 is inclosed twice. This Apache ware 

 is sewed with yucca fiber and the 

 brown stems of other plants, producing 

 a brilliant effect, and the result of the 

 special technic is a flat surface like 

 that of pottery (fig, 34). The U. S. National Museum possesses a 

 single piece of precisely the same technic from the kindred of the 

 Apache on the Lower Yukon. 



E. Rod and vielf foundation. — In this kind of basketry the single- 

 rod foundation is overlaid b}^ a strip or splint of tough fiber, some- 



FlG. 34. 



FOUNDATION OF TWO RODS, VERTICAL. 



Rept. U.S.N.M. 1884, pU 50, flg. 84. 



