Tr Raxer Higoa.—Maori Plaited Basketry and Plaitwork. 735 
of the keel and the change of direction keeps the sinistrals on the left of 
the figure close together, although in the diagram they are shown somewhat 
apart. On the left triangle the same procedure is carried out, but of course 
it must be the fourth deztral that is turned back into the body of the 
work. The gap is now filled with the disengaged wefts, which have 
arranged themselves into dextrals and sinistrals. The corners are made 
weft. Ifa wider bottom is desired, the fifth or sixth weft may be taken 
as the key weft; but whichever it is, the same number must be adhered 
to for all four corners or the basket will be awry and the gaps will not fill 
in properly (e kore e tutaki). In these baskets the keel curves up at each 
end, making the middle deeper than the two ends (see Plate 80). The 
depth at the middle is increased by the weight of the contents pulling 
directly on the handles which are attached to the middle of the upper 
border. 
in the plaiting of the upper border, which, if they have no constructional 
reason, are probably the private marks of careful old ladies for recognizing 
т. 
upper border is plaited to the middle of the side and the weft material 
for the handle аа through опе of the holes under the border 2} in. 
ormin oop round the border, and the wefts divided into three equal 
sm 8 The tutes divisions are plaited in three-ply for 8 in. and then the 
upper border is plaited on for another 2}in. The ends of the handle- 
wefts are now merged with the wefts of the upper border, which is 
continued on to the other side, where the second handle is affixed in the 
same manner. In some three 
are made on each side. These are used in lashing over fern or other 
covering-material to protect the contents. Be 
Baskets made of cordyline-leaves are made in a similar manner. The 
wefts are much narrower, but permit of the butt ends being scraped to 
admit of the whiri beginning at the bottom. The completed basket is 
usually dyed black or considerably darkened by submerging in swamp- 
mud. 
