84 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the writer succeeded in getting two pairs on the Cattaraugus Reser- 

 vation from a husk worker who spent some time in finding among 

 the old women one who remembered the art. She was successful 



in her inquiries and was able to mnke 

 two pairs for the State Museum. 

 They are most ingeniously woven but 

 are as snug as any slipper ever made. 

 The details of these moccasins are 

 shown in plate 24. 



Small iDaskets were woven from 

 twisted corn husks. Trays, table 

 mats and salt bottles were similarly 

 made. The basket was commenced 

 by tying two rolled husks together 

 with another single husk inserted, 

 and then starting two oppositely 

 placed husks about them by the twin- 

 ing process as the width of the warp 

 increased, as it radiated from the 

 center others were inserted and the 

 twining process repeated. When the 

 desired size of the bottom was reached 

 the warp was bent at right angle^ 

 upward and the twining continued 

 until the hight wished had been achieved. The warp was then 

 bent over along the top and braided, in a three strand plait. 

 This stiffened and protected the . top. Husk baskets are called 

 ononya' gaiis'ha' (=ihusk basket). 



Husk bottles for containing salt or ashes or other substances are 

 called ono'nya' gus"heda' (=husk bottle) or yedji'keda"kwa 

 (=salt dish, from ye, feminine affix, and odjike"da, salt, and 

 iakwa', meaning container, in compounding words). Salt bottles 

 were tightly woven and some are said to be water tight. The Iro- 

 quois prize them, believing that the husk absorbs the moisture be 

 fore it reaches the salt which is thereby kept dry. 



Husk trays are used for containing small objects or food and are 

 designed to be kept on a flat surface only. They are called o'dion'ha' 

 iakwa' (=crimib dish). 



Baby hammocks, ono'nya' gao^'wo*^', or gao"'yofi, ( ono'nya* 



Fig. 19 Doll made in obedience to a 

 dream and cast aside to carry away 

 some ma.ady. ^^ Specimen is actual size 



