CRADLES OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 



189 



extent, crossing the Rockies on the east under the name of Comanches, 

 and in southern California extending quite to the Pacific Ocean. Spread 

 over such a vast territory, the Shoshonian cradle was modified here 

 and there by the nature of things, by the contact of dominant tribes, 

 and by changed habits of life. 



The Utes of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, make use of a flat wicker cradle- 

 frame, kite-shaped or roughly triangular. The widening is effected by 

 the intercalation of rods as they are wanted. At the top the rods are 

 held in place by a cross-rod lashed to the ends of the parallel pieces. 

 The twined weaving is characteristic of thelites in all of their textiles. 

 A pretty addition to the Ute cradle is the delicate awning of light wicker 

 attached by its lower narrow border to the bed-frame and held at the 

 proper angle by means of braces made of the same material (Figs. 19, 

 20). 



Three specimens from this area are in the Museum, showing them as 

 frame and as finished cradles. Indeed, we have only to cover the lat- 

 tice with buckskin after the manner of those used by the Spokanes and 

 the affair is complete. 



In the eastern portion of Utah once dwelt various tribes of Ute In- 

 dians. In the National collection is a cradle from this region marked 

 Uncompaghre Utes (Fig. 21). It is an old affair, showing scarcely a 



Fi£. 21. 

 Uncompaghre Ute Cradle ; Showing front and back. 



(Cat. No. 128342, U. S. N. M. Uncompaghre River, Colorado (?). Collected by Captain Beckwith, U. S. A.) 



sign of white contact, excepting a bunch of blue rag over the hood. 

 The cradle is built upon a thin board 4 feet high, 18 inches wide at top, 

 and tapering to half that width at bottom. The covering is of buck- 

 skin, seamed on the back, and very clumsily put on. There are two 



