164 INDIANS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 
rose color were obtained in the early history of blanket- 
making by raveling woolen cloth obtained from Euro- 
peans. Blankets containing such material are called 
“bayeta’’ from the Spanish name of flannel used in the 
soldiers’ uniforms. There were a few years during 
which the Navajo frequently bought yarn ready spun 
and dyed from the traders. These blankets are usually 
called Germantowns. 
The earliest examples of Navajo weaving often have 
horizontal stripes, closely resembling the blankets made 
by the Hopi. Later many geometrical figures appear, 
standing alone, or combined with horizontal and 
vertical stripes or with each other. The general arrange- 
ment is usually symmetrical, but both the completed 
pattern and the individual designs lack the exactness of 
machine work. | 
The more common designs are squares, parallelo- 
grams, diamonds, and triangles. Diamonds are often 
formed by intersecting diagonal lines which run across 
the blanket, half diamonds resulting at the sides. The 
outlines of the figures in many cases are broken with 
right angles, that is, made to consist of a series of steps. 
These designs have Navajo names descriptive of them, 
such as ‘‘sling”’ for the elongated diamond, ‘three 
points” for the triangle. The ordinary diamond is 
called “‘star large,’’ by which the morning star is meant. 
This and the zigzag line representing lightning and 
triangular masses called clouds have more or less 
religious connotation and may be symbolic in_ their 
intention. 
It is proper to suppose that the Navajo, who formerly 
did not weave, learned the art from their Pueblo neigh- 
bors who are known to have practised it in prehistoric 
times. They seem to have taken over the loom and the 
general methods of preparing the yarn and weaving it. 
