150 INDIANS OF Tin: SCJLTHWEST. 



end to a ti"(M' and th(^ other to tli(' waist of the weaver. 

 The j)at terns are l)roug;ht out by causing the warp 

 instead of the \voof to aj)pear in the desired places. 



The colors employed are the natural white and brown 

 of the well-waslied wool, a gray which results from the 

 mingling of these, and \arious native and conmiercial 

 dyes. Black they produce by combining a concoction 

 of sumach (Rhus aromatica) , roasted ochre, and pifion 

 gum. Dull red was obtained by placing the yarn in a 

 liquid made by boiling the bark of alder and mountain 

 mahogany in water. Lemon yellow was secured by the 

 use of the yellow flowers of the shrubby Bigelovia 

 gravcolens and a native alum. Old gold resulted from 

 rubbing into the wool a paste made of sorrel roots and 

 crude alum ground together. In rather early days 

 indigo blue was obtained from the Mexicans and dis- 

 placed an earlier native blue. A bright scarlet and a 

 rose color were obtained in the early history of blanket- 

 making by ravelling w^oolen cloth obtained from Euro- 

 peans. Blankets containing such material are called 

 ''bayeta" from the Spanish name of flannel used in the 

 soldiers' unifonns. There were a few years during 

 which the Navajo frequently bought yarn ready spun 

 and dyed from the traders. These blankets are usualh' 

 called Germantowns. 



The early examples of Navajo weaving often have 

 broad 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 arrangement 



