ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK 



157 



the fine ends, leaving the rough bases projecting and all on one 

 side of the rope. When this is sufficiently long, it is coiled and 

 stitched so as to present a nearly flat surface, rough above and 

 smooth below. The inner bark of the basswood is used in stitching, 

 as common twine is apt to stretch. 



Corn husks were once used for siioes, and masks are made of 

 them for special purposes. Corn husk dolls are very ingenious, and 

 one is figured which belongs to the writer. They are usually well 

 clothed, but this would not allow their characteristics to appear. 

 Figure 95 shows this of actual size, but the size varies much. In 

 forming the head, the husk is reversed and drawn very smooth. 

 The whole process is interesting. 



Husks are selected at harvest time for various purposes and often 

 kept in store. Braiding these was an early art, applied to the dry- 

 ing and preservation of corn. The husks formed a long rope from 

 which the ears depended, and these were hung within and without 

 the cabin. This is still a feature of Xew York reservation life. 

 The old Mohawk name for these braids was onnora. 



Bark mats were made quite recently to lie on, and other mats 

 were important articles in Indian life, but early examples of these 

 are rare from their perishable nature. Air W. W. Adams found 

 a piece in a brass kettle, holding about 4 quarts and taken from a 

 Cayuga grave. It was " a mat of rushes, woven two strands over 

 and two strands under. In the mat was about a quart of raspberry 

 seeds. It is quite common to find berry seeds in the dishes from 

 this place." These are also found in Seneca graves in small heaps, 

 but without protection. Figure 32 shows a part of this mat, found 

 in the town of Venice N. Y. 



Roger Williams's account of mats has been quoted. When Hud- 

 son visited an Indian chief, he " scarcely had his head under the 

 roof, but he was seated on two mats spread out on the floor." 

 Lafitau had a picture of an orator standing on a mat, and there are 

 frequent allusions to these. They were made of various materials, 

 fine or coarse, and, when these were colored with the brilliant dyes 

 of the country, they were often very handsome. Baskets and 

 burden straps are the survivors of this early industry. These will 

 properly come under another head. 



