i893-J Ol [Haynes. 
In tlie Fi-euc.li language these are designated as poinxpns^ wliich 
tlie translator of Nadaillac's work has rendered by stillettu, 
though I should suppose tliat bodkin would designate its pur- 
])Ose more clearly, since they are commonly su})posed to liave 
heen used for making fishing-nets. Prof. Otis T. Mason, how- 
evir, in an article on the basket-work of the North American 
Indians, figures a precisely similar object, from Coahuila, Mexico, 
which he calls a hone-irricker.^ He states that "the tool almost 
universally used in the manufacture of baskets is a bone awl, or 
pricker, and the makers are the women" (page 291). Subsc- 
(juently he quotes (page 303) an explanation by Dr. Palmer, of 
a peculiar method in which these were used, "In Utah, Arizona, 
soutiiern California, and New Mexico the Indians depend solely 
upon tliis plant [Jlhiisaromatica, var. triloba (squawberry)] tor 
material out of which to make their baskets. It is far more durable 
and tougher than the willow, which is not used by these Indians. 
The niode of preparation is as follows : The twigs are soaked 
in water to soften them, and to loosen the bark, which is 
scraped off by the females. The twigs are then split by the 
use of tlie mouth and both hands. Their baskets are built up by a 
succession of small rolls of grass stems over which those twigs are 
firmly and closely bound. A bone awl is used to make the holes 
under tiie rim of the grass for the split twigs. Baskets thus 
made are very durable, will hold water, and are often used to 
cook in, hot stones being dropped in until the food is done."- 
I think there can scarcely be a doubt that the present implement 
was used for the [)urpose of basket-making. The early comeis 
to New England speak in the highest praise of the excellence of 
the basket work of the natives. In the narrative of the first ex- 
ploring party of the Pilgrims, November IG, 1620, it is said that 
"we found a Httle old basket, full of fair Indian corn ; and digged 
further, and found a fine great new basket, full of very fair corn 
of this year. . . . The basket was round and narrow at the top. 
It held about three or four bushels, which was as much as two 
of us could lift up from the ground, and was very handsomely 
and cunningly made."^ 
1 Smitlisoniau report, 1884, pt. 2, pi. G4. 
2 Amer. nat., 1878, v. 12, p. 597-598. 
■' Mourt's Relation (Young's edition), p. 133,144; cf. Bradford's History (Deane's 
edition), p. 82. 
