The following questions may be of service :— 
i. What are the principal materials used for weaving ? and 
how prepared ? (see No. IX.) 2. What is the form of loom or 
other appliance for weaving? 3. What kind of shuttle is 
used ? and in what manner is the weft beaten up ? 4. In 
what manner is the warp kept in a state of tension ? 5. What 
is the size of the largest webs that can be produced? 6. Is 
the weaving plain, or the patterns woven in the cloth ? if so, 
of what character are they? and how produced? 7. Is any 
process of felting known ? and how is it applied ? 8. Is any 
kind of bark-cloth manufactured ? if so, describe the process 
and the mode of ornamentation. 9. Are any tissues or kinds 
of leather or bark ornamented by embroidery? if so, with 
what materials, and with what kinds of pattern ? 10. Is any 
process of knitting known ? 11. Are plaited fringes or other 
articles of personal clothing or ornament manufactured from 
cord or strips of leather? 12. Is the pattern made entirely 
from memory or is a model set up before the weaver? 13. 
Is tied-cloth made in which the woof-thread is tied to each 
warp-thread as in Maori cloaks ? 
J. E. 
No. VIII.—BASKETWORK. 
The process of basket-making is closely allied to that of 
weaving (ante, VII.), and in like manner dates back to a 
remote period. Baskets made of esparto have been found 
with hatchets and other instruments of stone in Andalusia ; 
and our ancient British ancestors were renowned for their 
skill in basket-making, the Latin word bascauda being a mere 
derivative from the British. 
Basket-work is either stiff or flexible ; the stiff variety is 
generally made by wattling fine withes over others rather 
more rigid, which form the ribs of the structure, while the 
flexible kind is usually made by plaiting or weaving flat strips 
together ; occasionally, however, rush-like stems are used for 
this kind of fabric. So closely are some of these baskets 
