How to make baskets . aby would enjoy, the Indian mother ties herpapoose. Hanging the cradle from a shelteringtree while at work about the camp, or suspendingit from her strong shoulders when she must wan-der afield, she allows the precious contents tointerrupt her regular labors but little. Here, as ineverything she makes, is the simple, perfect adap-tation of the article to its uses which gives primi-tive handiwork everywhere so great an is only after we attain civilization that themeaningless multiplication of the unnecessariesbegins. When there is not a baby on her back thesqua
How to make baskets . aby would enjoy, the Indian mother ties herpapoose. Hanging the cradle from a shelteringtree while at work about the camp, or suspendingit from her strong shoulders when she must wan-der afield, she allows the precious contents tointerrupt her regular labors but little. Here, as ineverything she makes, is the simple, perfect adap-tation of the article to its uses which gives primi-tive handiwork everywhere so great an is only after we attain civilization that themeaningless multiplication of the unnecessariesbegins. When there is not a baby on her back thesquaw has other burdens to carry—wood for thecamp-fire, meat from the hunt, fish, grain, nuts,fruit and water; and, again, netted twine or wovenbasket serves every purpose. One of the mostbeautiful and expressive designs ever made by anuntutored hand was wrought out in a large bag ofnetted yucca fibre deliberately manufactured as awood carrier by a bronze savage girl in one of theout-of-the-way corners of the L KLIKITAT AND QUINAIELT CARRYING BASKETS (Oregon and Washington)Designs represent mountains, streams, rippling waves and fertile valleys, wherethe plumed quail abounds[Court f^y of (Vtt> Atnertcan Museum of Natural History. New \ork\ WHAT THE BASKET MEANS TO THE INDIAN 185 The shapes of carrying baskets differ both food and water were doubtless car-ried in hollow gourds enclosed in netted twine togive additional strength, and a stick slippedthrough the meshes made their transportationeasy. But in due time the basket evolved fromnetting, and the cone-shaped carrying-baskets madeby certain Western tribes today are of exceedinglybeautiful workmanship. The finely woven decora-tions represent in symbolic, conventionalized formthose familiar natural objects so dear to the Indianheart—mountains, lakes, streams, trees, sea wavesor water fowl, for example—objects with whichthe particular tribe has closest association. Theseare the subjects such a
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