Gourds are hard-shelled members of the squash and pumpkin families.
They grow in a variety of shapes, and, once dried, are suited to many uses. Natives in many cultures grew them for use as containers, scoops, rattles, masks, and other ceremonial vessels. After harvest, a gourd must dry properly, taking weeks to harden the pumpkin-like shell slowly and evenly. Only then is it ready to serve its purpose, which may vary, from holding sacred herbs and stones during ceremonies, to being coated with beeswax, filled with water, and tied to a saddle or backpack as a canteen. Carefully coaxing lids and creatures from the hard, dry surface requires careful and gentle strokes of the knife.