The Savannah morning news., 1902-09-14
NEW BASKETS FOR OLD.
Indian Baskets Are Yearly Increas-
ing ia Value-F0r Old Ones Large
Sums Are Given.

Indian Baskets Are Yearly Increas-
7 ing ia Value-For Old Ones Large
Sums Are Given.
If you happen to possess a few old
Indian baskets it might be as we'll to
look them over. because, If on account
of their faded colors or dust begrimed
condition, they do not seem very artis-
tic ornaments, you can easily exchange
for them several new ones, or perhaps
for a surprising sum of money.
The baskets chiefly referred to are
not those turned out now with praise
worthy industry to supply the Eastern
tourist demand, but those made years
ago by the Indians for use rather than
ornament. And it is wonderful to what
variety of purposes the Indians put
their baskets before tin and chinaWare
found their way on to the reservations.
They used them as cooking utensils,
water bottles, cradles and even as ag-
rlcultural implements; and it is these
baskets which have done actual serv-
ice which are now considered so valu-
able.
AS cooking pot, the basket was
frst banked around with wet clay
Then the interior was filled with hot
stones, leaving space in the center
for the meat The whole was then COW
cred over with clay, and the meat per-
mitted to bake slowly. Those who
have tasted a chicken baked in this
manner say there is no other way in
which chicken ought to be baked
The inside of the basket, of course, be-
came encrusted with cinder, but bas-
ket itself was not otherwise damaged
In fact, one of these baskets stoutly
made would outlast one of our metal
pots, provided it did not come in actual
contact with fire.
The finest basket water bottles were
so closely woven that there was no
percolation of the contents, but some
OIL the cruder kind were plastered on
the outside with clay. Scoops, or SHOW
els, made of basket ware for agricul-
tural purposes, were in use among the
Indians of the Northwest until a re-
cent date, but they are now becoming
rare.
But apart from the signs of actual
use, there are other distinguishing
marks between the old and modern In
dian baskets. For decorative purposes
the Indians formerly used vegetable
dyes manufactured by themselves, in
stead of the mineral colors now pur-
chased at the trading posts. AS a con-
baskets is cruder and less dura ole.
In the weaving of the old baskets.
too, superstition and custom played a
not inconsiderable part A piece of
bright cloth or a ribbon interviewer in
the willow denoted that the basket was
made by an unmarried woman; while
circles in the pattern were never COM
pleted, as it was believed to do so
meant a speedy death for the maker.
Among few tribes the baskets of a
chief were marked by a row of fine
beads around the rim at the top.
But even while these old baskets are
fast becoming priceless, those made to-
day as curios sell for dollars where a
few years ago they could have been ex-
changed for a pocket knife or a few
cents. With other means of livelihood
opening up to them, the Indians are
discarding their basket making in the
far West, and in spite of the fact that
the demand is far in excess of the sup
| ply, 1T is believed the art will soon be
numbered among those which are lost