The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-25
CREEKS HAvg FORGOTTEN
How TO Make the Curious Baskets and
Vessels.

Okomulgee, l. T, May 24--Civilization
has caused the making Of baskets and
earthenware vessels TO become a lost art
among the Greek Indians who. in early
days, were skilled in the Manufacture Of
them. The small cost Of these articles.
at stores, made their purchase more de-
sirable than the toll Of weaving and
moulding them at home. The baskets
and pottery were made exclusively by
the women.
Early in spring, When the sap was ris-
ing in the trees. the clay was ripe, :"
or in condition best adapted to the use
Of the potter 1t was dug and placed
where other soil would not mix with 1t.
Spring water and pulverized mussel shell
were added TO it, and the women were
ready for work
Jars We're built up from the bottom.
The roughness was removed by rubbing
the jar with a stone. After the jars
were burned in the kiln they were al
lowed to cool gradually. The interior of
the jars was polished with pebbles. The
eXterior was never perfectly smoothed.
and was ornamental with crude figures
and characters. Many Jars were bro
ken in the process Of burning. The fin
ished vessels withstood the hottest fires
and were the only cooking utensils OF the
Creeks.
Alice II Robertson, supervisor Of
schools IN the Creek nation, in a report
to the superintendent Of schools. caid:
THE Greeks long ago were a very
Industrious people, and skilled in prim-
tive manufactures. The men titled the
=
and the women wove fabrics OF cotton
on rude upright looms like those still
used by the Navajo. The women also
made garments Of 5uckskin. Their bead
work was of unique beauty. and they
were skilled in pottery and basketry.
Scarcely a woman is now living Who can
make pottery. The stone jar from the
traders store has taken the place OF
the great olla-shaped ezrtsen -'Ahl-kus-
wah standing in the chimney corner
with its generous supply of 'sofkey,' the
national dish, made from corn, which is
both food and drink TO the Creeks. In
my travels among this people 1 have
given especial attention TO native in
dustries because of the very. general con-
sideration which this subject is receiv-
Ing in connection with manual training.
While many Creek women still under
stand bassSetry. it does not seem prgcti-
cable to revive this industry. The ma
terial they use IS long, flexible strips
split from the outer surface Of cane
stalks. In the Creek nation the herds Of
cattle have long snce destroyed the for
Eerly dense canebrakes, and only in the
rCslote wilds of The Choctaw nation can
the bamboo-like growth be found
one of the few remaining masters Of
woodwork among the Creeks is an old
Indian named Pascoya, who lives near.
Eufama. The hickory axe handles of
Pascoya are the best that can be found
in the Indian Territory.
The attractiveness of the name Pas
cova caused a curious person 10 write to
Alexander Posey. the Creek poet, Chin
hubble Harjo." and ask for its literal
meaning. Mr.. Posey replied:
"Pascova means a public square. Long
ago the different Creek clans lived in
villages Located in the center Of each
village was a square plat of ground.
rooted over by an arbor known as pasco-
va. where the chiefs and head men held
their meetings and the annual busS, or
fast. was celebrated. Sometimes the
Big House or council house, was built
upon this area instead of the arbcr In
the festival season much care was be-
slowed upon the square. Il was swept
daily and sprn1led with q white sand.
In and out of season ii was considered
sacred ground. The Snake Indians have
a pascova at Hickory Ground. perhaps
the only real one the Creeks have at
this time"