The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-10
A FORGOTTEN ART.

Civilization has caused the making of baskets and earthenWare vessels to be- come a lost art among the Creek Indi- ans, who, in early days, were skilled in their manufacture. The small cost of these articles at stores made their pur- chase more desirable than the toll of weaving and moulding them at home. The baskets and pottery were made ex- clusively by the women.
 Early in spring, when the say was rising in the trees the clay was ripe" or in condition just adapted to the use of the potter. It was dug and placed where other soil would not mix with it. Spring water and pulverized rnussel shell were added to it, and the women were ready for work.
 Jars were 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 ornamented with crude figures and characters. Many jars were broken in the process of burning. The finished vessels withstood the hottest fires, and were the. only cooking uten- sils of the Creeks.
 Alice M. Robertson, supervisor of schools in the Creek nation, in a report to the superintendent of schools, said:
 "The Creeks long ago were very in- dust rious people, and killed in primi- tive manufactures. The men titled the ground and wrought in wood and metal and the women wove fabrics of cotton on rude upright looms like those still used by the Navajo. The women also made garments of buckskin. Their beadwork was of unique beauty, and they were skilled in pottery and basket ". Scarcely woman is now living who can make pottery. The stone jar from the traders shop has taken the place of the great olla-shaped earthen 'Ahi-kus-was,' standing in the chimney corner with its generous supply of ssof-s key the national dish made from corn, which is both food and drink to the Creeks. In my travels among the peo- pie I have given especial attention to native industries, because of the very general consideration which this sub ject is receiving in connection with manual training. While many Creek women still understand basketry, it. does not seem practicable to revive this industry. The material they use is long flexible strips split from the outer sur face off cane stalks. In the Creek na- ton the herds of cattle have long since destroyed the formerly dense cane brakes and only in remote 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 Pascova, who lives. near Eufaula. The hickory ax handles of Pascova are the best that can be found in the Indian territory. - .S.2 F. <
 The attractiveness of the name Pas- cova caused a curious person to write to Alexander Posey, the Creek poet, "Chinnubble Harjo." and ask for it's liberal meaning. MT. Posey replied: "Pascova means public square. Long ago the different Creek clans lived in villages. Located in the center of each village was a square plat of ground, roofed owed by an arbor known as Pas cova,' where the chiefs and head men held their meetings and the annual busk or fast was celebrated. Some- times the big house or council house was built upon this area, instead of the arbor. In the festival seoson much care was bestowed upon the square. It was swept daily and sprinkled with white sand. In and out of season it was con-