Processes of Manufacture.

Fig. 59a. Object made of Steatite, probably a Mat Presser. From Prosser. ½ nat. size. (Drawn from photograph 44504, 6-5. Original in the collection of Mr. Spalding).b, Part of Incised Pictograph on Object Shown ina.

Mat Pressers.Mat pressers, or objects that are considered to be such, made of stone are commonly found in the area immediately to the south. No objects recognized as such were found by us in the Thompson River region, and from the coast of British Columbia and Washington there is only one. It is made of stone[210]and was found at Cadboro Bay near Victoria. Specimens made of wood are very common among the present natives of the same coast. A ground soapstone object from the Nez Perce region is considered by Spinden an arrow-shaft polisher,[211]but seems to me more likely to be a mat presser of the type found in the region immediately south of the Yakima area.

The object shown inFig. 59which may be an unfinished pipe, is of theform of a flattened cylinder, made of steatite and was found at Prosser in the southern part of the area here considered. The surface is marked with incised figures, part of which are illustrated inFig. 59band described onp. 124. The groove on one side suggests that it may have been used as a mat presser such as are used to string cat-tails and tule stalks. The cylindrical bore in the top is 25 mm. deep by 10 mm. in diameter and its top is funnel-shaped. The original is in the collection of Mr. Spalding.[212]

FOOTNOTES:[198]Teit (a), Fig. 1, PlateXIV, and Fig. 127.[199]Smith (d), Fig. 64; (c), Fig. 355.[200]Spinden, p. 215.[201]Smith (d), Figs. 65 and 66; (c), Fig. 356; (a), Fig. 34; Teit (a), Figs. 128 and 129.[202]Smith (c), Fig. 357.[203]Spinden, p. 189, PlateVII, Fig. 29.[204]Smith (a), p. 170 (Eburne and Hammond); (b), p. 317, (Comox); p. 347 (Saanich); p. 377, (Stanwood); p. 389, (New Dungeness).[205]Smith (d), Fig. 74; (c), Fig. 357; (a), Fig. 35, (Eburne); (b), p. 317, (Comox); p. 348, (Saanich).[206]Spinden, p. 189, PlateVII, Figs. 27 and 28.[207]Smith, (a), Fig. 36.[208]Smith (d), Figs. 76-78; (c), Fig. 358.[209]Museum negative no. 44503 (6-4).[210]Smith (b), Fig. 146.[211]Spinden, PlateVII, Fig. 34.[212]Museum negative no. 44504, 6-5.

FOOTNOTES:

[198]Teit (a), Fig. 1, PlateXIV, and Fig. 127.

[199]Smith (d), Fig. 64; (c), Fig. 355.

[200]Spinden, p. 215.

[201]Smith (d), Figs. 65 and 66; (c), Fig. 356; (a), Fig. 34; Teit (a), Figs. 128 and 129.

[202]Smith (c), Fig. 357.

[203]Spinden, p. 189, PlateVII, Fig. 29.

[204]Smith (a), p. 170 (Eburne and Hammond); (b), p. 317, (Comox); p. 347 (Saanich); p. 377, (Stanwood); p. 389, (New Dungeness).

[205]Smith (d), Fig. 74; (c), Fig. 357; (a), Fig. 35, (Eburne); (b), p. 317, (Comox); p. 348, (Saanich).

[206]Spinden, p. 189, PlateVII, Figs. 27 and 28.

[207]Smith, (a), Fig. 36.

[208]Smith (d), Figs. 76-78; (c), Fig. 358.

[209]Museum negative no. 44503 (6-4).

[210]Smith (b), Fig. 146.

[211]Spinden, PlateVII, Fig. 34.

[212]Museum negative no. 44504, 6-5.

The processes of manufacture employed in this area as indicated by the archaeological objects found include fracturing by chipping and flaking, pecking or bruising, grinding, polishing, cutting by grooving and breaking, incising, whittling and gouging, and drilling. The materials worked by each of these processes may be seen among the specimens here figured and described. Spinden states[213]that in the Nez Perce area chipped implements were made by the men and that the pecked artifacts were made by the women.

FOOTNOTES:[213]Spinden, p. 185.

FOOTNOTES:

[213]Spinden, p. 185.

The story of the manufacture of the objects found from the securing of the raw material to their finished and to their worn out and broken condition is not shown completely in the case of more than one class of objects, viz., chipped implements, but in a number of cases the signs of manufacture have not been entirely obliterated and some specimens are figured and described which are undoubtedly in process of manufacture.PlateIII, Fig. 1shows a quarry from which material for the manufacture of chipped implements was obtained. A description of this has been given onp. 16. Here could be seen the hammers, one of which is illustrated inFig. 40, that were used in breaking up the raw material, and the material in various stages of chipping and flaking together with the waste products. InPlatesIandIImay be seen the more or less completed chipped implements. If points of antler were used as flakers, they were either not found or recognized by us. According to Mr. Cotton, there are numerous chips within the "fort" mentioned onp. 82. One other example of a series illustrating the life history of an object may be mentioned, namely, that of the pestles. Many oblong pebbles suitable for pestles without being changed from their natural form were seen in both the Yakima and the Columbia Valleys. Other pebbles required but slight shaping to bring them to the required form.Fig. 22illustrates such a pebble which is in process of shaping by pecking or bruising andFig. 43shows a suitable tool for executing the work. After being fully shaped by this process such pestles were polished but the materials used for this purpose, whether sandstones and similar abrasives, the horse tail rush or the bare hand, are not known.

Implements used in Warfare.The objects considered under hunting onp. 23et seq., such as chipped points for spears, arrows and knives may have served in warfare; so also may bows, mentioned onp. 29. Others that were considered as tools, onp. 57et seq., such as the celt and hand-adze, may have been used as weapons in war times; but there are some objects that were probably useful only in warfare. Prominent among these are the club-heads and clubs, made of stone, shown in Figs.60-68. No clubs made of copper, antler or whale's bone have been seen by us that are certainly from this region although it will be remembered[214]that such were found in the Thompson River region, lying to the north, that the latter are common on the coast of British Columbia and Washington[215]to the west of this area and that one of whale's bone labeled from the upper Columbia River has been figured in my report on the archaeology of Puget Sound.[216]

Fig. 60. Grooved Pebble. From the Yakima Reservation near the Gap. ½ nat. size. (Drawn from photograph 44455, 2-4. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)Fig. 61. Club-head or Sinker made of Lava. From the Yakima Reservation near the Gap. ½ nat. size. (Drawn from photograph 44503, 6-4. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)

Grooved Pebbles, Club-heads, or Sinkers.The grooved spheroid pebble, shown inFig. 60, was found on the Yakima Reservation near Union Gap and is in the collection of Mr. Janeck. There are two encircling grooves which cross each other at nearly right angles. These have been made by pecking. At one intersection of the grooves, the object shows signs of battering such as may have resulted from pounding with it, or such as may have been made to form a pit for the reception of a handle end. It is probably a club-head, net sinker or gaming stone[217]similar to those used in the Thompson River region.[218]In the Nez Perce region[219]to the east unworked river boulders sewed in skin, were used for the heads of war clubs which were sometimes also used in killing game. This kind of club is the sameused by the eastern Indians, according to Lewis[220]and was probably introduced. The spheroid specimen made of hard lava, possibly trap, shown inFig. 61, was found on the Yakima Reservation near Union Gap, and is also in the collection of Mr. Janeck. There are three grooves, marking great circles at right angles to each other. These have been made by pecking. At each pole or the intersection of two of these grooves, at the top and bottom in the illustration, and in each area marked out by the grooves is a pit making a total of ten. In the equatorial grooves are the remains of two parallel strings, each twisted to the right or contra-screw-wise, made up of two strings twisted to the left and remains of a fabric of loose mesh overlying the strings. It measures 70 mm. by 63 mm. by 57 mm.[221]A club-head made of stone with a handle covered with rawhide and horsehair, was seen by us in the collection of Mr. Janeck. The head is grooved, circular in cross section, and has conoid ends. It consequently resembles the stone clubs of the eastern Plains. The objects shown in Figs.14-16and considered as sinkers, may have been fastened to handles and used as heads for war clubs or as 'canoe smashers' in warfare.

Stone Clubs.The club[222]shown inFig. 62, is made of serpentine. The handle is oval but approaches a lenticular form in cross section. There are eighteen notches across one edge of the knob and eight on the other. The blade is of the characteristic form with lenticular cross section but thicker than the thin type of stone clubs of this form such as are found near thecoast.[223]The tip is rather blunt. The reverse is the same as the obverse. It is from Methow River, Okanogan County and here illustrated from a sketch by Mr. Charles C. Willoughby of the original in the Peabody Museum, Harvard University.

Fig. 62. Club made of Serpentine. From Methow River, Okanogan County. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from sketches by Mr. Charles C. Willoughby. Original catalogue No. 64795 in the Peabody Museum, Cambridge, Mass.)Fig. 63. Club made of Serpentine. From the Yakima Valley, between Wenas Station and the Gap above North Yakima. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44500, 6-1. Original catalogue No. 44 in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)

The club shown inFig. 63was found in the Yakima Valley on the west side of the river between Wenas Station and Upper Gap above North Yakima. It is made of serpentine of a mottled yellow, brown and green color. It is 26 mm. long, and of the form of a rather thick, elongated appleseed, with the upper and lower ends cut off. The top is of the form of a symmetrical celt with a dull edge and is bevelled about equally from each side. The handle, which is 22 mm. thick, is the thickest part of the object, rather oval in section and merges into the blade, which is paddle-shaped, lenticular in cross section and terminates in a celt-like end which is dull and bevelled about equally from each side.[224]It is catalogue No. 44 in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[225]A club of this general type has been found as far east as Sand Point, Idaho, the most eastern occurrence, as was mentioned on p. 413 of my "Archaeology of the Gulf of Georgia and Puget Sound," where all the clubs of this type from Northwestern America are discussed. On the west, they seem to range from the Klamath Valley to the head of Puget Sound.

The club, shown inFig. 64[226]is made of stone and has a blade rather lenticular in cross section, but bulging somewhat so that it reminds us of the clubs of the lozenge-shaped cross section.[227]It is 265 mm. long, by 25 mm. thick. The handle is somewhat lenticular, but tends to be hexagonal in section, with rounded corners and meets the blade abruptly. There is a saddle-shaped knob at the top with an incised geometric design in the hollow. The upper part of the right edge of this knob is flat with two incisions across it, while the lower part is rounded. A stone club with similar handle is known from Puget Sound.[228]The specimen is catalogue No. 40 in the collection of Mr. Janeck, and was secured by him from the York collection. It was originally collected from an Indian woman on the Yakima Reservation.[229]

The club shown inFig. 65is made of diabase or allied material and is 338 mm. in length. It is bilaterally symmetrical and the reverse and obverse are alike. The handle is oval in cross section and terminates in a knob from which it is separated by a slight groove. In the top of the knob is a depression as if there had been a hole pecked through the form, tapering from each side, as in the clubs or slave-killers having lozenge-shaped cross section from the coast there[230]the top broken off and the broken edges rounded, as in the club with lozenge-shaped cross section from Copalis on the coast of Washington.[231]But such is not the case; the notch resembles that of the club shown inFig. 64, slightly the one shown inFig. 62, both from thisregion, and one from Burton on Puget Sound.[232]The blade is paddle-shaped like the large end of an apple seed, lenticular in cross section, with a mid-rib on each side which runs out about 10 mm. from the end of the club.[233]It was found on the surface at Union Gap, below Old Yakima, and is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[234]

Fig. 64. Club made of Stone. From Yakima Reservation. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44500, 6-1, and 44453, 2-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)Fig. 65. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)Fig. 66. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)

The stone club, shown inFig. 66, was found on the surface at Union Gap, below Old Yakima. It is of a purplish gray lava-like material. The handle is oval in cross section with a knob at the end which is somewhat flattened on each side and slopes towards the rounded top like a bluntsymmetrical celt. The blade has convex side edges which are nearly flat and about 18 mm. wide. It is thicker in the middle than at the edges and bears a mid-rib of the shape of a railroad embankment with rounded angles, from the handle to the end. On each side of this mid-rib, the surface is nearly flat. The end of the blade is nearly flat. The specimen is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[235]

It will be noted that the thin stone clubs found here have no mid-rib. Clubs made of stone, whale's bone or wood with such mid-ribs are unknown from the coast but are found with median decoration in place of a mid-rib,[236]those of whale's bone being common and a thin club made of copper with a median decoration was found at Spuzzum in the interior of Southern British Columbia.[237]

'Slave-killers.'A 'slave-killer' or club, made of friable stone shown inFig. 67, was found on the surface of Union Gap, below Old Yakima. It is in the collection of Mr. Janeck. The object has a blade which sets out from the handle and resembles in shape the typical 'slave-killer' in that it is lozenge-shaped in cross section with bulging sides and rounded angles. The handle is oval or nearly circular in cross section, and slightly larger at the top where there is no knob or perforation as in the typical club of this type.[238]The object is 377 mm. long, 63 mm. wide, and 41 mm. thick.[239]The club or 'slave-killer' made of stone, shown inFig. 68, was found at Lake Chelan, and is 280 mm. long. It is owned by Mr. C. G. Ridout of Chelan, Chelan County. The handle terminates in a knob, which resembles the form of an animal head. This knob is somewhat heart-shaped, the two lobes possibly representing ears, and the lower tip projects beyond the handle of the object. One side, the larger surface, stands at about 45 degrees to the axis of the club and is bisected by a deep incision, on each side of which are two circles, which probably represent eyes. On either edge of this knob are thirteen incisions. The handle which is nearly circular in cross section, bears four vertical rows of horizontally arranged incisions and expands suddenly edgewise to form the blade which, however, on its upper and lower surfaces is practically continuous with the handle. The blade is nearly circular in cross section and tapers gradually to a rather blunt point. The object is probably a ceremonial implement.

Fig. 67. Club made of Stone. From the surface at Union Gap below Old Yakima. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photographs 44453, 2-2, and 44500, 6-1. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)Fig. 68. Club made of Stone. From Lake Chelan. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from a sketch furnished by Mr. C. G. Ridout. Original in his collection.)Fig. 69. War implement or Slave Killer, made of Friable Stone. From the Yakima Valley. ¼ nat. size. (Drawn from photograph 44503, 6-4. Original in the collection of Mr. Janeck.)

The stone objects considered as pestles and shown in Figs.32and35may have been used as war clubs. The object made of friable stone,shown inFig. 69was mentioned onp. 39us possibly having been used as a pestle and again onp. 65as being suitable for use as a whetstone. It seems most likely, however, that it served as an implement of war or as a 'slave-killer.' It is roughly of the shape of a cigar. The upper end is nearly flat and circular. From here the object gradually expands for about half its length and then contracts to a point, being nearly circular in cross section throughout. It is 208 mm. long, 38 mm. in maximum diameter, and 19 mm. in diameter at the top. It was found in the Yakima Valley and is in the collection of Mr. Janeck.[240]The object considered as a hand-adze and shown inFig. 46, may have been used as a 'slave-killer.'

No objects considered as daggers or knives and made of antler were found by us in this region. Although it will be remembered[241]that several, over 200 mm. in length, were found in the Thompson River region.

War Costume.The costume indicated on the figure carved in antler, described under the section of dress and adornment,p. 100, referred to in the discussion of art onp. 127, and shown inFig. 121, may be that of a warrior as is suggested by the similarity of the headdress to the war-bonnet of the tribes of the Plains. That the war-bonnet was used in this region is strongly suggested not only by this headdress but also by those represented in the pictographs and petroglyphs as well as by the wearing of it by the modern Indians of this area. This idea is further strengthened by the fact that the war-bonnet is worn in the Nez Perce region to the east,[242]where it has no doubt been used for a long time, although it may originally have been derived from the Plains. The Nez Perce sometimes wore streamers with these war-bonnets. Spinden states that the early Nez Perce war-bonnets differed from the type used by them to-day, and that exact information about them is difficult to obtain.

Fortifications.A so-called "Indian fort" is situated near Rock Creek about six miles below Rock Lake. It is about a mile south of the ranch of Mr. Frank Turner (p. 54), and shown in the photographs reproduced in Figs. 1[243]and 2[244],PlateVI. These were taken and presented by Mr. J. S. Cotton, then in charge of the cooperative range work at the Washington State Experiment Station at Pullman, who furnished from his notebook all our data on this subject. The "fort" is built on a flat knoll of about fifteen feet in height and with precipitous sides. It is in the form of a circle, being enclosed about four fifths of the way around. The wall is built of flat rocks which are tilted in such a manner that they will glance all projectiles into the air. There were numerous arrow chip pings within the "fort." There are many Indian graves supposed to be very old, two pits believed to mark building sites, and a long line of stones in the vicinity (pp.140,54,29).

Wounds.The skull of skeleton No. 99-4318, found in rock-slide grave No. 10 (5) on the north side of the Naches River half a mile above its mouth, showed where the right side of the orbit had been pierced in such a way that the malar bone was partly severed and repair had taken place, leaving a largeanteriorlateral projection on the malar bone. One rib had two articular surfaces at the anterior end.

FOOTNOTES:[214]Smith (d), Figs. 81 and 82; (c), Fig. 359.[215]Smith, (b), Figs. 165-171.[216]Smith (b), Fig. 166d.[217]Smith (d), Fig. 39; (c), p. 440; Teit (a), p. 279.[218]Museum negative no. 44455, 2-4.[219]Spinden, pp. 188 and 227, also Fig. 55.[220]Lewis, p. 189.[221]Museum negative no. 44455, 2-4.[222]First mentioned on p. 414 and Fig. 174a, Smith (b).[223]Smith (b), Fig. 172a, b.[224]Smith (b), p. 417.[225]Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44500, 6-1.[226]First shown in Smith (b), Fig. 177a.[227]Smith (b), p. 415.[228]Smith (b), Fig. 177b.[229]Museum negatives, nos. 44453, 2-2 and 44500, 6-1.[230]Smith (b), Figs. 175 and 176.[231]Ibid., Fig. 175e.[232]Ibid., Fig. 177b.[233]First mentioned, Smith, (b), p. 416 and Fig. 177c.[234]Museum negatives, nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2.[235]Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. First mentioned on p. 416 and figured in Smith, (b), Fig. 177d.[236]Smith (b), Figs. 173a, b; 169a; 165a, c-g; 166a, b, d-g; 167a-d; 168a, c, d; 169f and 170a.[237]Ibid., Fig. 172d.[238]Ibid., Figs. 175, 176 and 177e.[239]First mentionedibid., p. 418. Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2 and 44500, 6-1.[240]Museum negative no. 44503, 6-4.[241]Smith (d), Fig. 80; (c), p. 423 and Fig. 360.[242]Spinden, p. 228.[243]From the interior.[244]From the exterior.

FOOTNOTES:

[214]Smith (d), Figs. 81 and 82; (c), Fig. 359.

[215]Smith, (b), Figs. 165-171.

[216]Smith (b), Fig. 166d.

[217]Smith (d), Fig. 39; (c), p. 440; Teit (a), p. 279.

[218]Museum negative no. 44455, 2-4.

[219]Spinden, pp. 188 and 227, also Fig. 55.

[220]Lewis, p. 189.

[221]Museum negative no. 44455, 2-4.

[222]First mentioned on p. 414 and Fig. 174a, Smith (b).

[223]Smith (b), Fig. 172a, b.

[224]Smith (b), p. 417.

[225]Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44500, 6-1.

[226]First shown in Smith (b), Fig. 177a.

[227]Smith (b), p. 415.

[228]Smith (b), Fig. 177b.

[229]Museum negatives, nos. 44453, 2-2 and 44500, 6-1.

[230]Smith (b), Figs. 175 and 176.

[231]Ibid., Fig. 175e.

[232]Ibid., Fig. 177b.

[233]First mentioned, Smith, (b), p. 416 and Fig. 177c.

[234]Museum negatives, nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2.

[235]Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2, and 44501, 6-2. First mentioned on p. 416 and figured in Smith, (b), Fig. 177d.

[236]Smith (b), Figs. 173a, b; 169a; 165a, c-g; 166a, b, d-g; 167a-d; 168a, c, d; 169f and 170a.

[237]Ibid., Fig. 172d.

[238]Ibid., Figs. 175, 176 and 177e.

[239]First mentionedibid., p. 418. Museum negatives nos. 44453, 2-2 and 44500, 6-1.

[240]Museum negative no. 44503, 6-4.

[241]Smith (d), Fig. 80; (c), p. 423 and Fig. 360.

[242]Spinden, p. 228.

[243]From the interior.

[244]From the exterior.

Skins.Tanned skin and skin bearing hair of animals, including the deer, and feathers of the woodpecker have been found in the graves and were evidently portions of garments or of pouches; but graves containing these materials are apparently more modern than some of the others. No skins of birds were found by us in this whole region. The scrapers mentioned on page 69 and the hammers as well possibly as the grooved stones mentioned on pages 30 and 75 may have contributed to the making of clothing: the former for scraping skins, the latter for beating and softening them.

Skin (202-8223), resembling buckskin or leather in its decomposed condition, was found in grave No. 31 (2) (99-4326), in the rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, immediately below Ellensburg. That this grave may not be as ancient as some of the artifacts here described is suggested by the fact that a small piece of a wooden post, not completely decayed, was found projecting from the rock-slide above the grave, and by the presence of four more posts, one at each corner of the grave, extending down from the level of the rock-slide, the upper parts apparently being entirely decomposed. The remains of matting which had been wrapped around the body, glass beads (202-8225) and three bracelets made of iron (202-8226), one of which is shown inFig. 96, also suggest that this grave was modern, although it must be remembered that in this dry climate, wooden posts, matting and iron resist decomposition for a long time. The form of the garment or other object made up of this skin has not been identified, but pieces of the skin are joined in some places by over-casting with skin thread; in others, with a double skin thong and still in others with some sort of vegetable fibre. A piece of deer skin (202-8230) with the hair on was found in grave No. 37 (4) (99-4328), in the same rock-slide. Here again, the presence of sticks about three feet long, decayed at the tops and arranged in three rows of matting made of reeds (202-8229 and 202-8230, Figs.71-72), and of beads apparently made of factory-rolled copper, suggest that the entire contents of this grave are modern.

Fragments of skin of a small mammal, with the hair on, which had been stitched along one edge with what appears to be twisted vegetable fibre made into a cord of two strings (202-8231), was found in grave No. 34 (5) (99-4329) in the same rock-slide. Here again were found evidences suggesting the grave to be modern. These consisted of decayed posts cut off at the surface of the slide. Among the other objects in the grave were matting (202-8232), beads (202-8233,Fig. 74), made of what is apparentlyfactory-rolled copper, coarse string and thong, some of which is wound at the ends and pieces of coarse twisted plant fibre upon which some of the beads were strung, two ornaments (202-8234,Fig. 91) made of haliotis shell, two pendants made of what appears to be factory-rolled copper (202-8235), four bracelets apparently made of similar copper (202-8236,Fig. 95), a square pendant (202-8238,Fig. 78), a disk (202-8239,Fig. 83), both of which seem to be made of factory-rolled copper and a piece of iron (202-8242). Among the rocks above the grave were found a copper ornament (202-8244), a brass pendant (202-8245,Fig. 84), with thong and copper bead, and a copper pendant (202-8246,Fig. 82).

Fig. 70 (202-8391). Diagram of Stitch of Fragment of Rush Matting. From near the skin on skeleton in grave No. 38 (1) of an adult in a rock-slide on the east side of the escarpment near the head of Priest Rapids. ½ nat. size.

Matting.Fragments of matting of vegetable fibre sewed or twined with cords made of plant material were found; but only in recent graves. Such graves contained objects introduced into the region since the advent of the whites. These fabrics were probably modern but were in no way affected by the coming of the white man or the materials secured from him, being simply found in these modern graves associated with artifacts made from material secured from the white man. In the old graves they have probably long since decayed. Spindle-whorls were not found.Fig. 70illustrates the stitch of a piece of matting (202-8391) of a well known type consisting of a single strand warp of rushes pierced at intervals by the weft which is a two-strand string. It is similar to that commonly found in the Thompson River region.[245]This specimen was found in grave No. 38 (1) (99-4333) in a rock-slide on the west side of the Columbia River, near the head of Priest Rapids. The grave was probably modern as is suggested by stakes nearly six feet long which projected about three feet above the surface of the rock-slide and a roll of birch bark[246](202-8392). The vegetable fibre used in sewing these stalks was probably the same as that used by the present Indians as wasthought to be the case in the Thompson River region.[247]Spinden does not mention this simple type of sewed mat as found in the Nez Perce area.[248]Fig. 71shows a piece of matting (202-8229) of a new type consisting of two strands of what seem to be small stalks of tule, twisted loosely and pierced at each half turn by a cord. The cord is a two-strand string, the vegetable fibre of the individual strands not seeming to be twisted. The interstices are wide. It was found under the pelvis of a skeleton of a youth (99-4228) in a recent grave, No. 33 (4), in a rock-slide near the mouth of Cherry Creek, below Ellensburg. This piece of matting, so far as I am aware, is the first specimen of a new type collected and figured. It was first brought to the attention of students in 1906 through correspondence when Professor Otis T. Mason stated that he had never seen an example, a picture or a description of just that technique. It was shown at the annual exhibition of the New York Academy of Sciences, in December of the same year, but reference to the type was first published in November 1908 by Spinden.[249]In the Thompson River region this type has not been found. Mr. James Teit informs me that he asked all the old Thompson Indian women of the vicinity of Spences Bridge about this type of matting,submitting a model of it to them which I sent him. They all stated that they never saw that particular type made in the Thompson River region and if ever made there it must have been before the memory of those now living. The only pierced matting made there as far as they have ever known is the tule tent mat,[250]but the strands of this were not twisted, being like those shown inFig. 70. They had a weave similar to this and the same in general effect in the common mat used for beds and on which to sit, known as the floor mat, but the strands were woven and not stitched.[251]Certain rush bags of the Quinault and the Makah resemble this type of matting but the rushes are not pierced.

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