Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/111

106 Awl. There would seem to be no tradition of the former use of bone awls among the Pimas. They declare that awls of mesquite wood were used in making baskets before the introduction of steel. At present the points are of pieces of umbrella rib set in wooden handles of native manufacture (fig. 22, a). It will be observed that the upper end of the handle is provided with a button, so that it may be held between the third and fourth fingers while the thumb and other fingers are engaged in the manipulation of the basket splints. Handles of round balls of creosote gum are also used (fig. 22, b).

Rope twister. This apparatus is probably of European origin. It consists of a pin or handle of hard wood, such as mesquite or willow, which is thrust through a hole near the end of another stick, which acts as a spindle whorl. The latter piece has a button at the short end, to which are attached the maguey fibers or horse hairs (fig. 23). The operator, by a slight rising and falling motion of the handle, causes the spindle to revolve rapidly, thus twisting the fibers into a cord which lengthens as he steps backward. A second person meanwhile adds fresh fibers to the other end.

Âʼmĭna. Among the most important of the sacred objects in the paraphernalia of the medicine-men were the â’mĭna, or medicine sticks. They are usually of arrowwood; always bound together with cotton twine of native spinning, either with or without feathers attached to each separate stick. There are six â’mĭna bundles in the collection. One was made by Kâ’mâl tkâk, to be used exclusively in the exorcism of the Tc’nyĭm, a spirit of disease. The bundle contains four groups of sticks: Two pairs, one bundle of 4, and one of 6. All are plain, being unmarked in any way (fig. 24).