Page:The Pima Indians.pdf/118

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In addition to the wooden saddletrees already mentioned the Pimas made them each of two rolls of grass or straw, inclosed in blue denim or canvas and bound with a network of rawhide. A specimen in the collection (pl., a, b) has two such rolls fastened together with both horsehair and maguey cords. The top is covered with leather  taken from two old boot legs. One stirrup is wanting; the one that remains is of native manufacture. The accompanying cinch (pl., c) is of horsehair neatly twisted and quite strong and serviceable. When used, it was passed over the saddle instead of being attached to it. A Pima is rarely seen riding bareback, and most have good saddles of American manufacture. Bartlett states that those who rode bareback at the time of his visit in 1850 thrust one foot under a loosely fastened surcingle.

A coarse net of maguey fiber is made to carry bulky objects upon either pack or riding saddles. The fibers are twisted into two strands, which are united to form a rope 5 mm. in diameter; with this the meshes are made about 12 cm. in length by an interlocking knot of the simplest character. The bag in the collection is about 1 m. in length (fig. 35).

The round-bottomed water jars and many similar heavy burdens besides were borne upon the heads of the women with the aid of the rings of willow bark in the early days, and new with rings of rags wrapped with cotton cloth. Of less common use are the agave-leaf rings, which should be classed as twined basketry. They are