serving as a door when purchased, and the fact that a "Melicano" wanted it caused its owners great astonishment and amusement. Indeed, the Pimas manifested a lively interest in our purchases of
Fig. 16, b. Door. household articles and never failed to laugh at the spectacle presented by the little wagon half buried beneath its load of unassorted objects.
Bird cage. The cages made by the Pimas are all of the same character, whether they are made for the large eagle or for the small Sonora dove, as in the case of the specimen[1] figured (fig. 17). They are of arrowwood, laid up in log-cabin style or tied to transverse bars, as in the house doors.
Kiâhâ frame. It is to be remembered that the peculiar form of carrying basket is made possible by the use of the wooden frame. It is fully described on page 140.
Fire drill. In primitive times fire was kindled by the Pimas by means of a two-part drill (fig. 18, a),[2] the simplest and most widespread form of fire drill. The operator knelt upon the ends of the hearth stick and twirled the upright stick between his palms. The
Fig. 17. Bird cage. hearth was of saguaro wood or of any other soft wood if that were not obtainable. Tinder was not used, the flame being developed in any inflammable material as soon as the smoke began to arise from the dust accumulated at the point of the drill.
With the advent of the whites flint and steel were used to kindle fire. The men carried these, with a little cotton for tinder, in leather pouches (fig. 42). Fire was preserved at each village or camp in an old stump whenever practicable.