Fortunately, Doctor Palmer obtained in 1885 a complete loom with sample balls of cotton thread (fig. 74) from the Pimas. The warp is smoothly and evenly spun into a thread about 1 mm. in diameter. The woof threads are softer and are about 3 mm. in diameter; the ball (Museum no. 76012) is 61 cm. in circumference.
Sinew from the back and legs of deer was made into thread and was used in tying cradle bars, shield handles, arrows, kiâhâ frames, and even tattooing needles.
An unidentified species of grass, called â’kivĭk by the Pimas, is said to have been spun into thread in ancient times. According to the myth, it supplied the son of Corn Woman with material for his bowstring. When there is sufficient rain, this grass grows on the Mo’hatûk hills, north of Gila Crossing.
Weaving
The art of weaving was not highly developed among the Pimas, yet the few simple fabrics of cotton which they produced sufficed to satisfy their needs for clothing and adornment.[1] Unlike their neighbors, they have all but abandoned the art of weaving; at no time in their history have they advanced as far as the Pueblo tribes. Where they learned the art or if they developed it themselves we may not know. We can only hazard the guess that they had the ingenuity to imitate the fabrics which the Hohokam left behind or which the Pimas actually saw them using.
Early accounts of the Pima[2] contain references to their fields of
- ↑ "I suppose that all are provided with cotton blankets; but, owing to the almost, incessant heat of the day, they seldom wear them," writes Bartlett (Personal Narrative, II, 229); but in fact there were many poor Pimas who had no blankets and in winter they must have been miserable, indeed, despite the mildness of the climate. Those who were unable to weave but were well to do obtained blankets by bartering corn, beans, and other produce, or horses at the rate of one horse for two blankets.
- ↑ Bartlett describes the Pima method of weaving as follows: "In weaving, the warp is attached to two sticks, and stretched upon the ground by means of stakes. Each alternate thread of the warp is passed round a piece of cane, which, being lifted, opens a passage for the shuttle in the manner of a sley. The operator sits in the fashion of a tailor, and, raising the sley with one hand, with the other passes the shuttle, which is simply a pointed stick with the thread wound upon it, between the threads of the warp. The work is beaten up after the passage of each thread by the use of a sharp smooth-edged instrument made of hard wood. The operation of course progresses slowly, and from the length of time consumed in spinning and weaving they set a high price upon their blankets, asking for them ten or twelve dollars in money, or a new woolen blanket of equal size. The weaving is generally done by the old men." (Personal Narrative, II, 225.)
the next was a spindle about 18 inches long, with a single fly of four or six inches. Ever and anon she gave it a twist in a dexterous manner, and at its end was drawn a coarse cotton thread." (Notes, 85.)
"The implements used by these tribes for spinning and weaving are of the most primitive character. A slender stick about 2 feet long passing through a block of wood, which serves to keep up the momentum imparted to it, constitutes the spindle. One end of this rests on a wooden cup inserted between the toes and the other is held and twirled by the fingers of the right hand, while the left band is occupied in drawing out the thread from a supply of cotton which is coiled on the left arm in loose rolls." (Bartlett, Personal Narrative, II, 225.)The spindle collected is of arrowwood, the cross bar is of cactus rib. Length, 730 mm.; diameter, 7 mm.; length of bar, 175 mm.; width, 31 mm. (Fig. 73.)
