The  work  in  which  the  Indians  excel  is  the  making
of  baskets.  At  Mura  all  basket-work  is  made  of  the  split
stalks  of  a  plant  closely  allied  to  that  producing  arrow-
root. This  plant  is  called  tirita  and  belongs  to  the
order  of  the  Scitaminese.  Its  stem  is  arundinaceous,
terminating  in  several  rosulate  leaves.  It  is  this  arundi-
naceous stem  that  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  baskets
and  sieves  one  sees  in  every  Indian  house.  Quantities  of
these  stems  having  been  collected  are  split  in  the  first
place  into  four  long  strips  by  running  two  pieces  of  thin
wood  through  them  crosswise.  Each  strip  is  then  split
into  two  so  that  every  stem  produces  eight  long  strips,
which  are  ready  for  use  after  the  pith  adhering  to  them
has  been  removed  by  pulling  them  along  one  of  the  finger
nails.  The  baskets  are  made  on  frames  and  are  of
different  sizes  and  shapes.  There  are  shallow  ones  used
for  storing  cotton,  beads,  and  other  ornaments,  as  well  as
the  fish-hooks,  lines,  and  arrow-heads  used  by  the  men  in
their  fishing  and  hunting  excursions.  The  Indians  always
carry  their  loads  in  a  deep  basket  by  means,  as  I  have
already  said,  of  a  broad  band  of  pliable  bark  passed  over
the  head.     If  they  go  on  a  long  journey  the  cassava  and


RETURN   OF  THE    RELIEF   PARTY         293

tananas  for  the  trip  (with  a  small  pot  for  cooking)  are  put
at  the  bottom  of  the  basket,  the  hammock  being  placed
above.  For  carrying  cassava,  sweet  potatoes,  and  even
firewood  to  the  huts  these  baskets  are  invariably  used.
Whenever  we  went  out  orchid  collecting  the  Indians
always  brought  their  baskets  Math  them  for  packing  and
•carrying  their  plants.
