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Show AMONG THE AZTECS. 273 cept in the second. Of this they make blankets, which are the wonder of all who see them. The loom is rude and primitive, con-sisting only of beams to which two sticks are lashed; on these the warp, or " chain," is stretched very tight, the two sets of strands crossing in the middle. This, with two loose sticks, dividing the " chain," and a curved board, looking like a barrel stave with the edges rounded, constitute the entire loom. The squaw sits before this NAVAJO LOOM. with her balls of yarn for " filling" conveniently arranged, works them through the strands, and beats them firmly together with the loose board, running it in between the strands with singular dexterity. The woolen yarn for " filling" is made from their own sheep, gen-erally, and is of three colors black, white and red, from native col-oring. Running these together by turns, with nimble fingers, the squaw brings out on the blanket squares, diamonds, circles and fanci-ful curves, and flowers of three colors, with a skill which is simply amazing. Two months are required to complete an ordinary blanket, five feet wide and eight long, which sells at from fifteen to fifty dol-lars, according to the style of materials. At the Fort, officers who 18 |
