[175] Willoughby, p. 151, illustrates one basket, dating about 1675 and made by the Narragansetts. It is a twined basket; the materials are basswood bark and corn husk, the decoration being in the latter. Red wool yarn also once was part of the decoration, but that has been since destroyed. Designs are worked in light corn husk, which forms part of the weft element. Design form is geometric, non-representational, diagonal steps, horizontal bands, and disconnected square spots. Design field covers the entire side area of the basket, which is tall and narrow in shape. Recalling Gookin’s description of zoomorphic decoration, there is reason to suspect considerable scope to the decorative content of this style.
[176] Brereton, p. 50, writes of them as being four feet long and six inches wide. Pring in Howe, p. 72. Pring, p. 56, says the belts were “sixe foot long” and made of a snake’s skin.
[177] Gookin, p. 152.
[178] Breech clouts worn by women are described as hanging down a little longer in back than those worn by men; Pring in Howe, p. 72; Williams, p. 143.
[179] Williams, p. 143.
[180] Vaughan, pp. 47-48, lists fish oil, eagle and rackoon fat, bear and later pig grease used for this purpose.
[181] The deerskin from which both breech clouts and leggings were made was de-haired; Morton, pp. 142-43. The method of fastening leggings aboriginally is not described. Wood, p. 73, says that they were attached to the belt with buttons, which in post-contact times is not so unlikely, considering that the Indians learned to mould buttons out of pewter. MOURT’S RELATION, pp. 186-87; Winslow, p. 72.
[182] Morton, pp. 142-43; Willoughby, p. 208.
[183] Wood, p. 73.
[184] Pring in Howe, p. 72; MOURT’S RELATION, pp. 186-87; Winslow, p. 365.