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[[Image]]Desert Indians use stone metates for grinding wheat. 
[[Image]]Apache tus.

 Yavapai baskets are of the coil type similar to those of the Papagos and Pimas; however, there is one marked difference in construction. Instead of the warp consisting of a number of sections of split material, it consists of three small willow twigs. These twigs taper from base to tip and, to maintain a uniform size to the bundle of warp, they are staggered so that only one twig is added at a time. This type of warp is commonly known to the basket craft as the "three rod foundation" and is used by several other tribes. The shredded willow material is used for the background and devil's claw for the decorative design.
  The whole scheme of decorating these baskets is characteristic and distinctive to the Yavapai and Apache weavers. The designs used by these tribes and the arrangement of these designs are such that it is difficult for the weavers of either tribe to distinguish the tribal origin of the baskets. There are no fixed patterns and no designs that are a unit within themselves. Instead, they have a number of geometric figures and lines together with characters and symbols which go into the decoration of their baskets. Triangles and diamond-shaped blocks of black on the white background of willow are supplemented by figures of men, women, deer, horses, dogs, and sometimes eagles. Swasticas and coyote tracks are also used to give balance to the decorations and to fill in space. While the above-mentioned figures enter into the decorations of the baskets, their arrangement and coyote tracks are also used to give balance to the decorations and to fill in space. While the above-mentioned figures enter into the decorations of the baskets, their arrangement is wholly left to the will of the weaver. This accounts for there rarely being two baskets that are identical. The shallow bowl or tray is the most popular type, with ollas ranking next. 
  The Indians no longer use these baskets in their homes and they are made primarily for sale. I might add that these weavers are good salesmen and usually drive a good bargain in disposing of their wares. I was purchasing a basket from one of them and when she quoted me her price, I mentioned that it was reasonable; and then went on to comment on the superior workmanship and the beauty of the design. She was quick to see that I was impressed and began to tell me how much she though of her basket and how much it hurt her to part with it. She went to some length to impress me, and finished by saying that she thought if I paid her three dollars more she would not "hurt so bad" and could stand to part with her basket. I had talked my out of three dollars but the basket was worth it.
  The Yavapai tribal holdings extended up the west slope of the Pinal and Mazatzal ranges, and beyond was the wild mountainous country of the Apaches. They were the last of the hostile tribes to surrender to the white man and his civilization. Then followed a period of terrific adjustment to their new way of life. In the old days, an Apache man was a warrior, probably the best trained of his race, and to him work in any form was degrading. Today, his descendants are preferred workmen in construction gangs, lumber mills, reclamation projects, and mines. As a warrior, he was a superior horseman and now he has turned that talent toward cattle raising. Last year the Apaches sold over two million dollars worth of beef cattle. They are not inclined toward agriculture and they have very little land on their reservation suitable for farming. From a hungry, beaten, and dejected people they have risen to a thriving, self-reliant and self-sustaining community; and, through the sale of cattle and

[[Caption: Baskets of Apache weavers.]]
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