Owl's Net

This figure was obtained for me by Mr. John L. Cox, at Hampton, Virginia., from a Klamath Indian, Emma jackson, from Oregon.

First: Opening A.

Second: Pass each thumb away from you over the far thumb string and the near index string, and pick up from below on the back of the thumb the far index string, and return the thumb to its position (Fig. 142).

Third: Bend the index and middle finger of each hand down into the upper thumb loop, and then pass the index to the near side of the lower near thumb string, and pass the middle finger through the lower thumb loop (Fig. 143). Holding the lower near thumb string tightly between the index and middle fingers, draw these fingers away from you, straighten them, and by turning the palms away from you, put the lower near thumb string around the tip of each index (Fig. 144). Release the loops from the thumbs and draw the hands apart.

Fourth: Pass each thumb away from you over the near index string and under all the other strings, and, drawing the thumb toward you, catch on its back the far little finger string (Fig. 145, Left hand) and return the thumb to its position (Fig. 145, Right hand). Release the loops from the little fingers.

Fifth: Put the middle, ring and little fingers of each hand from below (toward you) into the thumb loop (Fig. 146), and pull this loop down by closing these fingers on the palm; withdraw the thumbs. Transfer each upper index loop to the thumb by putting the thumb into it from below, withdrawing the index and returning the thumb to its position.

Sixth: Keeping each middle finger still in the loop it is helping to hold to the palm, pass it toward you over the far thumb string (Fig. 147), and draw this string through the loop held to the palm (Fig. 148). Now take the ring and little fingers from the loop they have been holding and pass them toward you into the loop with the middle f1nger (Fig. 149).

Seventh: Put each middle finger toward you between the two strings which form a loop around the palmar string, and bending the finger over the lower string (Fig. 150, Left hand), draw it away from you, releasing the loop held down by the ring and little fingers (Fig. 150, Right hand). Put the ring and little fingers into the loop held down by the middle finger and withdraw the middle finger (Fig. 151).

Eighth: Pass each middle finger from below through the index loop (Fig. 152, Left hand), then bend it toward you under the near thumb string, then bend the index toward you down on the near thumb string, which is thus held securely between the first joints of the index and middle finger (Fig. 152, Right hand). Now draw these two fingers away from you, allowing the index loop to slip over their tips to the palmar side, and by turning the palms away from you, put the near thumb string around the tip of the index. Release the loops from the thumbs and draw the hands apart (Fig. 153).

The finished pattern is practically the same as the pattern of "Many Stars," the end diamonds of the middle row, however, are not looped to the diamonds of the upper row, as in "Many Stars," but the strings merely cross each other at these points. If, in the Second movement, you pick up the near little finger string with the thumb, instead of the far index string, the "Many Stars" pattern will be formed. Apparently the methods of forming the two figures are very different, only the Fourth movement being the same in both; yet, if you examine them closely, you will notice that the Third movement of the "Owl's Net" accomplishes the turning over of the middle finger loop (originally the thumb loop) observed in the Fifth movement of "Many Stars"; the Fifth movement of the "Owl's Net" merely shifts the loops to other fingers; the Sixth and Eighth movements of the "Owl's Net" together produce the same results as the Sixth movement of "Many Stars"; and the Seventh movement in both figures, although done differently, twists the side strings in precisely the same manner.

The methods used in the "Owl's Net" exhibit the highest type of native skill. Every movement is carried on by both hands simultaneously, and there is no arranging of loops on the one hand by the fingers of the other hand.