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Miwok Material Culture: Indian Life of the Yosemite Region (1933) by S. A. Barrett and E. W. Gifford

CAT’S CRADLE

Cat’s cradle was called umasi' (C). Eight forms were observed and recorded by photographing. They are shown in plates LXVII-LXIX. The various things represented were (1) the sky, clear and cloudy; (2) the flea, still and jumping; (3) stealing; (4) gopher; (5) boy baby; (6) girl baby; (7) fish net; (8) bark house. The eighth form has been noted by Gifford among the Cocopa, who designated it “willow roots,” and among the Kamia, who designated it “fox nose.”

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EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXVII.

Cat’s cradle. Representations of sky, clear and cloudy. Central Miwok.

Figure 1. Start. Neg. No. 7131.

Figure 2. Second stage. Neg. No. 7132.

Figures 3, 4. Third stage, cloudy sky. Neg. Nos. 7133, 7134.

Figures 5, 6. Fourth stage, clearing sky. Neg. Nos. 7135, 7136.

Figures 7, 8. Fifth stage, clear sky. Neg. Nos. 7137, 7138.

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EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXVIII.

Cat’s Cradle. Central Miwok.

Figure 1. Flea, ready to jump. Neg. No. 7140.

Figure 2. Flea, jumping. Neg. No. 7141.

Figure 3. Stealing (wüla), preliminary. Neg. No. 7142.

Figure 4. Stealing (wüla), pulling string. Neg. No. 7143.

Figure 5. Stealing (wüla), pulling string, farther advanced. Neg. No. 7144.

Figure 6. Fish net (laso), before completing by turning over right hand. Neg. No. 7153.

Figure 7. Fish net (laso), completed by turning over right hand. Neg. No. 7154.

Figure 8. Fish net (laso), complete, and stretched somewhat. Neg. No. 7155.

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EXPLANATION OF PLATE LXIX.

Cat’s Cradle. Central Miwok.

Figure 1. Gopher (sowatü) or mole (tumilü), just before releasing string from thumb. Neg. No. 7145.

Figure 2. Gopher (sowatü) or mole (tumilü), string released from thumb and pulled, causing it to come from fingers. Neg. No. 7146.

Figure 3. Bark house (umutca), preliminary stage. Neg. No. 7156.

Figure 4. Bark house (umutca), complete. Neg. No. 7157.

Figures 5, 6. Girl baby (eselu osa), complete. Neg. Nos. 7151, 7152.

Figure 7. Boy baby (eselu naña), preliminary stage. Neg. No. 7147.

Figure 8. Boy baby (eselu naña), complete. Neg. No. 7150.

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