Miscellaneous
Saguaro hook. The fruit of the giant cactus grows at so great a height[1] that it can not be reached without the aid of some long-handled implement for dislodging it. Hooks[2] are made by attaching, by means of maguey fiber, a straight piece of wood to the end of a long cactus rib. Doctor McGee has called the writer's attention to the fact that the angle at which the hook stands is of great ceremonial importance among the Papagos, but there would seem to be no significance attached to it by the Pimas, who have not been so dependent upon the cactus in the past as have their nomadic neighbors.
 a |
 b |
 c |
Fig. 18. a, Fire drill; b, saguaro hook; c, haʼnûm tweezers. |
Tweezers. The spiny fruit of Opuntia arborescens is picked by means of willow tweezers (fig. 18, c). The arms are flexible and sufficiently elastic to spring back into place readily.[3]
Tree. It was formerly the custom to erect a branched post in the space before the house door, on which to hang vessels or bags containing food. Of late a few (three were seen) "tree animals" are set in the ground near the buildings to serve as seats and for the children to play upon. They are sections of mesquite trees that have each a branch perpendicular to the plane of the trunk at a point where the latter bends in the opposite direction slightly, so that when the branch is set in the ground the trunk is horizontal with the exception of the end which curves upward in a manner somewhat resembling a vaulting horse.
Cradle. The frame of the cradle is of willow, in the form of a narrow bow with from 5 to 10 cross bars (fig. 19, a). It closely resembles the Mohave trellis frame, but is more rudely made.[4] The frame was formerly covered with shredded willow bark to a depth of 3 or 4 inches and a bit of cotton cloth covered the whole. Now the willow bark is not so thick, and much more cloth, no longer of native make, is used. The cradle (fig. 19, b) is provided with a detachable
- ↑ See pl. IX, a, where the saguaro appears in flower in the background.
- ↑ The specimen illustrated in fig. 18, b was cut short for convenience of carrying. The handles vary in length from 2 to 5 m. The hook is 165 mm. long and 8 mm. in diameter.
- ↑ The specimen collected is 31 cm. long; natural spread of jaws, 55 mm.
- ↑ See Mason In Report National Museum, 1894, 524.
