index in the same way lift the lower left index loop over the upper left index loop and off the left index. Keeping all the loops carefully in place on the left hand, with the left thumb and index lift the lower loop on the right thumb up over the upper loop, off the right thumb, and let it drop on the palmar side. With the left thumb and index, in the FIG. 103. same way, lift the lower right index loop over the upper right index loop, then off the right index, and let it drop on the palmar side. You now have on each hand a single loop passing around both thumb and index. Two other loops are held by that part of the loop passing from the back of the thumb to the back of the index (Fig. 102, Right hand). Seventh Put each middle finger from below up on the far side of the lower near string of the four passing around the string running from the back of the thumb FIG. 104. to the back of the index; bend the middle finger toward you (Fig. 103), and pull this lower near string down, of course on the near side of the other three strings, and letting the loop slip off each thumb, extend the figure between the index fingers and the middle fingers, bent on the palms (Fig. 104). Seventh A: According to Dr. Haddon (5, p. 222) the Navahos have another way of doing this movement. Bend each thumb away from you, and pull down the lower near string of the four strings forming the two loops held out by the loop passing around the thumb and index (Fig. 105, Right hand), and extend the figure between the index fingers and thumbs, holding the palms of the hands away from you (Fig. 106). On the completion of this figure, you will want to have the string again as a single loop, but unless you are careful it will get very much tangled. The way to FIG. 105. prevent this is as follows: Place the completed figure on your lap, and draw apart the straight strings which form the top and bottom of the figure; then the string will pull out into a single loop. This is true for practically all string figures. I have put "Many Stars" as the first of a series of ten Navaho figures, which are all done in much the same way, but come out in characteristic patterns in the FIG. 106. end. They all start with Opening A, or a modification of it; after that, however, some go on as "Many Stars," but end differently; others have a few new movements and then end with some from "Many Stars," while others begin and end as "Many Stars," but have different intermediate movements. "Many Stars" exhibits several movements which are unlike any we have hitherto studied. The Fifth, which appears to be a movement peculiar to these Navaho figures, is a clever way of putting the middle finger loop around the thumb and index and turning it over in the transfer. The result of the Sixth movement is interesting, because when the lower loop on each thumb and on each index is slipped over the upper loop and off the finger, it cannot run down the upper loop toward the centre of the figure in the form of a noose or ring, for the upper loop is a loop common to both thumb and index, hence the two loops are merely strung on the string of this thumbindex loop which passes from the back of the thumb to the back of the index. The Seventh movement is very characteristic of the Navaho figures; it may occur in the middle of the figure, or more than once in the same figure. AN OWL FIG. 107. This first "Owl" was obtained by Dr. Haddon from the two old Navaho men who showed him "Many Stars." (See Haddon 5, p. 222, pl. xv, Fig. 4.) It is called Nas-ja an Owl. There is an example of the finished pattern in the Culin collection in the Philadelphia Free Museum of Science and Art (22716), FIG. 108. from St. Michael's Mission, Arizona. First: First position. Second: Put the right index from above down behind the string on the left palm (Fig. 107), draw it out and twist it by twice rotating the index toward you and then up. Separate the hands (Fig. 108). FIG. 109. Third: Take up from below with the left index the string on the right palm, not through the right index loop as is usual, but between the near index string and the thumb (Fig. 109). Separate the hands. Fourth: Proceed now as in "Many Stars," from the Second movement to the very end, concluding with the Seventh or the Seventh A movement. The "Owl" will then be formed (Fig. 110). The movements of the "Owl" are all the same as those of "Many Stars" except the Second and Third. The Second movement is about the only way you can put a twist and a half in the index loop, by the index itself, and restore the index to its usual position; if you rotate the index after the usual formation of Opening A you put one twist in the index loop. The Third movement is peculiar to this figure. FIG. 110. A SECOND OWL The two following "Owls" were taught to me by Zah Tso and her sister, Navahos from Gallup, New Mexico, at the St. Louis Exposition, in November, 1904. First: Opening A. Second: Bend each index down between the far index string and the near little finger string, and bring it toward you and up between the near index string and the far thumb string (Fig. 111). The index loop, which has been kept on the finger during this movement, is thereby given a single twist. Third: Complete the figure by doing the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh movements of "Many Stars" (Fig. 112). |