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Ethnology of Manihiki and Rakahanga
Figure 42. Two-cornered lauhala satchel, bottom closure, a, to avoid confusion, it is convenient to apply term “inward” to wefts on either side directed toward the plaiter and “outward” to those directed away from her; plaiting commences on far end of longitudinal line forming unclosed bottom; in making start, certain wefts (10) do not readily fit into scheme of check crossing and are left out to be disposed of later; selecting inward weft (1) on right, this is crossed diagonally over middle line in its natural course; on left, inward weft meets outward weft (1′) which is bent back over its crossing weft (4) and lies paired with inward weft (1) above it; next inward weft (2) taken from left and crossed over previous inward weft (1) in check stroke; meets outward weft (2′) on right, which, in turn, is bent back to form paired weft; right inward weft (3) crosses over in check and turns back outward weft (3′); similarly inward wefts (4, 5, 6) crossed in check from alternate sides and each pair with outward wefts (4′, 5′, 6′) on opposite sides which are turned back under them. b, right inward weft (5) raised; complementary outward weft (5′) doubled back over its crossing weft (7) and ready for inward weft (5) to be crossed over weft 4 in check technique; next inward weft (6) raised while its complementary outward weft (6′) bent back ready to receive inward weft (6) on its upper surface when next check stroke is made; thus inward wefts form check crossings of single elements to close longitudinal open slit of bottom, but when they cross, they turn back corresponding outward weft and form double wefts on far side of middle line; this continued for length of bottom; first course thus closes opening with crossed single wefts, but technique arranges all wefts into double wefts directed toward plaiter on both sides of middle line, c, bottom reversed so double wefts on either side of middle line of single checks directed away from plaiter. d, second course commences at far end by doubling first two double wefts (1, 2) down middle line, e, double wefts plaited in check alternately from either side, but as they consist of double elements, it is better to deal with each individually; double weft on left selected as first to cross; its upper element (3) doubled back across middle line thus exposing under element (3′) which was originally a doubled-back outward weft. f, doubled-back under element (3′) straightened out over its pair mate (3). g, double weft (4,4′) on right crossed over in two similar movements, h, technique established and double wefts (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) successively crossed from alternate sides; under elements of wefts pulled taut so as to make check technique close and firm; double weft (9) last to be brought over from left to cross preceding weft (8); next weft (10) from the right has been covered by weft 7, which has to be lifted to allow weft 10 to be turned back over weft 9 in middle line; so throughout plaiting. i, last two double wefts (1, 2) on near end of mesial line crossed and continued with loose elements left out of commencement (a, 10) shown as 3, continued as free braid tail (4), and finished off with overhand knot; in second course, check stroke made with double wefts over middle line; weft ends, if too long, cut to form short fringe on either side as shown
Figure 42. Two-cornered lauhala satchel, bottom closure, a, to avoid confusion, it is convenient to apply term “inward” to wefts on either side directed toward the plaiter and “outward” to those directed away from her; plaiting commences on far end of longitudinal line forming unclosed bottom; in making start, certain wefts (10) do not readily fit into scheme of check crossing and are left out to be disposed of later; selecting inward weft (1) on right, this is crossed diagonally over middle line in its natural course; on left, inward weft meets outward weft (1′) which is bent back over its crossing weft (4) and lies paired with inward weft (1) above it; next inward weft (2) taken from left and crossed over previous inward weft (1) in check stroke; meets outward weft (2′) on right, which, in turn, is bent back to form paired weft; right inward weft (3) crosses over in check and turns back outward weft (3′); similarly inward wefts (4, 5, 6) crossed in check from alternate sides and each pair with outward wefts (4′, 5′, page 128 6′) on opposite sides which are turned back under them. b, right inward weft (5) raised; complementary outward weft (5′) doubled back over its crossing weft (7) and ready for inward weft (5) to be crossed over weft 4 in check technique; next inward weft (6) raised while its complementary outward weft (6′) bent back ready to receive inward weft (6) on its upper surface when next check stroke is made; thus inward wefts form check crossings of single elements to close longitudinal open slit of bottom, but when they cross, they turn back corresponding outward weft and form double wefts on far side of middle line; this continued for length of bottom; first course thus closes opening with crossed single wefts, but technique arranges all wefts into double wefts directed toward plaiter on both sides of middle line, c, bottom reversed so double wefts on either side of middle line of single checks directed away from plaiter. d, second course commences at far end by doubling first two double wefts (1, 2) down middle line, e, double wefts plaited in check alternately from either side, but as they consist of double elements, it is better to deal with each individually; double weft on left selected as first to cross; its upper element (3) doubled back across middle line thus exposing under element (3′) which was originally a doubled-back outward weft. f, doubled-back under element (3′) straightened out over its pair mate (3). g, double weft (4,4′) on right crossed over in two similar movements, h, technique established and double wefts (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) successively crossed from alternate sides; under elements of wefts pulled taut so as to make check technique close and firm; double weft (9) last to be brought over from left to cross preceding weft (8); next weft (10) from the right has been covered by weft 7, which has to be lifted to allow weft 10 to be turned back over weft 9 in middle line; so throughout plaiting. i, last two double wefts (1, 2) on near end of mesial line crossed and continued with loose elements left out of commencement (a, 10) shown as 3, continued as free braid tail (4), and finished off with overhand knot; in second course, check stroke made with double wefts over middle line; weft ends, if too long, cut to form short fringe on either side as shown.
