JORGENSEN'S COLLECTION OF BASKETS.
For the mythical origin of basket-making in the Yosemite see "Legend of To-tau-kon-nu'-la and Tis-sa'-ack."] At the present time, in their more modern style of living, they do not require so many baskets, and the industry of making them is fast on the decline.

Some of the old women, however, still continue to make such as are required for their own use, and a few others for sale.
Most of the ornamental figures and designs worked into the finest basketry are symbolical in character, and of so ancient an origin that Indians of the present day do not know what many of them are intended to represent.

They have simply been copied from time immemorial, with the idea that they were necessary for the complete finish and beauty of the article made.
In recent years they sometimes make use of more modern styles of ornamentation, which they see in print.
[Illustration: _Photograph by Fiske_.
INDIAN BEAD WORK.
Mrs.George Fiske's collection of Yosemite and Pai-ute' bead work.] Many of the young women are now giving their attention to making fancy bead work, in the form of ornamental belts and hat-bands, but this is an industry of very modern origin.

Some of them are employed by white people to do laundry and other work, and any labor of this kind pays them better than making baskets for sale.
Forty years ago a finely made basket could have been bought for less than ten dollars.

At present, if the time spent in getting and preparing the necessary materials, and in working them into the basket, were paid for at the same rate per day that a young woman receives for doing washing in the hotel laundry, or for private families, it would amount to over one hundred dollars.
Most of the baskets made for domestic use are so closely woven that they are practically water-tight, and are used for cooking and similar purposes.