I had no experience making baskets before. I had only watched the old people in the village make baskets and just watched for fun. I had never really learned how to do it properly.
However, I do know a little about the basic weaving methods, so while it was still early, I went and got a lot more willow branches.
I got the materials back, but after sitting on the ground and gesturing for a long time, I still couldn't figure out how to start weaving the basket.
When I couldn't think of anything else, I decided to weave a basket according to my own ideas.
After all, there are dozens of kilograms of dried meat here, so the first thing to do is to ensure that the bottom of the basket can bear the weight.
I took the longer willow branches, split them into ten equal parts by laying them flat and crossing them, and I also added some tanned vine to increase its overall toughness.
Then, like weaving a fence, I used willow branches to weave back and forth along the main warp, dividing it into ten equal sections. When I reached a base about the size of a washbasin, I began to insert the willow branches in the opposite direction into the horizontal warp of the weave to tighten it.
After making the base, stretch the main stem upwards to make it into a cylindrical shape. Then, take three willow branches and continue weaving the basket body using a pressing-and-picking technique.
I had previously seen experienced craftsmen use a tool to tap the basket after each round of beating, in order to make the basket more compact and sturdy. So I followed their example and tapped it as well.
Although the basket wasn't very pretty, at least it had taken basic shape. The rest of the time was spent repeating this tedious process, hammering and pounding as he went.
Because my willow branches are thicker, I can beat them much faster than with bamboo. I estimate it took more than an hour, and now the basket is finally deep enough to hold more than enough dried meat.
I didn't know how to finish the edge, so I found three willow branches and braided them into a thick braid, which I'll call a horse braid for now. I still used the interlacing method to tie it into the main thread.
Then I used a rather clumsy finishing method. Utilizing the principle of a double knot, I would pick up a main thread, wrap it around the braid twice, and then tuck the excess end under the next main thread. I repeated this process until the last main thread was finished, and a basket that didn't look very nice but was still sturdy was completed.
Of course, I wouldn't make a rattan shoulder strap like those experienced craftsmen would, but I have my own way of doing it.
My method is to use more willow branches to make a long rope about the thickness of a corncob, like braiding it. Then I tie knots at both ends to form a loop.
The rest is simple. Just place the basket on top and tie a super-large vase knot using the same method as tying a vase knot to hold the basket in place. Then, use some thin vines to tie the knots at the four corners and the basket body together. A basket that can be used to carry things is now completely finished.
I dare say, with these straps, the basket won't even break. If the village's master craftsman knew how I wove these baskets, he'd be so excited he'd vomit blood.
With the new tool, I felt a sense of joy, like a child getting a new toy. Including the fire-starting goggles and the sun-protective clothing, this was the third tool I had made by hand.
I lined the basket with some banana leaves I had found, and when the meat was almost dry from roasting, I put it all into my little storage room.
After I finished collecting all the meat, wow! I had filled a whole basket with dried meat.
I knew there were still many gaps in the jerky, so I squeezed it in a bit. The jerky made a crisp popping sound as it was squeezed, indicating that it was roasted very successfully.
I crouched down and looped the two ropes around my shoulders. They were sturdy, but a bit inhuman.
I'll have to redesign the rope-style shoulder straps when I have time, otherwise they'll definitely leave bloody marks on my shoulders.
Carrying these 30-40 pounds of dried meat on my back is quite heavy. I can't be careless tonight. I've decided to go to the vicinity of that primeval forest and find a bigger tree to rest under.
Now that I have fire at my disposal, even ferocious beasts like leopards and tigers won't dare to approach me easily at night.
Having had this close encounter with the wild boar, I now feel that tigers and leopards seem much more approachable. I'd rather face them now than fight wild boars again.
To make things easier, I made several torches and stuck them between the straps of my basket. This basket has been a huge help; before, I wouldn't have even dared to think about carrying so much stuff, let alone carrying it.
What I feel I'm missing right now is a portable container for holding water. However, I haven't found any materials to make such a thing yet. It would be great if I could find some large bamboo.
I encountered some more firethorn berries along the way, and I continued to collect them as I walked, wrapping them in leaves and throwing them into my basket.
Although I am now considered to have some wealth, these sour fruits can stimulate the appetite and aid digestion, making them a pretty good after-meal treat.
After all, I don't have a phone to play with now, and my life is basically on the path of a savage.
The stream wasn't far from the primeval forest; I walked for about fifteen minutes before reaching the edge of this dense jungle.
It was still quite bright outside, but the dense, tall trees in the jungle blocked out all the sunlight, making the area beneath them appear rather dark and oppressive.
I've heard that dark, primeval forests like this are also popular habitats for bats, including many vampire bats.
I don't know if this is true or not, after all, bats are hosts for many deadly bacteria such as rabies, and together with mosquitoes, they are two of the deadliest killers in the jungle.
I figured my smoke would repel mosquitoes, so bats should be able to too, right? At worst, I'll just make the smoke bigger. Even though I'll suffer, it's better than getting infected with some unknown virus.
The trees here are all quite nice, and I chose a tree that's neither too big nor too small as my resting place for today.
There are no willow branches here, but we've used green vines freely. Almost every shrub and tree is covered in green vines, so there's no need to worry about materials.
I made myself a netted tree bed just like the first time, and this time I also wove a dome over it, and put several layers of unknown, large leaves on the netted bed.
This way, not only will my buttocks be spared from the smoke, but the night breeze won't make my buttocks feel cold either.
This is a lesson I learned from painful experience. Sometimes people are like that; they don't learn until they've been burned.
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