Bitumen (tar) is a mixture of PAHs that was used in Indian manufacturing techniques, from the making of leak-free water baskets to the sealing of fishermen's canoes.
Water baskets early in the day to prevent mildew.
Small pleasures include free seltzer water, a basket of house-made breads and the amuse-bouche — on our visits, two deeply flavored dairy-based soups, broccoli and onion.
Even better, how about one with electricity and running water, a basket on a pulley for hauling up toys and treasures, and a turret from which to survey the entire neighborhood?
When a waiter arrived to plunk down our jug of water and basket of garlic bread, he noticed us struggling with a cellphone that had run out of batteries, and proffered his own.
Other touches echo in the memory: the flask of water and basket of bread that arrive immediately after you sit down and are replenished throughout the meal; the pacing, swift but not too swift; the music, barely perceptible in the background; and the food -- familiar, satisfying fare that nevertheless transcends cliches.
He recalls the humiliation of having to water hanging baskets while his former schoolmates walked by, but also the joy of working in the nursery where he was 'blissfully happy, focused'.
And attendees participated in water-tight basket weaving, for which the Nisenan are renowned.
On San Miguel Island, bitumen occurs in man-made objects between 10,000 and 7,500 years old (Vellanoweth et al. 2003), but becomes more prevalent with the development of bitumen-sealed water-bottle baskets about 5,000 years ago (Braje et al. 2005).
A delicate bowl of olives, bottled water and a basket of bread were laid out on the table.
