Knots were used on bowstrings, spearhead and arrowhead lashings, snowshoes, and for a variety of other things.
The bowstring was usually fastened with a simple honda knot, or with an ordinary slip knot secured by a half hitch.
The Pueblo Indians kept a calendar by means of knotted strings, made like the famous quipu of the Peruvian Incas. The California Indians, who sold blankets to the missions, would send a salesman who was provided by each blanket maker with two strings or cords. Every time the salesman received a real, or Spanish coin, he made one knot in the cord; when he received ten reals, or one dollar, he made a double knot. In the second cord he would make a knot each time he sold a blanket. In this way he could make an accounting to his clients.
Knots were made in rawhide by splitting and drawing the ends through. Loops, handle or strap knots were made in this fashion. This type of knot is known as the slit braid.
Grass and bark were tied together by two simple overhand knots, which when drawn together would jam and make a secure fastening.
For covering articles with horsehair, the Indian employed "Spanish hitching," which he learned from the early Spaniards.