The Cane Basket, made by the Onge tribe, is one of those traditional and essential things of the tribe, used in various chore activities. One of the indigenous tribes of Andaman Islands is in the Bay of Bengal. The Onge tribe has an immense respect for Mother Nature and has led an environmentally sustainable life. Basketry, therefore, is an age-old art form of theirs, which has continued to the present mainly with the use of local material like cane and reed.
This particular cane basket is conical in structure, hence serving the purpose for which it is used- carrying and storing several items, including foods and sundries. The shape here maintains the safe inside containment of the item against the next useful aspect of portability. The open mouth of the basket reinforced with a reed is tightly tied with cane strips to the main body made of reed. This reinforcement gives extra grip to the mouth, so crucial for the basket to sustain most of the weight and preserve shape without compromising its structural integrity.
Cane and reed provide flexibility and strength while imparting durability, too. These materials are lightweight yet strong enough to carry some weighty essentials like food during the tribe's activities or while hunting and gathering. Such is the usefulness of the Onge cane basket - the display of resourcefulness within the tribe, who were able to fashion tools and implements from natural material, necessities in their sustainable living.