624 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1920. 



calico. A girdle around his waist with long fringes, moccasins of 

 buckskin, and the helmet-shaped cap with heron plumes preserve 

 the ancient native forms of dress. The tomahawk is of European 

 manufacture, and became very popular as an object of trade in 

 colonial times. (See pi. 20.) 



TRIBES OF THE GREAT PLAINS AND NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAINS. 



From their connection with the settlement of the West with its 

 stirring events, together with the impression of their free, wild life, 

 the Plains Indians have been given first place in popular fancy. 

 Especially is this true of the Sioux living in the Northern Plains, 

 whose " seven fireplaces," representing the seven tribes of the stock, 

 furnished powerful bands of warriors to obstruct the progress of 

 land-hungry settlers. 



The Sioux at some period, believed to have been shortly before 

 the coming of the white man, entered the Plains and became hunters 

 of buffalo. This animal profoundly modified the subsequent his- 

 tory of this tribe, and, together with the horse, which was acquired 

 in due time, made the Sioux a strong nation. The life on the Plains 

 was not conducive to material advancement, and the Sioux at the 

 time he was pushed about by the white man had not made much 

 progress, though having in agriculture and other arts the elements 

 of such progress. It would seem that dependence on the buffalo 

 acted as a handicap to progress. On the extermination of the buf- 

 falo the Sioux settled down and has made rapid strides toward 

 becoming a valuable asset to American citizenship. As a represent- 

 ative tribe of the northern Kocky Mountains the Nez Perce have 

 been selected. This warlike tribe forms a connecting link between 

 the Sioux and Salish, who lived on the coast. It is interesting to 

 trace the modifications in the Sioux arts due to contact with other 

 tribes living in widely differing environments. The study of Siouan 

 arts is rendered very difficult on this account. The Nez Perce in 

 this way are credited with weaving, an art which, if they practiced 

 it, they undoubtedly borrowed from the Salish. This tribe was 

 prominent in the wars among the Plains Indians, and the celebrated 

 Chief Joseph took an important part in these conflicts. 



The Southern Plains Indians present familiar tribal names, such 

 as the Kiowa, Comanche, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Pawnee, and Wichita. 

 The Kiowa are taken as representative. This once powerful tribe 

 contributed much to the history of Indian wars. They also form one 

 of the connecting links between the Plains and Pueblo Indians. 



The Pawnee and Wichita of the Caddoan stock represent intru- 

 sions from some other environment where the houses whose mode of 

 construction they preserved in their migrations were necessary. Pic- 



