290 TENTH ANNUAL REPOET OF 



knee, and leggins of tlie same material. A small blanket, or a piece 

 of red baize, with a hole in it, through which the head is thrust, 

 extends a short distance below the small of the back, and covers the 

 abdomen in front, the sides being partially sewed together ; and a 

 strip of red cloth attached to the blanket or baize, where it covers the 

 shoulder, forms the sleeve, the whole serving the purpose of a coat. 

 Over all is thrown a blanket, under and sometimes over which is worn 

 a belt, to which are attached oval pieces of silver, plain or variously 

 wrought. Many of the rich men wear, when " dressed," a coat and 

 pantaloons brought from the United States. A shirt made of un- 

 bleached cotton cloth, also from the Eastern States, and breeches of 

 the same material, made to come a little below the knee, are much worn 

 by the " middle class." The men, as a rule^ make their own clothes. 

 These articles constitute the only covering, together with the breech- 

 cloth and moccasins, that are used. Many are seen who wear nothing 

 but a blanket, and some in summer, nothing but the breech-cloth, and 

 we have seen some with no covering but moccasins and a cotton shirt, 

 when the mercury was below zero. The moccasin is made of buck- 

 skin, with a sole of raw-hide, and comes well up on the leg. It is 

 fashioned alike for men and women. The latter wear a blanket 

 fastened about the waist, and seAved up the sides for a skirt. The front 

 and back parts being attached over either shoulder, a covering is 

 obtained for the front and back portions of the body. The skirt comes 

 down below the knee, about half way to the ankle, the leg being well 

 wrapped in uncolored buckskin. They sit upon their horses in the 

 same manner as the men. As a general rule, neither sex wear any 

 head-dress ; an old cap or hat, or dirty rag, is sometimes worn, but 

 they have no regular covering for the head, even in the coldest days 

 in winter or warmest in summer. The hair is worn long, and tied 

 up behind, by both men and women. That of sick persons is gener- 

 ally cut short, and that of children also, to enable the latter-the more 

 easily to get rid of the parasitic insects which are by no means un- 

 common to the whole tribe. With very few exceptions, the want of 

 cleanliness is universal — a shirt being worn until it will no longer 

 hang together, and it would be difficult to tell the original color. 

 These people suffer much from rheumatism, and gonorrhcea and syph- 

 ilis are not at all rare. Many have a cough, and look consumptive. 

 Various herbs, sweating, scarifications, and incantations are the chief 

 remedial measures. Women, when in parturition, stand upon their 

 feet, holding to a rope suspended overhead, or upon the knees, the 

 body being erect. Accouchment is generally easy, and of short dura- 

 tion ; when difficult and prolonged, recourse is had to superstitious 

 observances to bring about a successful issue. 



The chief grain used for food is maize. When not fully matured it 

 is pounded, mixed with pumpkins when these can be procured, 

 wrapped in the husk, and baked in the ashes. They doubtless have 

 other ways of preparing it, but we are "not aware of them. It would 

 be hard to say what they would not eat. The majority seem to live 

 on what they can get — deer, antelope, sheep, horses, mules, rabbits, 

 prairie-dogs ; and Ave have seen some eat meat in such a state of pu- 

 tridity that the sight Avas disgusting in the extreme. All are very 



