634 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



lias been much discussion.* The upper portion of this war panoply 

 (pi. 4,t fig. 1) is unique. 



It serves as a shield and resembles the neck fender of the Kingsmill 

 Island armor; designed, without doubt, to protect the warrior from 

 attack in the rear, a common occurrence in all savage warfare. 



The whole armor is very heavy and clumsy. The method of wearing 

 the suit is shown in plate 5.| Captain Hooper says: 



Their war spears aud those used in huuting bears are made of steel, with a handle 

 about 6 feet lonj;-. The blade is kept very sharp and h-ighly polished. These weapons 

 are often beautifully iulaid with brass ornamented figures, and are purchased from 

 the Russian traders at Gazhaga.^ 



The Chukchis of Plover Bay formerly wore a cuirass made of long 

 strips of baleen, reaching from the neck to the middle of the thigh. 

 The thickest baleen was not selected for making the armor. The 

 strips were- arranged vertically, en echelon^ and tied through perfora- 

 tions on the edges. Over the joints were applied other strips of 

 whalebone, as in a thatch fastened by thongs, passing through perfora- 

 tions at their edges and in the middle of the foundation strips. Owing 

 to the material aud construction this armor was somewhat elastic. 

 When spread out it was in shape of a band with cuts below the 

 armpits and having suspending straps going over the shoulders, resem- 

 bling the Hupa armor. (See pi. 15.) The coat was tied at the back 

 with cords, requiring the assistance of another person. 



The Chukchis told my informant, Capt. E. P. Herendeen, that this 



* Hewitt, John, Ancient armor, p. 270; also hoop armor, id. p. 256. 



tDKSCRIPTlON OF PLATE 4. 



Fig. 1, armor. — Upper portion of 2437. Made of sea-lion skin stretched over 

 plates of wood. Back, shield shaped, formed of 2 vertical pieces of three-eighth 

 inch board lashed together with whalebone and covered with hide, which extends 

 continuously over the wings, being a very large skin turned over and sewed on 

 the upper edge. The wings consist of 4 wooden plates on one side and 5 on the 

 other, growing shorter toward the front and terminating on the left side in a section 

 without wooden lining. The plates are movable, the hide being creased at the joints 

 and in the crease is laid a rounded thong which is held at intervals by loops of whale- 

 bone passing through the edges of the plates. On the back are two whalebone tog- 

 gles for attachment to the lower portion. A more clumsy contrivance than this fen- 

 der can scarcely be imagined. Width, 72 inches; height, 28 inches. (Cat. No. 2436, 

 U.S.N.M. Chukchis, Eastern Siberia. Collected by Commodore John Rogers, U. S. N. 



Fig. 2, hoop armor. — Made of seven bands of sea-lion skin, 5^ inches wide, doubled 

 and whipped together at the edges. These bands are connected by heavy thongs 

 and hang in an enlarging series, like an inverted telescope drinking cup, from a 

 frame of whalebone covered with hide. The free ends of the bands overlap in front. 

 A square breastplate of doubled hide protects the neck. This armor is the lower 

 portion.of No. 2436. Diameter, 36 inches ; height, 20 inches. (Cat, No. 2437, U.S.N.M. 

 Chukchis, Eastern Siberia. Collected by Commodore John Rogers, U. S. N. 



X DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 5. 



Chukchis ivarrior and famil I/.— From an aquarelle made by W. Alexander in 1797, 

 showing, after the interpretation of the artist, the method of wearing the armor 

 figured in pi. 4. 



§ Cruise of the Corwin, 1881, Washington, 1884, p. 31. 



