636 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



2. WESTERN AREA. 



In the western area the slat type of wooden armor seems to be cen 

 tral among theKoluschans in the north, Avhile the rod type runs south- 

 ward and is central among theTinne of British Columbia. 



The slat armor has some resemblances to the Eskimo coat, and might 

 be regarded as the working out of the plate-armor idea in a region 

 where wood is abundant and twined weaving common. 



The slat coat or coat of slats and rods combined is always made in 

 two sections, one for the front and the other for the back, while the rod 

 coat is in a single \nece. 



Plate 6* shows the front and back of the slat coat, and Plates 7 

 and 8* show the combined rod and slat armor. These specimens 

 are very old. The woodwork shows great skill, especially the inter- 

 locking joinery at the edges. The hardest wood procurable was 

 selected, and usually sinew cord was employed to join the slats. 

 Plate J>,* taken from Niblack after Lisiansky, shows the parts and 

 method of wearing the slat armor. 



* DESCRIPTIONS OF PLATES 6-9. 



Plate 6, slat armor. — Made of 32 slats of cedar aud other wood woven together 

 by line weaving of line sinew and otlier cord. A baud of weaving of 3 inches width 

 is carried along the front at the top and the weaving is continued, downward in two 

 places, meeting a baud crossing the bottom and forming a geometrical figure. 

 The middle series of slats, 8 in number, extends below the other 4 inches, 3 of which 

 are intact, while 2 on either side are united, forming a swallowtail aud allowing the 

 free bending of the thighs. 



The front and back are distinct, joined by elk-skin cords at the sides. A section 

 of short slats, 8 in number, is placed in front of the throat, and a similar row, 7 in 

 number, protects the back of the neck. The armor is held in place by a broad 

 baud of elk skin over the right shoulder, aud fastened on the left side by a loop and 

 thong. A toggle on the left side of the collar in front was probably for suspension 

 of tlie (luiver. Height, 21^ inches; width, 20 inches. (Cat. No. 9243, U. S.N. M. 

 Tliugit Indians, Sitka, Alaska. Collected by Dr. A. H. Hott", U. S. A.) 



Plates 7 and S, slat armor {back and front). — Made of slats aud rods of hard wood 

 li to li inches wide, five-sixteenths inch thick, woven together by means of fine 

 sinew cord so as to admit of considerable flexibility. The rods and slats are pared 

 down to form channels for the reception of the cord weaving. The front and back 

 portions are woven separately, being connected by cords of leather on the left side 

 aud on the right side by a loop and toggle. The rods on the border of the rear of 

 armor are neatly " toed in." The neck portions are made up of short slats and sewed 

 on by means of a strip of rawhide 1^ inches wide. The shoulder supports are of 

 very thick elk hide, the one on the right being fastened by a slash and toggle. 

 Width of rear i)()rtion, 24 inches ; height, 20 inches ; width of front portion, 18 inches ; 

 height, 19 inches. (Cat. No. 74437, U. S. N. M. Tlingit Indians, Sitka, Alaska. 

 Collected by J. ,J. McLean.) 



Plate 9.— Wooden helmet secured to the head by straps fastened under the chin 

 (figure in upper left coruer) ; wooden mask or visor, side view, showing holes for 

 eyes (middle figure); body armor (lower left-hand figure); mask or visor, show- 

 ing buckle, which is held in the teeth to keep the visor in place (Cat. No. 71343, 

 U.S.N. M.), Tlingit, (lower right-hand figure) ; sketch showing the method of wearing 

 the armor; (upper right-hand corner). 



