644 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1893. 



the national collection are of problematic purpose. They were sent m 

 as armor by the collector, and from the thickness, weight, and other 

 points are evidently defensive. There is, however, no armhole on the 

 left side nor projection for the shoulder. In one suit the neck opening 



is large and is surrounded with a 

 leather-covered collar made of short 

 Avooden slats, slightly interlocking, 

 held together with a cord twining. 

 In the other suit the collar is of 

 hide (pi. 22).* 



If these objects are defensive they 

 could scarcely be used by a man on 

 all fours for stalking, as they are 

 too wide and long, and the arms 

 would be completely hampered. 

 They would be most useful as armor 

 for some animal. While one tribe-at 

 least (the Shoshones of the Upper 

 Missouri) is known to have protected 

 their horses with armor,! the North- 

 west Coast tribes did not have 

 horses. A further suggestion is 

 that they were ceremonial. 



These objects are noticed here 

 with the view of ascertaining their 

 functi<jn. 



Padded armor, which was used 

 in Mexico and Central America, is 

 the remaining type. No specimens 

 of Mexican padded armor are extant. 

 In some of the sculptures quilted 

 armor is perhaps represented by a 

 groundwork of small squares. A 

 search of the codices and an examina- 

 tion of the sculptures will doubtless throw m uch light upon this subject. 



* DESCRIPTION OF TLATK 22. 



Fig 1, xkin rohe.-0{ hide, ronglily curried in tanning. The collar is a sliglit cut 

 on the left side wliicli does not penetrate the inner fold. A painted, fringed band 

 has been neatly sewn to the right side. On the inside is an elaborate totenuc paint- 

 ing. Length, 52 inches; width, 36 inches. Northwest coast. 



Fig -2, .sAin robe.— Made of a large tanned elk, or caribou, hide, doubled, the short 

 fold being inside. A collar composed of short interlocking slats of wood, woven 

 together with cord in the manner of the slat armor and covered with leather, is 

 sewed to the neck. Fringed at the sides. Four bands of friuged buckskin decorated 

 with colored grass are sewed on one side. Length, .54 inches; width, 32 inches. 

 (Cat. No. 74440, U.S.N.M. Alaska. Collected by J. J. McLean.) 

 t See page 646. 



Fig. 5. 



ANCIENT KOREAN COTTON ARMOR. 



Cat. No. 12»3tt. U.S.M.M. Korea. Deposited by 

 Dr. G. Brown Goode. 



