1896-97.] THE DENES OF AMERICA IDENTIFIED WITH THE TUNGl^S OF ASIA. 187 



covered, and rubbing them over with different colors. * * * The 

 warriors paint their faces that they may appear more warHke. Others 

 who are not engaged in hostilities, do the same, because, I suppose, they 

 imagine they look more handsome. * * * They take great pains to 

 dress their hair, which is generally long and oily, by reason of being 

 smeared with grease. The pendants in their ears and nostrils are usually 

 shells, which are painted on one side with a red, and on the other 

 with a blue color ; but they never consider themselves in their full 

 uniform without a crown made of the plumage of a bird called the 

 rootoo. Their women may be said to follow the same practices, although 

 they pay very little attention to their hair." 



Santini confines himself to the Tungus. "As to the dress of the 

 Tungusi, like that of every barbarous nation, it is generally made of the 

 skin of wild beasts. This dress is simply fitted to the form and shape 

 of the body, or, it is adorned with various ornaments, according to the 

 degree of civilization which these nations have arrived at. The Tungusi, 

 in their orginal state of barbarity, were dressed in skins ; they painted 

 their bodies and faces with various colors ; they bored their noses and 

 ears, whence hung colored shells. For their head covering they had 

 crowns made of the skin of a young deer, ornamented with the plumage 

 of rare birds, especially the peacock. Every part of their dress was 

 embellished with coloured porcupine quills ; they had shoes particularly 

 suited to the winter, in order to traverse the snowy plains more easily ; 

 their length was about two feet. From the lightness and structure of 

 these shoes, they were able to perform long journeys. The soles 

 consisted of a net made of strings of a raw hide. * * * I have 

 always observed among the Tungusi, at least, among the greater number 

 of the men, that, in their modern dress they wear two shirts, one next 

 their skin, and the other over their waistcoat. I do not know the reason 

 of this custom ; nevertheless, some have told me that it originated from 

 the motive of vanity." 



Sauer's statement is brief " Their tents are covered with shamoy, or the 

 inner bark of the birch, which they render as pliable as leather by rolling 

 it up and keeping it for some time in the steam of boiling water and 

 smoke. Their winter dress is the skin of the deer, or wild sheep, dressed 

 with the hair on ; a breastpiece of the same which ties around the neck 

 and reaches down to the waist, widening towards the bottom, and neatly 

 ornamented with embroidery and beads ; pantaloons of the same 

 materials, which also furnish them with short stockings, and boots of the 

 legs of reindeer with the hair outward ; a fur cap and gloves. Their 

 summer dress only differs in being simple leather without the hair." In 



