THE SKINS. 



In texture, the skins of all the deer are alike. They consist 

 of a mass of felted fibres, and are soft, spongy, and elastic, from 

 which the epidermis is easily separated. These properties ad- 

 mirably adapt them to supply the place of cloth in the clothing 

 of the natives, and so constitute their principal material for dress. 

 The princijjal articles used by the Indians in tanning these skins 

 are brains and smoke, though the latter is frequently omitted, 

 especially by the western tribes. In the cold countries the skins 

 are usually tanned with the hair on, which is sometimes worn 

 inside, and sometimes outside. In the temperate and tropical 

 climates the hair is removed from the skin before it is tanned, 

 unless it is designed to be used as a robe. 



Whenever the skin is thick and heavy it is chipped away on 

 the flesh side till it is so reduced as to make it even and pliable, 

 and convenient for use. In this way they reject the weakest 

 part of the skin. 



The skin of the Moose is thick and heavy, and always re- 

 quires to be reduced to fit it for use as clothing, or even for 

 robes. Although coarse-grained it is strong and serviceable. 

 Here is what Richardson sajs, speaking of the Moose Deer : 

 " Their skins, when properly dressed, make a soft, thick, pliable 

 leather, excellently adapted for moccasins, or other articles of 

 winter clothing. The Dog-ribs excel in the art of dressing the 

 skins, which is done in the following manner : They are first 

 scraped to an equal thickness throughout, and the hair taken off 

 by a scraper made of the shin-bone of the deer, split longitu- 

 dinally ; ihej are then repeatedly moistened and rubbed, after 

 being smeared with the brains of the animal until they acquire 

 a soft, spongy feel ; and, lastly, they are suspended over a fire, 

 made of rotten wood, until the}'^ are well impregnated with the 

 smoke. This last mentioned process imparts a peculiar odor to 

 the leather, and has the effect of preventing it from becoming so 

 hard, after being wet, as it would otherwise do." In fact, this 

 describes the mode of tanning the skins of all the deer, by the 

 different Indian tribes, who depend so largely upon them for 

 their clothing, except that the hair is frequently allowed to re- 



