i74 



EXPLORATIONS IN THE FAR NORTH 



are 10 inches long by 6.5 broad. The thumb is 3 inches long 

 and 3 broad. They are hemmed with a 2 inch piece of stroud- 

 ing at the wrist. 



Sash. There is a beaded sash in the collection, No. 9,635, 

 from Norway House. It is of black broadcloth, hemmed with 

 green braid and lined with drilling. The beads are arranged 

 in flower pattern, but with superior excellence and harmony of 

 colors. It is 44.5 inches long and 2.6 wide. The ends are pro- 

 vided with two light thongs each. 



Carrying Straps. The collection contains two of these from 

 McPherson. They were made by metis women and are more 

 elaborately ornamented than those used by the Indians. One 

 of these, No. 10,900, is of caribouskin covered with black velvet, 

 with a quarter, inch hem of blue cotton cloth. It is ornamented 

 with six rows of white beads and a central band of colored ones 

 in alternate stars and circles. Along the lower margin are 

 short strings of large beads terminating in worsted tags. The 

 ends are furnished with brass belt fastenings obtained at the 

 store. It is 44 inches long and 2.75 broad. 



The other strap, No. 1,090, is of mooseskin covered with blue 

 strouding with a plaid margin. The beadwork is in flower 

 patterns. The ends are provided with mooseskin thongs for 

 tying. It is 41 inches long, 3.3 wide in the middle, tapering to 

 2 inches at the end. 



Dog Shoes. These are used in lake travel, late in winter, 

 when the sharp granular snow soon renders the dogs' feet raw 

 and bleeding, or in spring when traveling upon the needle ice, 

 after the snow has disappeared. The collection contains a half 

 dozen shoes of caribouskin. They are simple bags, 8 inches 

 deep, and 5 inches across, rounding at the bottom and having 

 leather tying strings at the top. Common cloth, canvas or 

 leather is used, but all wear out rapidly or fill with ice and cause 

 so much suffering that many travelers discard them altogether. 



Tobacco Pouches. Each of these contains flint, steel, touch- 

 wood, a small quantity of plug tobacco and a medium-sized 

 pocket knife. The "fire bag" is usually made of fine cloth or 

 velvet, ornamented with silk or beads. The collection contains 

 one, No. 10,888, from McPherson, which is ornamented on both 

 sides by beads in flower patterns. The top has a double draw- 

 ing-string of worsted. This bag is 7 inches long and 6 broad. 



