ETHNOLOGICAL MATERIAL 



175 



Another, No. 10,889, from the same locality, is of black velvet 

 beaded upon both sides, closed by a silk drawing-string and 

 further ornamented by a silk thread around the bottom. 



Specimen No. 10,891, is of a single swan's foot. There is a 

 hem of cloth at the top, containing a drawing-string of three- 

 ply, braided wrapping twine. It is cloth lined and has been 

 used. I obtained this pouch from Rat Indians visiting Her- 

 schel Island. 



I obtained a fire bag, No. 9,611, which is very old and much 

 worn, from an old Cree medicine man, on the Saskatchewan. 

 It is of broadcloth with a narrow margin of green ribbon and 

 white beads. The top is plain but the lower third of each side 

 is beaded with flower patterns in startling color combinations. 

 There is a closely clipped roll of variegated worsted at the bot- 

 tom, from which hang worsted tassels at the ends of short 

 thongs on each of which are strung three large blue beads. The 

 open top is furnished with a short loop of three-ply, braided 

 worsted, probably to hang it by when not in use, as it is then 

 kept closed by being drawn under the belt. It is 11 inches long 

 and 5.5 broad. 



Shot Pouches. The collection contains one, No. 9,634, which 

 was made by a metis woman at Norway House. It is the best 

 specimen of the imitative flower pattern beadwork that I saw 

 in the North. It is of dark blue broadcloth with a sash 2.5 

 inches wide and 4 feet long, by which it was suspended so that 

 the lower part of the pouch passed under the belt which pre- 

 vented its contents from falling out and kept the pouch itself 

 in place. It is 10.75 inches long in the back, 7.5 in the front 

 and 6.5 broad. It is lined with light canvas. Both pouch and 

 sash are heavily beaded. 



Fire Steel. Flints and steels for striking fire are still supplied 

 by the Company to the Northern Indians. Steels are com- 

 monly made by the natives from old files. I obtained a well 

 made specimen, No. 11,006, from a Chippewyan at Resolution. 

 It is rather heavier than common and has a short bit at the 

 open end to be used as a screw-driver. 



The flints are imported. A specimen, No. 9,639, in the col- 

 lection, is a quadrilateral truncated pyramid, 1.25 inches long 

 by 1 wide. For touchwood the Indians use the hard fungus 

 from dead birch trees. The)' beg for matches at every oppor- 



