A LABRADOR SPRING 



turesque caps of red and dark blue broadcloth 

 in alternate stripes in shape like a liberty cap. 

 The bands of these caps were ornamented in 

 bead- work which seemed to increase in extent 

 with the increasing years of the wearer. The 

 men's head gear was a more prosaic black cloth 

 cap with a visor. Both sexes wore either long 

 seal skin boots with the hair shaved off, or, 

 as was usually the case, low caribou skin mocca- 

 sins, more or less ornamented, and thick woollen 

 stockings, of bright primitive colours, red, 

 green, white, blue and purple, in stripes. These 

 stockings in the case of the men, were pulled up 

 to the knees over the trousers, which were the 

 ordinary cylindrical affairs of civilization, weath- 

 ered from black or brown, to a good neutral 

 tint. A rough cloth jacket or one of dirty white 

 canvas completed the costume in the men, 

 which was given a touch of colour by a red or 

 blue handkerchief tied about the neck and 

 shoulders. 



The women wore stout woollen skirts, gen- 

 erally of dark plaid, their costume completed 

 above by a bodice of red or plaid, fitting snugly 

 about their powerful waists and shoulders, and 

 by a coloured handkerchief that was knotted 



156 



