346 INDIANS. 



those of the tribe who are too poor to afford the luxuries 

 of civilisation ; and nearly all the women at present wear 

 gowns of their own make, of calico or costlier material, 

 according to the wealth and affection of the husband. 



Even in his most natural and poverty-stricken condi- 

 tion the Indian is excessively fond of finery, and always 

 has something extra for grand occasions. A few feathers 

 tied in the hair, a ring or two of brass wire for the wrists 

 or ankles, and so up to the elaborate display of useless 

 finery that the wealth and position of the individual can 

 afford or is entitled to. Descriptions and illustrations of 

 these articles have so often been made that it is useless 

 to speak further of them. 



The common warrior, whatever his wealth, is not 

 permitted to array himself in certain fineries, nor to 

 festoon his shield in certain ways. Earrings are worn 

 almost universally by men, rarely by women. The holes 

 for insertion are made in the upper cartilage of the ear. 

 I have seen an Indian with three or four huge brass rings 

 in each ear, each ring supported by lead-work connec- 

 tions, shells, stones, pieces of bone, until each pendant 

 was at least a foot long, and the whole together would 

 weigh one or two pounds. Of course the ears were 

 dragged out of shape, enlarged to twice their natural 

 size, and much torn. 



Paint forms a most indispensable article of dress with 

 all ages and sexes, and no Indian, whatever may be his 

 actual apparel, considers himself in full dress unless his 

 face is besmeared with paint. They show no taste or 

 skill in its use. Each individual daubs it on (using a 

 smooth stone for palette and his fingers for brush) as 

 seems most becoming. The Indian idea of full dress is 

 to heap upon himself every article of finery that he 

 possesses. The result is some of the most incongruous 

 and ridiculous ensembles that can be imagined. 



I was once present at a council of grave importance, 

 involving peace or war, on the subject of the Pacific 



