THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 



On the south side of the hall and in the Tower Room ad- 

 joining is a comprehensive series of specimens collected 

 among the Plains Cree, Assiniboine, Dakota, Sioux, Crow, 

 Sarsi and Blackfoot Indians. 



In the wall case on the left is a valuable lot of specimens 

 collected by the late Colonel Sword. One of the most im- 

 portant objects in this collection is a decorated war shirt 

 of mountain sheep skin. According to tradition, such shirts 

 were formerly worn only by the four head chiefs of the 

 tribe. The fineness of the porcupine quillwork on the cos- 

 tumes and medicine bags and the interesting bead decora- 

 tions on the leggings and sandals are especially noteworthy. 



Displayed in the Assiniboine case are fine examples of 

 porcupine quill and beadwork. These Indians show a pref- 

 erence in their decorative art for dark backgrounds; some 

 show blue or purple, and they have made frequent use of 

 the square (box), cross and feather patterns. In moccasin 

 decoration this tribe used practically every type of design 

 found in the northern plains. 



From the Dakota Indians are articles of dress decorated 

 with porcupine quillwork, implements used in their daily 

 life and excellent examples of catlinite pipes of the best 

 known types made by the Dakota; some of the specimens 

 were collected as early as 1840. The painted robe of buf- 

 falo hide, bearing a design known as the Black War Bonnet 

 pattern, is undoubtedly one of the finest robes in existence. 



Conspicuous in this collection are the costumes worn by 

 those who participated in the Ghost Dance, a religious 



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