

METALLIC ORNAMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 21 



He elsewhere refers to the " thimbles and little brass rattles on 

 their ankles." In the summer of 1901 the writer saw some of these 

 thimbles in Fleming, taken from a Cayuga grave. They were 

 simply perforated at the end for suspension, and must have admir- 

 ably answered Indian purposes. 



Men had plainer ornaments for a similar use, but the bells and 

 thimbles were for the women, who were expected to be better 

 dressed. Sometimes bits of brass were perforated and strung on 

 the moccasins or other parts of attire, to produce a tinkling sound. 

 These might please the ear in the dance, but it hardly seems prob- 

 able they were intended to draw attention to the wearer at other 

 times. Such ornaments were not peculiar to America. 



Fig. 375 shows one of two pewter hawk bells found in Pompey, 

 which could have produced but a dull sound. They are of small 

 size and are now much flattened. ^ The writer has seen no other 



bells of this metal. 



Bracelets 



Bracelets of native copper occur in various parts of the country, 

 "but there are none of which the writer feels certain in New York. 

 These early ornaments were simple rings, usually thick, and some- 

 times with the ends so firmly in contact as to show they were not 

 intended to be removed. Some of this kind were found in the great 

 Smith mound in Kanawha county, West Virginia. They were ellip- 

 tic and heavy, the ends abutting, and measured across 2j by 2j 

 inches. There were six on each wrist of a skeleton. In the same 

 mound was a copper quadrangular gorget with indented sides and 

 two perforations. The length was 3^ inches by 3! wide. These 

 gorgets also do not occur in New York. Some have been found 

 in Wisconsin. 



In a mound in Crawford county, Wis., was an instance of intru- 

 sive burial, with many recent relics. Among these were three cop- 

 per bracelets, 10 silver ones fluted, like those in use here, a copper 

 Icettle, silver locket, silver earrings, six circular silver brooches, a 

 copper finger ring, and a double silver cross, 5^ by 2 inches. 

 Thomas. Explorations, p. 51 



