METALLIC ORNAMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 37 



The Jesuit rings are usually of brass or bronze, with an elliptic 

 disk or seal, on which are many devices, sometimes almost effaced 

 by use. I. H. S. with a cross above was a favorite; the heart, the 

 letter L, the crucifixion, and sometimes a bust, appear on others. 

 A moderate number will be illustrated. They are not often of large 

 size, being given to young women and children as a rule. In New 

 York none are as early as the middle of the I7th century, and few 

 are as recent as its close. They came and went with the missions. 



Cayuga county has been quite rich in these rings, and a moderate 

 number have been figured and placed on record. Fig. 153 is one 

 from a site near Fleming, where many have been found. There is 

 a monogram in which M is the most conspicuous feature. A may 

 be another part, or it may be an inverted V. As the heart above 

 this is inverted, this may be the intention. There would thus be 

 V. M., for Virgin Mary. Beneath the monogram is a flagon or 

 pitcher. Fig. 343 is much like this, having the same monogram, 

 but the fleur-de-lis takes the place of the other figures, and there is 

 an ornamented border. It is larger than the last and came from 

 the same place. There were five of these in one collection. 



Fig. 314 has a fine full face and an illegible inscription. It came 

 from the same place, with two others. Fig. 316 is also from Flem- 

 ing, and shows a full face, with a small cross in the drapery on one 

 side. Fig. 317 was found with the last, and has a bust with mitered 

 head. A small cross appears. Fig. 324 is from the same place, 

 and somewhat corroded. Though there seems to be one large cross 

 and three small ones, it is probable that the correct rendering would 

 be one large cross above I. H. S., as in other cases. The same may 

 be said of fig. 329, which was found with the last, but is much 

 smaller. 



Fig. 325 is another of these Fleming rings, having I. H. S. in 

 plain roman letters, surmounted by a cross with expanding limbs. 

 There are three small crosses below, and an ornamental border. 

 Fig. 330 shows another from the same place, the design of which is 

 a large L, including a small heart and surmounted by a crown. This 

 fine ring has an ornamental border. Fig. 334 is smaller, and has 

 the L but not the other emblems. This is from Fleming, as well as 



