METALLIC ORNAMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 



As there were national and provincial costumes in the countries 

 of Europe, so were there differing fashions of dress and ornaments 

 among the aborigines of New York and of the United States. In the 

 heat of summer the simplest possible costume prevailed, except on 

 festive occasions, and many had scant clothing in the winter season. 

 On the other hand, the feather or fur dresses, or those of tanned 

 or woven goods, have been described in picturesque terms. With- 

 out recounting these, it seems proper to give some idea how the 

 New York Indians were arrayed when the white man came, and for 

 some time after. 



Henry Hudson said that the natives about New York bay wore 

 various skins, and had ornaments of copper, but later writers were 

 more elaborate in description. In the battle on Lake Champlain 

 in 1609, the French leader was told that the three Mohawks " who 

 bore three lofty plumes were the Chiefs, and that there were but 

 these three and they were to be recognized by those plumes, which 

 were considerably larger than those of their companions. . . 

 They were provided with arrow-proof armor, woven of cotton 

 thread and wood." Arent Van Curler mentioned similar Mohawk 

 armor in his journal, Dec. 23, 1634. He saw a sham fight in a 

 Mohawk town, nine men on one side and 1 1 on the other. " Some 

 of them wore armor and helmets that they make themselves of thin 

 reeds and strings so well that no arrow or axe can pass through to 

 wound them." Wilson, p. 91 



In the Journal of New Netherland, written from 1641 to 1646, it is 

 said that the Indians " go almost naked except a lap . . . and 

 on the shoulders a deer-skin or mantle, a fathom square of woven 

 Turkey feathers or peltries sewed together, they make use now 

 greatly of Duffels, Cloth Blue or Red, in consequence of the fre- 

 quent visits of the Christians. In winter they make shoes of Deer 

 , manufactured after their fashion." O'Callaghan, 4-4 



