MOCCASINS, BUCKSKIN, ETC. 385 



ing over the edge of a sharpened board a little over 

 waist-high, turning the hide around each time, is 

 about as effective a way as any. Two men standing 

 in the sun and turning it around constantly can soon 

 pull a common-sized hide soft. Stretching firmly in a 

 strong frame and dancing on it until dry will stretch 

 and loosen the toughest hide. 



A hide may be rubbed soft much quicker if brains 

 be rubbed into it. When the fiber is loosened up so 

 that the hide looks white, rub the brains of a deer or 

 other animal into it. Or the brains may be dissolved 

 in water and the hide soaked in it. Mashing in with 

 the hand is, however, the quicker way. If one ap- 

 plication is not enough, rub in more. Grease answers 

 this purpose somewhat. But it is much inferior to 

 brains and requires warm water and soap, with con- 

 siderable work also to wash it out. Some may be 

 left in, but the most of it must come out unless you 

 wish an " oil-tanned " hide, which you do not, how- 

 ever, for any purpose but strings. 



The oftener a hide is wet and rubbed soft the better 

 it is for clothes etc. But where toughness is the main 

 point, as for strings, etc., it should be softened no 

 more than is necessary. Some hides are very ob- 

 stinate, and cannot be worked soft the first time ex- 

 cept by a person very strong in the hands, and in 

 patience. 



Without smoking, buckskin cannot be depended 

 upon to dry soft when wet. Nothing will take its 

 place. Smoked to lemon-color or light buff will gener- 

 ally do. To get an even color a smoke-house and slow 

 smoking is best. It may, however, be done in one day 

 by setting a tight barrel or big box over a deep hole 

 in the ground and forcing the smoke. Or it may be 



