xx HEAD 337 



degree of perseverance and skill, it is not easy to do so. 

 Besides the simple occipital and the simple frontal com- 

 pressions, all the others may be grouped into two principal 

 divisions. First (Figs. 21, 22, and 23), that in which the 

 skull is flattened between boards or pads made (among the 

 Indians of the Columbia Biver) of deer -skin stuffed with 

 frayed cedar bark or moss, applied to the forehead and back 

 of the head ; and as there is no lateral pressure, it bulges out 

 sideways, as seen in Fig. 23, to compensate for the shortening 

 in the opposite direction. This form is very often un- 

 symmetrical, as the flattening boards, applied to a nearly 

 spherical surface, naturally incline a little to one side or the 

 other ; and when this once commences, unless great care is 

 used, it must increase until the very curious oblique flattening 

 so common in these skulls is produced. This is the ordinary 

 form of deformity among the Chinook Indians of the 

 Columbia Eiver, commonly called " Flat -heads." It is also 

 most frequent among the Quichuas of Peru. 



The methods by which this particular kind of deformity 

 was produced varied in detail in different tribes. One of the 

 most effective is thus described by Mr. Townsend : " The 

 Wallamet Indians place the infant, soon after birth, upon 

 a board, to the edges of which are attached little loops of 

 hempen cord or leather ; and other similar cords are passed 

 across and back, in a zigzag manner, through these loops, 

 enclosing the child and binding it firmly down. To the 

 upper edge of this board, in which is a depression to receive 

 the back part of the head, another smaller one is attached by 

 hinges of leather, and made to lie obliquely upon the forehead, 

 the force of the pressure being regulated by several strings 

 attached to its edge, which are passed through holes in the 

 board upon which the infant is lying, and secured there." 



The second form of deformity (Figs. 20, 24, and 25) is 

 produced by constricting bandages of deer's hide, or other 

 similar material, encircling the head behind the ears, usually 

 passing below the occiput behind, and across the forehead, 

 and again across the vertex, behind the coronal suture, 

 producing a circular depression. The result is an elongation 

 of the head, but with no lateral bulging and with no 



