CLOTHING. 



285 



ankles, bringing the ends in trout over the tongue. The ends of the 

 toi)S are hxid carefullj- over one another and wrajyped round by the 

 ends of the thongs which hold the moccasius on the feet. 



Certain portions of the skin make better footwear than other parts. 

 The neck skin is too thick and stiff to alhjw the creases ai-onnd the 

 toes to be properly made; the flanks are too thin; while the neck is 

 useful for the tongues, the sides for the bottoms, and the flanks and 

 portions of the back, scarred by the grubs infesting the animal, for 

 the toi)S aud strings. 



Moccasins for young children often have a seam parallel with the 

 toes and the creasing is thus obviated. Those for wearing iu tlie tent 

 or in the dry vicinity of the camp have no tops an<l are held to the 

 foot by means of a drawstring. 



As most of the strain in 

 walking comes upon the 

 tongue, and this jjortion is 

 usually ornamented, it is 

 necessary that it should be 

 of a good quality of leather. 

 A piece of black, blue, or 

 red cloth is generally laid 

 over the tongue for orna- 

 ment. There is sometimes 

 bead work on this portion, 

 but as these peoiile are not 

 skillful in the art of dispos- 

 ing the many colored beads 

 they are not much used for 

 that purpose. 



A single deerskin will 

 make Ave to seven pairs of 

 moccasins for an adult, and 

 as they last but two or 

 three weeks as many as fif- 

 teen to twenty-five pairs 

 are necessary for each adult. 



The hands are protected with mittens (Fig. 93) made of smoked deer- 

 skin. The skin is folded, and along the fold the shape of the mitten is 

 cut so as to leave a part by which the two pieces are joined, and the 

 edges formed iu the cutting are sewed together. The thumb is made 

 as follows: A tongue-shaped piece is cut out of the palm and the base 

 of that piece is left as the jtart to form the under or inner covering for 

 the thumb. A piece is now trimmed that will fit the place cut out and 

 the two parts sewed together. 



The thumb of the Indian is, as a rule, shcnter than that of the white 

 man, aud a pair of native-made mittens are quite uncomfortable until 



Fig. 93.— Indian initteus. 



