350 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 73 
also appear fastened to the breechclouts by separate cords in the 
manner of a fringe, and larger circular pieces are hung about the 
necks of several of the principal men. 1 We are told that the plates 
fastened to the breechclouts were placed there so as to produce a 
tinkling sound when the wearer moved, and they were particularly 
used in dances. 2 How they were made fast to the strings is not 
evident, but the large neck pieces were secured to a cord about the 
neck of the wearer by means of a hole in the center of the plate, 
through which the cord was passed and knotted on the outside so 
that the knot would not pull through. 3 The later southern Indian 
method of fastening silver ornaments to clothing was similar. All 
of the gorgets which Le Moyne depicts are circular, while the other 
plates are oval. 3 In his text he enumerates among the things sent 
by La Roche Ferriere from the western Timucua country "circular 
plates of gold and silver as large as a moderate-sized platter, such as 
they are accustomed to wear to protect the back and breast in war." 4 
This passage suggests another use for these plates, and no doubt they 
actually did furnish a certain amount of protection to the wearer; 
but if they were consciously worn with this object in view the idea 
must have been secondary, for most of the warriors are represented 
without them, and the largest that Le Moyne figures furnish but very 
partial protection. Ribault mentions one Indian who had hanging 
about his neck "a round plate of red copper, well polished, with a 
small one of silver hung in the middle of it; and on his ears a small 
plate of copper, with which they wipe the sweat from their bodies." 5 
This last was rather utilitarian than ornamental, but seems to have 
served both purposes. It is the only mention of a sweat scraper in 
America that has come to my attention. Another man had "a pearl 
hanging to a collar of gold about his neck, as great as an acorn." 6 
If we could trust the expression used here we would have to sup- 
pose another kind of neck ornament which fitted closer than the 
ornaments already described, but this is the only Florida reference 
upon which such a conclusion can be based, and nothing of the kind 
is figured by Le Moyne. Nevertheless Le Moyne speaks of "girdles 
of silver-colored balls, some round and some oblong." 7 If the trans- 
lation is correct we seem to have an ornament somewhat more diffi- 
cult to manufacture than the plates elsewhere described, but here 
again there is no certain evidence with which to back up the infer- 
ence. Silver chains mentioned as worn by the chiefs 8 were probably 
of Spanish origin. The beads and pearls were arranged in separate 
» Le Moyne, Narrative, plates. ^French, Hist. Colls. La., 1875, p. 178. 
» Ibid., p. 14. eibid., p. 177. 
« Ibid., plates. 'Le Moyne, Narrative, pp. 2, 14 (ill.). 
* Ibid., p. 8. ("French, Hist. Colls. La., 1869, p. 350. 
