276 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETKNOLOGY [Buli., 176 



project from this base. These are tapered and sharpened at the ends. 

 This specimen was apparently used to hold two pieces of wood to- 

 gether or to fasten an object to wood. It is possible that it was once 

 used to fasten the felloes of a wagon wheel together. This specimen 

 was recovered by fieldwork at the site in 1938, and quite possibly 

 was not associated with the fur trade post (No. 303) . 



Lead hale seal {!) {pi. 60, h-4). — This circular bale seal is 1%6 

 mches in diameter and I/24 inch thick. The front side is flat and 

 bears two sets of numerals associated with 3 incised lines. Between 

 the upper and central lines are the numerals "1513," and between the 

 central and bottom lines are the numerals "21." 



The back side of this specimen has a raised ovate central boss of 

 lead. On the boss are a series of letters which appear to read the 

 following : " ARENK-." Beneath the indecipherable letter is an "R." 



Bale seals had a function much like that of the modern boxcar seal; 

 they were used to prevent the pilfering of goods in storage or transit. 

 Bales of blankets and cloth were often safeguarded with them. Many 

 had a strap with a hole in it on one edge of the disk which was bent 

 over the boss, and the boss was hammered flat to seal the loop made 

 by the strap (Xo. 26). 



Circular loooden ohject (1) {pl.62,h) . — A portion of this specimen 

 is absent, but the size can be reconstructed from projected chords. It 

 is circular, and 2% inches in diameter and approximately 1 inch thick. 

 A circular hole, 1 inch in diameter, is located in its center. It is pos- 

 sible that this specimen once served as a washer around a large bolt. 

 It might be associated with the bolt from the cannon carriage which 

 was described under the heading "Defense" (No. 239) . 



Rope {1 piece) . — This charred rope, probably composed of hemp, is 

 made from, two strands of fibers. The chords in the two strands have 

 an S twist; the rope is made with a Z twist. The rope is crushed 

 rather flat, but the strands are % inch in diameter (No. 252). 



BircKbarh {2 pieces). — Both specimens are rolled. One of them 

 is 114 inches wide; the other is 3^4 inches wide (Nos. 94 and 176). 



CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 



Buttons (24-) {pi. 63). — Of this number, 4 buttons are steel, 11 

 brass, and 9 bone. Two of the steel buttons are % inch in diameter ; 

 these have four holes for attachment to the cloth (Nos. 42 N and O) 

 (pi. %Z,h). The other two steel buttons are also % inch in diameter; 

 these have loop attaclmients. One of them is of a bright highly 

 polished steel (Nos. 42 M and 200) (pi. 63, i, j) . 



The brass buttons are in several sizes (the number in each size 

 shown in parentheses), though all except one of them have eyelet or 

 loop fasteners on their backs. 



