750 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 
their adjuncts indicate certain functions. The lawyer, the mechanic, 
the priest, and the soldier are easily recognizable. These garments do 
not only give general indications, but minute details, so in looking upon 
a certain soldier it is known what country he serves, how many men 
are under his orders, and how many chiefs are above him. It is known 
if he marches on horseback or afoot, if he handles the rifle or the saber, 
works the cannon, designs fortifications, or builds bridges. Also, by 
looking on his decorated breast, it is shown if he has made campaigns 
and participated in historic battles, and whether or not he has gained 
distinction. This is told by the color, cut, and ornaments of his clothes 
and by the weapon he bears. Some details are also furnished by the 
cut of the hair, and even the style of foot-gear. The above remarks 
apply to the highest civilization, but all kinds of personal and class 
designations by means of distinctive costumes, weapons, and adorn- 
ments were and still are most apparent and important among the less 
cultured peoples. 
The American Indians seldom clothed themselves, except in very 
cold weather, save for purposes of ornament. They habitually wore 
no other garment than the breech-cloth, but in their ceremonies and 
social dances they bedecked themselves with full and elaborate costumes, 
often regulated with special punctilio for the occasion. The boreal 
tribes, such as the Alaskan, Athapascan, and Chippewayan, who were 
obliged to protect themselves for a large part of the year by furs and 
skins, developed characteristic forms of dress which in pictography 
take the place occupied by painting and tattooing among tribes where 
the person was more habitually exposed. Among the southern tribes 
there was need of protection against the rays of the sun, as in Mexico, 
where cotton and other fibers were used. In general some of the forms 
of wearing apparel, if only varieties in the make of moccasins or san- 
dals, designated the tribe of the wearers, and therefore often became 
adopted as pictorial signs. Ceremonial clothing is often elaborately 
decorated with beads, porcupine quills, claws and teeth of animals, 
shells, and feathers. Many of these garments are further ornamented 
with paintings of a totemic or mythologie character, or bear the insig- 
nia of the wearer’s rank and social status. 
Metal ornaments, such as armlets, bracelets, 
anklets, earrings and bells, were also worn, 
the material and quantity being in accord- 
ae ance with the wearers ability and pecuni- 
ary condition. Upon both social and cere- 
monial occasions the headgear displayed 
eagle feathers and the plumes of other spe- 
y. \ cies of birds, and tufts of hair dyed in red or 
other colors. Necklaces were made of claws, | Re) 
Fia. 1264. shells, deer and antelope hoofs, the teeth of Wi. 1265. 
various animals, snake-skins, and even human fingers. 
