a2 PICTURE-WRITING OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS, 
Fig. 1274.—Feather-Necklace. Red-Cloud’s Census. 
Fig. 1275.—Wolf-Robe was killed by the Paw- 
nees. American-Horse’s Winter Count, 185051. 
He is killed and sealped while wearing a robe of 
wolf-skin. 
Fig. 1274. Fig. 1275. Fic. 1276. 
Fig. 1276.—Wears-the-Bonnet. Red-Cloud’s Census. This is the 
ornamented war bonnet of the Dakotas. 
Fig. 1277.—Garter. Red-Cloud’s Census. 
Fig. 1278.—Wicanapsu-owin, W ears-human-fingers as ear- 
rings. The Oglala Roster. 
The place for the fingers to be worn is indi- 
cated by the line terminating in a loop. 
The Indian accumulated no wealth except in 
things useful during his life. His ornaments 
were made from shells which in their natural 
shape are innumerable; from the skins of ani- 
mals which require only skill to take and dress 
them; and from stone and copper, demanding 
ee w77. only strength to procure and transport them. yy, 1978. 
The value of an Indian ornament is in the skill, care and patience re- 
quired in making it. Thus the wampum-bead became of intrinsic value, 
similar in that to gold and silver in civilization; the stone carefully 
wrought into the fashion of a pipe became the emblem of authority 
and theinstrument of worship; and copper, slowly and toilfully delved 
and fashioned with the rudest of tools and appliances, became almost 
afetich of superstition. So likewise the quill of the porcupine, worked 
into a design in embroidery with the most exquisite care, was an orna- 
ment fit for warriors and chiefs. But on the cradle or basket-nest for 
the expected or new-born child, upon the gown or womaw’s dress of the 
favorite daughter, and upon the moccasins and trappings for the growing 
son, hand and head and heart were employed for months and even years. 
The Dakotan bride, swayed by the yearning of expectant maternity, 
perhaps also by ambition to excel in the sole permitted mode of its 
display, adorned her lodge with ornamented cradles, each new one 
becoming in design more beautiful and intricate than the last, until 
her yearning was answered, when the cradles not needed were ex- 
changed for horses and ornaments, which became the endowment of 
the new-born child. 
oa 
