INDIAN CURIOSITIES AND MANUFACTURES. 



[Pages 47 and 48, Catalogue of 1838-44.] 



Amongst this most extensive and valuable collection of them now in existence, a 

 few of the most remarkable are a Crow lodge or wigwam,"* No. 491. 



A very splendid thing, brought from the foot of the Rocky Mountains, twenty-five 

 feet in height, made of huffalo-skins, garnished and painted. The poles (thirty in 

 number) of pine, cut in the Eocky Mountains, have been long in use, were purchased 

 with the lodge and brought the whole distance. This wigwam stands in the middle 

 of the gallery, and will shelter eighty or more persons. 



Indian cradles for carrying their pappooses. Lances, Calumets or jiipes of peace, 

 ordinary pij)es, tomahawks, scali:)ing knives, and scalps. 



A very full and valuable collection of men and women's dresses, from the diiferent 

 tribes, garnished and fringed with scali)-locks from their enemies' heads, bows, quiv- 

 ers, spears, shields, war-eagle and raven head-dresses, necklaces, moccasins, belts, 

 pouches, war-clubs, robes, mantles, tobacco-sacks, wampums, whistles, rattles, drums, 

 &c. 



Amongst the immense collection of Indian curiosities, &c., too numerous to be de- 

 scribed in the catalogue, there are skulls from different tribes, of very great interest, 

 and particularly several" from the Flatheads, showing perfectly the character of this 

 unaccountable custom, and also the Flathead cradles, illustrating the process by which 

 these artificial distortions are produced. 



Indian cloths, robes, &c., manufactured by the Indians from the mountain-sheep's 

 wool, and from wild dogs' hair, beautifully spun, colored, and woven. 



Indian saddles, Indian masks for their mystery-dances, &c. 



* The Indian Lodge (see No. 491) is now in the National Museum. The other objects described were 

 mostly destroyed by fire at Philadelphia. A few of them were saved, and can be found in the Museum, 

 credited to Mr. Catlin and Mrs. Harrison.— T. D. 



384 



