CRADLES OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES/ 



By Otis T. Mason. 



Many questions in anthropology depend for their answer upon a cor- 

 rect knowledge of the manner in which the child passes the first year 

 of its life. 



It is cominonly believed that the shape of the head and, indeed, of 

 the whole frame is modified by the cradle. From time to time the 

 National Museum at Washington has come into possession of cradles 

 and cradle-frames from the farthest north of their limit to the farthest 

 south. A description of these with accurate drawings is herein given 

 in order to throw further light upon the problem. 



Deformation of the head, as is well known, is both designed and un- 

 designed. Among the Chinuks and other tribes near the mouth of the 

 Columbia River and northward, flattening of the head was intentionally 

 practiced in a manner to be hereafter described. 



Undesigned head- shaping is believed to have resulted among the 

 Mound people as well as among our modern Indians, especially in the 

 occipital region, from the contact of the soft and pliable head of the 

 infant with the cradle-board or frame, even with the downy pillow. 



In both Americas the majority of aboriginal children were confined 

 in some sort of cradle from their birth until they were able to walk 

 about. The cradle during this period serves many purposes : 



(1) It is a mere nest for the helpless infant. 



(2) It is a bed so constructed and manipulated as to enable the child 

 to sleep either in a vertical or a horizontal position. 



(3) It is a vehicle in which the child is to be transported, chiefly on 

 the mother's back by means of a strap over the forehead, but frequently 

 dangling like a bundle at the saddle-bow. This function, of course, 

 always modifies the structure of the cradle, and, indeed, may have 

 determined its very existence among nomadic tribes. 



* I wish to express ruy sincere thanks to Dr. J. H. Porter for the valuable notes 

 and references which accompany this paper. o. T. M. 



II. Mis. 600, pt. 2 11 161 



