446 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



Jackson Lewis stated that the Creek Indians prepared skins of 

 deer, bison, and bear in the same way, and that those from which 

 the hair was not removed were softened precisely like the rest. The 

 brains of almost any animal could be used, ground up and rubbed on 

 the skin, which was then laid out on the damp ground and allowed 

 to remain over night. Afterward it was stretched on a frame and 

 kneaded continually until dried. 



The best modern account of skin dressing as practiced by the Choc- 

 taw is that derived by Mr. Bushnell from the band of Indians on Bayou 

 Lacomb : 



(A) Skins to be tanned soft, without the hair. A hole is dug in the ground, 

 its size being determined by the number of skins to be prepared. The walls 

 and bottom are made smooth and water is poured in, which, on account of 

 the nature of the clay and sand formation, remains several hours, or sometimes 

 during the night . . . 



After the skin has become suflSciently soaked and softened, it is taken from 

 the water and spread over the end of a beam, ... In this position the hair is 

 readily removed by the use of an instrument resembling a modern drawknife, 

 and, although a piece of metal is now used in the wooden handle, it is highly 

 probable that stone or bone was formerly employed for the same purpose. 



The hair having been removed, the skin is placed in a mortar, or in a hole 

 cut in a log which serves the purpose. Eggs and cornmeal mixed with a little 

 water are then poured over the skin, which is thoroughly beaten with a long 

 wooden pestle. 



The skin is then taken from the mortar and wrung rather dry ; a number of 

 small holes are cut around the edge and through these cords are passed, which 

 serve to hold the skin stretched between two upright posts. . . . While in this 

 position it is scraped and all particles of flesh are removed. The instrument 

 now employed consists of a piece of metal attached to a long wooden 

 handle. A large bone probably served as the primitive implement. 



The skin remains stretched until dry, when it is, of course, rather stiff. To 

 soften it, the skin is pulled back and forth over the top of a stake driven into the 

 ground, which has been made smooth and round to prevent tearing the skin. , . . 



This process of tanning renders the skin soft and white. The Choctaw claim 

 that it is a very ancient method of preparing skins. Eggs of various kinds they 

 say, are used with equally good results. The method described, including the 

 use of corn and eggs, may have been followed by all the Southern tribes. . . . 



If the skins are to be smoked, a process that renders them more durable, 

 a hole a foot or more in depth is dug in which a fire is kept until a bed of 

 hot ashes accumulates. On this are put pieces of rotten oak, no other wood 

 being used for this purpose ; these are not permitted to blaze, as the more smoke 

 that arises the better it is for the skins. These, already tanned soft and white 

 and perfectly dry, are stretched over the hole and allowed to remain in the 

 smoke an hour or more. 



(B) Skins to be tanned soft, with the hair remaining. If the skin is dry and 

 stiff it is first softened with clear water, after which it is spread over a beam 

 and scraped on the inner surface to remove all flesh. The inside is then 

 thoroughly rubbed with a mixture of eggs, cornmeal, and water, great care be- 

 ing taken not to wet the outside, or fur. When the skin is about dry it is 

 pulled and worked back and forth over the top of a stake, as already ex- 

 plained, after which it remains soft. (Bushnell, 1909 a, pp. 11-12.) 



