r232 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



man is not permitted to say liis prayer with gold about liim, and 

 the chaste silver holds fast his jewels. In the ancient empires 

 he who was emancipated from his slavery wore, as the emblem of 

 his freedom, silver rings and ornaments. Antique legionary 

 devices, the rarest in history, are found in silver. Amulets of 

 silver were given to soldiers going to war as the marks of valor 

 or distinctive tokens. Many a Eoman, when expelled from the 

 equestrian order for libel, forfeiting his insignia of membership, 

 a gold ring, wore a silver one in the bravado of his personal 

 liberty. And so from the ages down, whenever and wherever 

 decorations have been bestowed, silver has told the story every- 

 where. 



So with the Iroquois Indians. Save a little in brass all their 

 jewelry has been silver. I have never seen a gold decorative 

 ornament made by an Indian. The collection of brooches in the 

 Indian museum at the capitol in Albany N. Y. includes nearly all 

 designs used by the Iroquois brooch-makers since the coming of 

 the paleface to their country. There is a legend of the olden 

 days of the Iroquois, that somewhere in the northern part of the 

 state of Xew York, a young chief was led by a dream through 

 rocky passes to a mountain top. During his travels a glowing 

 light, which preceded him, illuminated the rocks, wherein were 

 embedded in layers long strips of shining silver metal. From its 

 hiding place, it answered only to the magic light; yet the traveler 

 was permitted to take one of the shimmering ribbons in his hand 

 as proof that it was a vision of reality. His dream was repeated 

 several times; and, remembering the path, he succeeded in invad- 

 ing the secret repository in the daytime, yet could not find the 

 precious metal. All the rocks looked gray and sullen. Finally 

 the privilege of farther knowledge was granted him, but he must 

 work only by torch light, with the caution that, if he betrayed 

 the treasure place, his power would be taken from him. But 

 tempted by the persuasions of those to whom he had shown his 

 prize, he did betray the treasure trove, and the illuminations 

 ceased forever. However, as nothing of silver has been found in 

 the ancient burial places, I think we can safely date the Iroquois 



