THE SKINS. 
In texture, the skins of all the deer are alike. They consist 
of a mass of felted fibres, and are soft, spongy, and elastic, from 
which the epidermis is easily separated. These properties ad- 
mirably adapt them to supply the place of cloth in the clothing 
of the natives, and so constitute their principal material for dress. 
The principal articles used by the Indians in tanning these skins 
are brains and smoke, though the latter is frequently omitted, 
especially by the western tribes. In the cold countries the skins 
are usually tanned with the hair on, which is sometimes worn 
inside, and sometimes outside. In the temperate and tropical 
climates the hair is removed from the skin before it is tanned, 
unless it is‘designed to be used as a robe. 
Whenever the skin is thick and heavy it is chipped away on 
the flesh side till it is so reduced as to make it even and pliable, 
and convenient for use. In this way they reject the wegkest 
part of the skin. 
The skin of the Moose is thick and heavy, and always re- 
quires to be reduced to fit it for use as clothing, or even for 
robes. Although coarse-grained it is strong and serviceable. 
Here is what Richardson says, speaking of the Moose Deer: 
‘“‘ Their skins, when properly dréssed, make a soft, thick, pliable 
leather, excellently adapted for moccasins, or other articles of 
winter clothing. The Dog-ribs excel in the art of dressing the 
skins, which is done in the following manner: They are first 
scraped to an equal thickness throughout, and the hair taken off 
by a scraper made of the shin-bone of the deer, split longitu- 
dinally ; they are then repeatedly moistened and rubbed, after 
being smeared with the brains of the animal until they acquire 
a soft, spongy feel; and, lastly, they are suspended over a fire, 
made of rotten wood, until they are well impregnated with the 
smoke. ‘This last mentioned process imparts a peculiar odor to 
the leather, and has the effect of preventing it from becoming so 
hard, after being wet, as it would otherwise do.” In fact, this 
describes the mode of tanning the skins of all the deer, by the 
different Indian tribes, who depend so largely upon them for 
their clothing, except that the hair is frequently allowed to re- 
