AMERICAN HARBOR, OR NATASHQUAN 



specimens found in Indian shell-heaps in New 

 England, but was unsuccessful. There were 

 thirty-three families of Indians here, domiciled 

 for the most part in "A" tents. The old wig- 

 wam and the oval tent formed of a framework 

 of willow and spruce, both of which I found 

 so common six years ago, seemed to be given 

 up for this more practical but less picturesque 

 white man's tent. 



These Indians are of the Montagnais or 

 Mountaineer tribe of the great Algonquin fam- 

 ily. All, as in Audubon's time, wore for the 

 most part white man's clothing, but there was 

 nevertheless a charm and picturesqueness 

 about the dress and general bearing of these 

 people. The women wore short, variously 

 colored skirts, brilliant handkerchiefs about 

 their necks, and caps of alternate stripes of 

 black and red broadcloth with embroidered 

 bands. These caps — their Indian name is 

 acunishuan — were shaped like a French lib- 

 erty-cap, and their peaks were drooped jaun- 

 tily in front or over one ear. The women's black 

 hair was tied in knots the size of hens' eggs 

 in front of each ear. Hind, who was in these 

 parts in l86l, pictures, in his "Explorations 



55 



