CRADLES OF THE AMERICAN ABORIGINES. 



187 



part above the hood ; a piece of flannel or buckskin is covered with 

 bead-work, solid, or has figures wrought upon it in various patterns. 

 To the hood are attached medicine-bags, bits of shell, haliotis perhaps, 

 and the whole artistic genius of the mother is in i>lay to adorn her 

 offspring. After the child is lashed in the cradle, a triangular flap of 

 buckskin, also adorned with bead- work, is tied over the child to the 

 buckskin flaps on either side. 



The Spokanes belong to the Salishan stock. They are described by 

 Lewis and Clarke, by Governor Stevens (Rep. Ind. Aff., 1854), and by 

 Winans. Living on the eastern border of the Salish area in Idaho and 

 Washington Territory, their cradles are almost identical with those of 

 the Nez Perces, just described.* Neither of the specimens contains 

 a bed or a pillow, so that we are at a loss as to the effect of the cradle 

 in occipital flattening. But we can be positive as to one thing, that 

 in neither of these examples is there the least provision for intention- 

 ally deforming the forehead. The Salish are frequently called Flatheads, 

 but from the example of cradle furnished it seems that they are the 



Fig. 17. 

 Nez Perce Cradle-board with buckskin sides. 



(Cat. No. 23845, U. S. N. M. Nez Perce Agency, Idaho. Collected by 

 J. B. Monteith.) 



Fig. 18. 

 Sahaptian Cradle-board. 



(Cat. No. 129675, U. S. N. M. Spokane Indians, Washingtno. 

 Collected by Mrs. A. C. McBean. ) 



only coast stock about the Columbia that does not practice intentional 

 flattening. The Museum specimen from the Spokanes is an excellent 

 example of aboriginal work. (Fig. 18.) Everything about it is complete. 



* See Fig. 17. 



