METALLIC ORNAMENTS OF NEW YORK INDIANS 29 



the crown has been obliterated. Possibly the lettering of Mr Mose- 

 ley's medal may have been the same. 



Another of these Onondaga medals is rude, but is perforated for 

 suspension. The figures 44 are in the center, with -£ on the right 

 of these. Below is the figure 4 with some cross lines. This medal 

 is not large. All these may have been articles thrown away by the 

 whites after using, but picked up and treasured by the Indians. 



Mr Frey has a curious and early ornament of this form and 



material, shown in fig. 387. It is larger than the last two, being 



2\ inches in diameter, but has some features in common. In the 



center seems to be a shield inclosing a large fortified building, 



flanked by two separate towers. There is an ornamented half circle 



below these, and a large crown above. The date of 1630 is quite 



plain. The supporters are rampant animals, perhaps lions, but the 



heads are much worn. The one on the right shows the lion's mane. 



In the British arms this is the place for the unicorn. There is no 



lettering. Like some others, it is made of two plates, one inserted 



in the center of the other, and flattened to correspond with its outer 



surface, leaving a projection behind by which it might be attached 



to a belt or dress. It is much defaced, but the above features are 



easily seen. 



Gorgets 



One of the earliest metallic ornaments the Iroquois obtained was 

 a small and perforated disk of brass, thin and saucer-shaped. It 

 may have been used in several ways, but was probably attached 

 to the clothing. The writer has found or seen a number of these.. 

 Mr Schoolcraft gave a figure of one of these with a characteristic 

 description: "This article consists of a metal, which is apparently 

 an alloy. It is slightly ovate, and is perforated in the rim, so as to 

 have been hung transversely. Its greatest diameter is 2p - inches. 

 There are no traces of European art about it, unless the apparent 

 alloy be such. Locality, valley of Genesee river." Schoolcraft, 

 p. 135. Fig. 227 is from his, which is represented as being flat, but 

 was probably slightly convex. 



The finest silver gorget that has come to the writer's notice 

 belongs to Mr Wyman, and came from an Indian grave in Mich- 



