Rocky Mountains. 127 



nearly parallel, though slightly approaching each other 

 towards the origin of the neck, where it abruptly terminates ; 

 on the exterior margin, the hair is somewhat longer and 

 erect ; this strip of hair is variously decorated ; it is some- 

 times coloured on the margin with vermillion, sometimes a 

 tail feather of the war eagle is attached transversely with 

 respect to the head ; this feather is white at base, and black 

 at tip ; but the principal ornament, which appears to be worn 

 by some of their chief warriors, and which is at the same 

 time by far the most handsome, is the tail of the common 

 deer; this is attached by the base near to the top of the patch 

 of hair, the back of it resting on the hair, and the tip secured 

 near the termination of the patch ; the bristly hair of the 

 tail is dyed red by a beautiful permanent colour, and parted 

 longitudinally in the middle by a broad silver plate, which is 

 attached at top, and suffered to hang loose. Many of them 

 are tattooed on different parts of the body. The young 

 boys are entirely naked, with the exception of a girdle gene- 

 rally of cloth, round their protruding abdomen. This part of 

 the body in the children of this nation is remarkably promi- 

 nent ; it is more particularly so when they are very young, 

 but gradually subsides as they advance in age. In hot wea- 

 ther the men, whilst in the village, generally use fans, with 

 which they cool themselves, when in the shade, and protect 

 their heads from the sun whilst walking out ; they are made 

 of the wing or tail of the turkey. The women rarely use 

 them. The dress of the female is composed of a pair of 

 mockasins, leggins of blue or red cloth, with a broad pro- 

 jecting border on the outside, and covering the leg to the 

 knee or a little above ; many, however, and perhaps almost 

 a majority of them, do not in common wear this part of the 

 dress. Around the waist, secured by a belt or cestus, is 

 wrapped a piece of blue cloth, the sides of which meet, or 

 come nearly in contact on the outside of the right thigh, 

 and the whole extends downward as far as the knee, or to 



