FIRST FLOOR 47 



The significance of the pecuHar geometrical ornamentation 

 employed by the Plains Indians is illustrated (Case 20) as found 

 among the Arapaho. The Gros Ventre (Cases 21, 22) are closely 

 related to the Arapaho. In the collection from the Sioux, a 

 number of war-clubs and bows and arrows will be found (Case 

 23). Saddles, quirts and saddle-bags illustrate the extended use 

 of the horse, which has so much influenced the life of the Plains 

 Indians since its introduction. The "horse travois" in Case 23 

 shows a means of transportation. The pictographic symbol- 

 ism and the decorative art of the Sioux are illustrated by many 

 shields and garments. The industries and decorative art of the 

 Shoshone and of the closely related tribes of the Bannock 

 and Ute are exhibited in Cases 27-29. 



The great ceremonial known as the Sun dance, which is so 

 characteristic of many of the Plains tribes, is illustrated by a 

 group in the center of the hall. 



The culture of the Indians of the Eastern Woodlands is 

 shown in Cases 29-31. The life of these tribes has been very 

 much influenced by contact with the whites ; but in a Indians of 

 few districts some of the old industries still survive, the Eastern 

 The pouches (Case 28) and the mats (Case 29) from the Woodlands. 

 Sa\ik and Fox probably represent the ancient type of ornamenta- 

 tion of this district. These Indians practise agriculture, and in 

 some regions live on wild rice. Agricultural tools and products 

 are shown in Cases 30 and 31. 



Adjoining these people to the north live the Athapascan of 

 the Mackenzie area, who subsist on hunting and fishing, and 

 whose present industries have been highly modified through con- 

 tact with the Hudson Bay Company (Case 33). 



The Indians of part of the Southwest are illustrated in the 

 long wall-case on the south side of the hall by a collection of 

 basketr^^ of tribes in Arizona : the Apache, Pima and Papago. 



The visitor is advised to return now to the east end of the hall, 

 and to begin an inspection of the collections in the northern half. 

 These represent the cultures of the Eskimo tribes from Greenland 

 to Siberia and those of the Ainu and some of the tribes dwelling 

 along the Amur River. 



