92 [NDIAN8 01 nil. PLAINS 



'1 he care and rearing of children is a universal phase 

 of human life. Among tin- collections will be found 



cradles, or carriers, for the protection of the newly 

 horn, often highly ornamented. Dolls and minia- 

 ture objects such as travois, saddles, and bags, were 

 common as toys and often find their way into museums. 

 A curious custom, not confined to the Plains, was to 

 preserve the navel cord in a small ornamented pouch, 

 hung to the cradle or about the neck of the child. 

 Among the Dakota, these usually took the forms of 

 turtles and lizards, among the Blackfoot, snakes 

 and horned-toads, etc. Examples are shown in the 

 various collections. 



Naming children is everywhere an important matter. 

 Usually an old person is called in to do this and selects 

 a single name. When a boy reaches adolescence, a new 

 name is often given and again, if as an adult, he per- 

 forms some meritorious deed. Girls seldom change 

 their names, not even at marriage. Among many 

 tribes there are special ceremonies for girls when 

 adolescence sets in. 



When an Indian is ill a doctor is called in. He is 

 supposed to have received power from some supernatu- 

 ral source and sings songs and prays at the bedside. 

 Sometime- vegetable substances are given as medicine, 

 but these are usually harmless, the faith being placed 

 entirely in the religious formula. 



At death the body was dressed and painted, then 

 wrapped in a robe and placed upon a scaffold, in a tree, 

 or upon a hill. None of the Plains tribes seem to have 



