MATERIAL CULTURE. 77 



was mixed with the dried bark of the red willow, the 

 Leaves of the bear berry or with larb. Some wild 

 species of Nicotiana were gathered by the Plateau tribes. 

 In literature, the term kinnikinnick (Algonkin Ojibway, 

 meaning "what is mixed") is applied to this mixture. 

 From the very first, traders introduced commercial 

 forms of tobacco which have been in general use ever 

 since. 



Weapons. Reference has been made to bows, clubs, 

 .and lances (p. 24) for killing buffalo; hence, it is only 

 necessary to add that they were also the chief weapons 

 in war. Among nearly all the tribes a circular shield 

 of buffalo hide was used, though with so many ceremo- 

 nial associations, that it is not clear whether the Indian 

 prized it most for its charm value or for its mechanical 

 properties, since in most cases he seems to have placed 

 his faith in the powers symbolized in the devices painted 

 thereon. No armor seems to have been used. The 

 typical Plains Indian rode into battle, stripped to 

 breech cloth and moccasins, with whatever symbolic 

 head gear, charms, and insignia he was entitled to. 

 However, the Blackfoot have traditions of having 

 protected themselves from arrows by several skin 

 shirts, one over the other, while among the Northern 

 Shoshone, both men and horses were protected by 

 "many folds of dressed antelope skin united with glue 

 and sand." The Pawmee have also been credited with 

 hardened skin coats. Since armor and helmets w r ere 

 used in some parts of the North Pacific Coast area 

 and in parts of the Plateaus, it is natural to encounter 



