ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK 



167 



Belonging to this was the burden frame, sometimes called the 

 litter. It was an early and ingenious means for carrying loads of 

 almost any kind. After a battle the wounded were placed in these, 

 and Champlain graphically recorded his experience after the attack 

 on a fort in 1615 : 



They began to prepare litters to convey their wounded, who are 

 put in them, tumbled in a heap, doubled and strapped in such a way 

 that it is impossible to stir; less than an infant in its swaddling 

 clothes ; not without considerable pain, as I can certify, having been 

 carried several days on the back of one of our Indians, thus tied and 

 bound, so that I lost all patience. As soon as I had strength to bear 

 my weight, I got out of this prison, or to speak plainer out of hell. 



The great soldier and explorer was no light weight, but fortunately 

 the strap and frame were even stronger than his words. 



Mr Morgan gave a good picture and description of the burden 

 frame, called ga-ne-ko-wa'-ah by the Senecas, and ont-ha-nah-ka- 

 tast'-hah by the Onondagas. It is usually plain and has two hickory 

 or elm bows, each bent over like the back of a chair, and these are 

 brought together at right angles when in use. Cross bands of elm 

 bark keep these in position, strengthen the frame, and also furnish 

 hinges, so that it may be folded. To this frame the strap was at- 

 tached, passing over the forehead, the long ends being used to secure 

 the load. Figure 125 is an Onondaga example of the ruder kind, 

 nearly 20 inches high. The strap is omitted. Figure 117 is another, 

 more elaborate and modern, folded in the illustration. It belongs to 

 the Onondaga Historical Association. One part has a light board 

 frame, and the other has rods instead of bark. 



Baby carriages are now much used by the New York Iroquois, 

 but the Indian cradle still survives and is in frequent use. The Onon- 

 dagas call it kah-ah-hdn'-sah, and from the odd resemblance they 

 give the same name to Jack-in-the-pulpit. Some yet used are as 

 much as 60 years old. Figure 41 shows the back of an Onondaga 

 cradle, 30 inches high and 14 inches wide at the top. The burden 

 strap is 8 feet long and 2 l / 2 inches in extreme width. This is at- 

 tached to the crossbar near the top. Thongs pass through the board. 



