368 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. mantle doubled, which, from its fize, appears to be the fkin 
t Api1 ' of an elk or buffalo, tanned. This they fatten on, in the 
common manner ; and it is fo contrived, that it may reach 
up, and cover the breaft quite to the throat, falling, at the 
fame time, almoft to the heels. It is, fometimes, ingenioufly 
painted in different compartments ; and is not only fufff- 
ciently ftrong to refift arrows; but, as they informed us by 
figns, even fpears cannot pierce it; fo that it may be con- 
ttdered as their coat of mail, or moft complete defenfive ar¬ 
mour. Upon the fame occafion, they fometimes wear a 
kind of leathern cloak, covered with rows of dried hoofs of 
deer, difpofed horizontally, appended by leathern thongs, 
covered with quills ; which, when they move, make a loud 
rattling noife, almoft equal to that of many fmall bells. It 
feems doubtful, however, whether this part of their garb 
be intended to ftrike terror in war, or only is to be conftder- 
ed as belonging to their eccentric ornaments on ceremoni¬ 
ous occafions. For we faw one of their mufical entertain¬ 
ments, conduced by a man dreffed in this fort of cloak, 
with his mafk on, and fhaking his rattle. 
Though thefe people cannot be viewed without a kind 
of horror, when equipped in fuch extravagant dreffes, yet, 
when divefted of them, and beheld in their common habit 
and adtions, they have not the leaft appearance of ferocity 
in their countenances; and feem, on the contrary, as ob- 
ferved already, to be of a quiet, phlegmatic, and inadtive 
difpofition; deftitute, in fome meafure, of that degree of 
animation and vivacity that would render them agreeable 
as focial beings. If they are not referved, they are far from 
being loquacious; but their gravity is, perhaps, rather a 
confequence of the dilpofttion juft mentioned, than of any 
convidtion of its propriety, or the effedt of any particular 
mode 
