the sash the operation is carried on on the other side of the peg in the same manner. A hump or elevation in the fabric, which may be seen on all the complete sashes, results from the pulling in the process when the sash is placed over the peg in finishing the

second half. The sash consequently is actually woven from its center outwards in both directions.

When worn these sashes are wrapped twice about the waist and tied in a knot in front with the fringe hanging down before, as may be seen in plate VIII.

Ornaments of beaten silver work were formerly abundant.

Besides the above-mentioned brooches made earrings were worn by the women. of two crescent-like pendants about one swinging free inside the other.

and headbands, finely One pair seen consisted inch in diameter, one

While most of the decorative work on clothing was done with moose hair, nevertheless some beadwork is seen in which the designs belong to the double curve type so characteristic of the eastern

FIG. 25.-Beadwork designs on leggings.

Algonkian, and also found in a modified style among the Iroquois proper. A pair of woman's leggings has a beadwork border with the motive down the flap shown in figure 25.

HIDE TANNING

These people are excellent tanners. After the skin has been removed from caribou, moose, or deer, the first step in the process of preparation is to scrape it free of hair over a log, one end of which rests upon the ground, the other being supported almost waisthigh on two legs. With a scraper (fig. 26) like a spoke-shave the

FIG. 26. Hide scraper.

hair is scrubbed off. I was told that the hide is sometimes stretched on a frame and scraped with a sharp-edged stone. Both of these methods and the implements as well are similar to those which the

neighboring eastern Algonkian have. The next step is to partially dry the skin so that it will soak up the tanning mixture. It is then soaked well in a preparation of animals' brains and oil, grease, or soap. When taken from this bath the skin is wrung dry. This is done by cutting slits down the edges so that it may be fastened on a hook to be twisted and turned with the hand until the moisture is wrung out. The skin is then soaked again in lye made of woodashes and this time kneaded and pulled with the hands until it is dry again. Next comes the smoking, the skin being stretched over the head of a barrel under which a smudge is kept burning, or

FIG. 27.-Skins drying in winter on racks at Lorette.

laid on a frame over the smudge in a small hut constructed for the purpose. In the smoking process we encounter some interesting distinctive features. The Huron can obtain various shades of tan by using different kinds of wood in the smudge. Rotten maple wood in the smudge gives a reddish tinge to the hide, a balsam fir smudge gives a dark tan which is thought to be the best, pine gives a yellowish and spruce wood a greenish tinge. The time the hide is left in the smudge also governs the color. A beautiful white color results from leaving a skin to dry in the frost and sun in winter. Figure 27 shows a number of skins at Lorette drying outside in winter time, on the frames of horizontal poles supported on tripods. Skins which are properly tanned by the above rather lengthy process, will, it is claimed, soak up water but will become soft and pliable

The

when dry. Moose skins are considered best for general use. quality of a tanned skin depends upon how well it has been kneaded in drying.

To make rawhide thongs, or babiche, which is so essential in Indian manufactures, these Indians cut hides by sticking a knife in a table or board and drawing the skin against the blade. Or the skin may be held by one person and the lengths cut off by a second. By zigzagging across the skin it is converted into a single strip of hide.

toe.

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

None of the other Iroquoian tribes apparently make or use snowshoes as much as the Huron who require them almost continually in winter, as the snowfall of the lower St. Lawrence is extreme. For home use, and extensively for commerce as well, one general type of snowshoe is made by them which is now pretty widely distributed over eastern Canada among the whites. The type, however, is an old one adopted by the Huron for service in the rolling country over which they hunt. When going north among the Laurentian Mountains they not infrequently use the Montagnais type of shoe which is broader, shorter, and without the upcurved The Huron shoe either by its frame or weave is identified at sight among the different northern Indians as far as New Brunswick and Maine. The style does not vary much among different Huron makers. A typical specimen of the approved Huron snowshoe is shown in plate IX. The method of manufacture is as follows: The frame is made of selected ash staves cut and squared with the crooked knife. For the space of a foot or so in the middle the stave is thinned considerably so that it may be bent easily. Being then steamed it is bent double, somewhat squared across the front, the two crossbars morticed in, and the ends fastened together with strips of rawhide run through holes. Many now use rivets for this. The front of the Huron shoe is turned up an inch or so above the surface plane. This upturn is obtained by lasting two bent shoe frames tightly together one atop of the other, prying their front ends apart with a lever and inserting a cross stick as a wedge. At this stage the frames are hung up in the house over pegs on the wall near the fire to dry and season. Hand measurements are