Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1817-04-07
.Ne,c FORK, April 2.

VEG 0Tk, .ip"lt Z.
The editors Of the Gazette return
their thanks TO Dr.. NlitchllI. Tor t..r
very interesting communications
which follows.
Remarkable domestic Manufactures.
The pieces OF goods prepared by
the American Tartars. and present
ed to DR.. Mitchill by capt Richard
Whitley, late os the L. s. army, are
full of instruction.
They consist wholly Of animal ma
terials. and dc not contain single
vegetable thread or tilament. They
are worked with curious art and the
ability displayed both in the design
and in the execution. are admirable.
they were received by that tlstin-
crished officer. while he held the MI
llitary command at Mchilllmaiinak,
as an Offering OF friendship on thr
part of al aged and venerable thiet
from tie remote regions OF the North
West; with all intimation 1t the time,
that they were gifts Of cxraordina-
ny valuc.
Their Tartar origin is ev;nccd by
thu fabrics themselves. and by tie
scenes they intend 10 represent
The principal article, is a tawed
or dressed skin, probably OF Tue
Wapite Deer, Of about three Zee.
suuare. or of an extent almost sniti-
icient to cover a common breakfast
Itail.. The colour is dark brown.
The Cnnsis'cn o. the leather riiaDie
and uniform throughout.
One of its sides embroidered with
an interesting scene, wherein The
hunters ar ,hibitcd as returning t.
the Jig after a successful chase.
THE cmLrr.Grry is performed with
,hcxiJle slips of Porcapinc cGill' M
stead of thread. The stitching is 50
nicely done that the skin is not pune
tuced through in single instance
1.-The needle, as in skiiful taylSrins
only passing deep enough in the lea
lthcr to secure the work. The dyes,
especially the blue, yellow and red
surpaS5 every thing that our most a
Idle chemists and manufacturers can
icxtract from the vegetables o. Tie 10
IrcSt.
It was probably intended Tor a
mantle or Ornamental COY c"InS Tor
1.-The shoulders; all gentlemen hove.
i,ei. Of a classical tasic. are reminded
b, it, of the Shield oI Achilles as dc,
iecribrd by Homer.
! in the middle arc two Gaadrupchs,
apparently beasts Of prey from
their long tails, it may be conjcctnr-
led they are Conguars. and that the
Hunt which is celebrated, is that OF
1.-The American Panther. They are
IcncompaSsed By Z ring, as il that cir
Icum, cribed space was allotted ioi
their confinement it alive, or for then
deposit i dead.
At tie distance ofan inch and more
from the circle, there isa square OF
ten inches on each side, denotinS the
common area, OF space assigned lor
Ircnerd convenience in tie centre OF
de village.
| Opposite the four sides Of this
lscuarc, there are four circles Of about
Ifaw inches diameter. and opposite the
four angles Of the same four more.
representing the habItations Of tie
tribe, constructed around the central
area; and. afcr the manner Of the
ITartars, the houses or wiSwamS are
lrirCular, AMI rot square. Around
these huts OF dwellings there are IL
.urs of human beings showing thai
/ he inhabitants we're briskly stirring
Iabout. Within them arc forms q
l lower BIRDS, AMI various other oh
,ects ; illustrating in all probability
,ome matters connected with then
I.urniture. dress and cookery.
1 The whole village is surrounded