Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-30
MORNINGS N THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE.
MORNING SECOND.

1OhNlNO sECOND.
Case number tren is the one to which we would bw d.
rect the attention Of readers In this e1hbe va
ey of curious things brought from California oregd and
the northwest coast Of America.
Feather Dress This said to be the dress worldly the
Indian medicine men, in the vicinity of St. Francisco I, is
made Of black and white feathers pucked from the zzard
and the goose, and in the form Of bag-he feathers pro-
ecting Outwardy When by the magician, he Svaria
bly, bis face with hdeous wooden mask specns Of
which may be seen in conne1on with the above Unar this
head we may alude to pair Of Fancy Dresses to X seen
here, which by the women of the norhwessoss
They are made from the enais Of the sea ion bu, deli
cate in color and the white silk EMPLOYED Nv the
ladies Of civilized society.
Indian Baskets. The collection Of these il quite sSen
sve, varying in form and size They are made of native
grasses, and 50 tightly hold water They lie an
indispensable article among the Indians Of California VIC are
10 the habit OF subssng TO extent upon leeds
roO and acorns, making out Of the latter paaabe nd OF
bread Not only these baskets employed for the pip,se
Of collecting the above named articles but are also ned
some aege (hOugh the statement appears doubtful r the
purpose Of scadng the seeds moderate heat no, having
any injurious effect upon the basket when saturated with
water AT any rate specimens Of beautiful workmanship
these baskets are well worth examining.
Indian Pipes or these there is large collection but
principally from Oregon and the Russian possessions They
are made Of slate, horn, WOOD and "copper" Gall combined a,
times in single artice and what renders them particularly
interesting is the fact that they represent certain things which
have been introduced into that remote wilderness by the white
men, For example, there is pipe here which portrsys
the exact appearance Of the eniranceo stockade OF waa
wsa, with its cabins and pke also another in imitation
small steamboat, owned by the Hudsons Bay Company
also another, representing ship.
a. L. III
which covered with the snew Of the deer or other animal
and looks as IL bullet would find some difficulty in
penerstngi, is chiefly by shas,ie Indians. They
are said 10 be fine looking tribe, and distinguished for he
proves in They live the southern border Of Oregon
and in the vicinity Of superb mountain known by their name
BOcs and Arr0cs The collection Of these i very larre
but the handsome those made by the shaste Indians
who are emneny distinguished for their erpcrtness in asche
~ Their bows Of yew, about three feet long, backed
with snew and the arrows, which generally thirty inches
in length, extensively eathered and headed with volcanic
glass; Their quver Of which there specimens her,
are made Of deer racoon, wolf SKINS and are usual,
whole, being left open at the tail end.
Indian Cradle. OF these there here two specimens
which are particularly interesting exhibiting the mode
aaenng the heads Of Infants An examination OF the head
portion Of Of these cradles well calculated to make ope
headache. would the child had to undergo erea
pain by having IFS head faened but the process is Of
exceedingly slow would imngne, Also that this prcssns
the brain 10 the back pant Of the head would make idiots
all the victims, but Ivy travellers that hi. nation O
iahesa Indians are quite intelligent, any Of their neigh
bors.
BLANKETS. or these there are quite variety, some O
which made Of feathers dogs hair and wool Of the noun
tain sheep Among the other articles exhibited in case mum
Der eleven, we may mention particularly interesting the
following Canoes made Of sosd wood and skin specimens
Of wampum; wooden dccoy ducks California hats bricL
from ancient Spanish fort curious wooden and bone 10
70 Mr. James Collins The great sturgeon fisherman Of the Po
omac, shoes and ornaments and slate ssucers