Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-07-14
CRADLES FOR THE BABIES.
some Singular Prisons Prepared for For
cign Infants.

nv ~ nv " ~
which they call the winter cradle. 1t
is shaped somewhat like an hour glass
and stands on end. There is an open.
ing above and below, and the waist.
which is contracted, serves to keep the
celestial baby on his feet. Day after
day little almond-shaped eyes peep
over the top of this cradle and little
hands play with miniature dragons and
other toys till the nurse puts in an
appearance. Some Of these winter
cradles are made of wicker-work
beautifully painted by Chinese women
artists. 1t is almost impossible for one
90 be upset; but now and then, when
two are placed close together and the
occupants declare war and measure
arms, two cradles roll over the floor
80 noises that bring down the house,"
The Lapp baby very often has u
snow cradle, for when the indulgent
mother attends church she makes y
hole in the snow outside and deposits
the young Laplander therein. 1t is no
uncommon sight to see a circle Of these
snow cradles in front of Lapp chapel,
and now and then Il lot of iirrcc-look-
ing dogs are on guard to keep off the
wolves that might mediate a raid on
the baby contingent. The Lapp cradle
in material differs essentially from that
used by the BuShman baby, whose
mother digs "A hole in the hot sand and
chuckss him therein in the shadow OF
some lonely bush. Sometimes the
cradle is ready to hand in the shape Of
an ostrich nest, and now and then some
feathers left by the mighty bird help to
soften the nest of the future BushmaN
warrior.
There is a tribe in the palm region
of the Amazon that cradles the young
in palm leaves. A single leaf turned
up around the edges by some native
process makes an excellent cradle, and
now and then il is made to do service
as Il bath tub. Strong cords arcformcd
from the sinows of another species of
palm, and by these this natural cradle
is swIng alongside Il tree, and the
wind rocks the little tot to sleep. Long
ago the AmaZonian mothers discovered
that it was not wise To leave baby and
cradle under Il cocoa palm, for the
mischicyous monkeys delighted to drop
nuts downward with unerring precision.
An older child is stationed near by 20
watch the baby DUR = his ~sicsta, and
the chatter of the monkeys overhead
Us enough TO a speedy migration.
patagouian babies are keptin cradles
made of flat pieces of board. Two
pieces of guanaco skin are SO arranged
across the cradle that the child is firm
ly fastened inside, and can be carried
thus suspended from n saddle-bow with
out danger. In the rude hut of this
people these cradles are hung ham
mockwise TO the r~afters, and amid the
smoke that darkens everything, in
GLIDING his very nature it seems, the
patagonlan infant passes the first
stages of babyhood. When the village
migrates the cradle is swung from the
saddle. and in swimming n stream it
made from the ever-usefulitirritti reed.
This cradle is very light and elastic.
and when the mother wishes to trans
port the child anywhere she takes o
broad, plated belt, the two ends OF
which are united, passes it over the top
of the cradle and brings the belt across
her forehead. Thus incased the Guiana
baby can be carried many miles in q
day, much after the manner adopted by
Indian mothers in carrying their pa.
poOses. 1t will be noticed that cradles
of this description are not adapted to
rocking purposes. Neither are the
cradles that receive the babies of the
far north.
The ESquimau tot is placed in the
Jumper hood which is attached 10 the
mothers garments rs soon rs he gets
a glimpse Of his world of ice and snow.
1t is a warm cradle, but it leaves him
little enjoyment of anything outside.
43idden away in the depths of his
mothers back he is often taken out in
20 an atmosphere where a thermometer
would register 10 degrees below zero,
and he is rs merry there IS elsewhere.
The young Esquimau spends more than
a year IN the jumper-hOod before he is
allowed to take care of himself, and ii
may be supposed that he makes mp for
! his long confinement when he gets his
MVGrtv. 1t is said that the cradles in
which some babies are rocked among
Che tribes of the Siberian peninsula are
fashioned from blocks of ice, but be-
tween them and the iccitselfa are placed
pieces of bearskin, which keep the cradle
''as warm rs toast"
The Samoan cradle, | am sorry to
say. is a torture box. So is that used
nv lnt 'HllloDkS olpul HpIJlNtSt tDdSl.
The baby is dashed to a board with
strong thongs. Under the head is a
pillow formed of moss or rabbit skins,
and a piece of wood is placed over the
head ut an incline and is held in its
place by cords which reach to the foot
of the queer cradle. The forehead is
bandaged and the pressure Of the in
clined board gradually i~lattens the
head to the desired degree. I'M
prisoued thus, the Chinook baby passes
the first eight months of its existence.
During ali this time ii is never wholly
released, though the various band
ages are taken Off at stated inter-
walls from motives of cleanliness. This
is Chinook baby raising. The Samoans
incase their children IN torture cradles.
faces upward, and impede the growth
of the skull with weights of DAT stones.