The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-07-17
ARArOR OF INDIANS.

al Museum nj washington 'H'A""s
Kinds OF Armor OF Wood, Ivory and
Hides.
Washington Correspondence New York SUM-
An addition to the chronological eollec-
ton of the United States National mu-
scum of great interest to students of
early American history has recently
been set up In one of the large halls
devoted to Indian life, 1t consists CT
suits of primitive American armor, the
study of which by the chronological de-
partment of the museum has developed
many valuable facts. A pamphlet on
the subject Is being prepared by DIR.
Walter Hough of the department of
ethnology, and 1t is believed that an In
innate connection between the work
manship of Japan and parts OF Siberia
and that of northwestern North Ameri-
ca will be established.
1t Is not generally known that most
of the tribes of North American Indians
used for protection against the arrows
and spears of their enemies In time OF
war adequate body, head, and leg ar
NOR, OF course after the discovery OF
America and the advent of the white
mans powder and ball, no rude sub
stance with which they were acquaint-
ed could serve to protect them, for
they were not sufficiently skilled in the
working Of metal to form 1t into plates
for such use. Most of the armor was
made from the skins of animals thor
oughly tanned and hardened. Further
north in Alaska 1t was constructed OF
plates of walrus ivory fastened to geth-
err with thongs of seal skin. Accord
ing to DR., Hough the body armor of the
American tribes may be divided into
six types--plate armor, slat armor, rod
armor, band ermor, skin armor. and
cotton-padded armor. The plate armor
was formed of rows of overlapping
plates of ivory. perforated and dashed
together with thongs of rawhide. This
was the armor found among the Chuk-
CHS of eastern Siberia and the Eski-
mos, and the form Of lashlng and the
adjustment of the plates are identical
with several types of Japanese armor.
The Stat armor consisted Of row of
wooden Stats twined together by weav-
ing with fine sinew and other cords.
This was found among the Sitkans
Shastas, Iroquois, and even the Virgin
la Indians. The rod armor consisted
of series Of wooden rods about half an
inch In diameter, woven together in a
fashion somewhat like the Stat armor,
with which 1t Is confused. The band
armor consists Of bands Of skin arrang-
ed In telescope fashion. The one re-
Gently mounted in the National mus
cum Is made OF seven bands Of sea-
lion skin doubled and tanned. These
bands are connected by heavy thongs
and hung in an enlarging series like an
inverted telescope drinking cup. A
square breastplate of doubled hide in
this armor protected the neck. It hung
really very much like skirt, and must
have looked rather cumbersome when
the warriors were in action. The skin
armor consisted OF coats Of hardened
hide. The elk, moose, and caribou all
furnished Indian tribes with the best OF
protection against the arrows of enc
mics. Coats Of hide were used by
many Of the western tribes. The cot
ton padded armor was used in the
south by the Mexicans, the Isthmians,
and the Peruvians.
The National museum possesses a
great number Of specimens If arnnor
from the Eskimos and Chukchis. from
Cape Prince Of Wales, Diomede lsiend,
st. Lawrence island, Alaska, and Cape
Wankarem, Siberia. The most perfect
specimens are from Cape Prince Of
Wales and Diomede island They were
collected by H. R. Thornton, e. W.
Nelson, Commodore John Rogers, y. s.
N; Or. A. II. Hoff, U. S. A.; J. Nc
Lean, and Herbert G. Ogden. 1t is the
armor found at Cape Prince of Wales
that is identical in some Of its forms
with well known forms of plate armor
in Japan. The small, fiat, oblang
plates Of ivory are lashed in series with
rawhide thongs passing through the
holes and fastened, as with the Japan.
ese armor, with a Glove hitch. The
longer edges Of the plates are chamfer.
ed to admit Of overlapping and cutvine
the armor around the body. This dev.
ice also permitted the armor 20 be roll.
ed UP in a small compass when not In
use. A whole coat consists Ct from
three to five imbrecating rows of plates
with offsets under the armpits ant
straps for the shoulders Iron ar,nol
plates were dug up in marsh at Cape
Prince Of Wales, and other plates Of
iron and copper were found on st. Law.
renee island. The remarkable and in.
teresting fact in connection with this
arrnor is that 1t Is not found further
south than Cape Prince of Wales ant
St. Lawrence island. From these re
gions it is traced directly to the Chuk
CHS Of eastern Siberia. From the
Chukchis Of Siberia it is traced direotl,
to Japan. The japanese coats Of ar
NOR formed Of stats and plates, similar
to the arnor described, though Of differ
emit material, are cut and bound as wei
as hung In the same manner.
The hoop or band armor is found only
In Siberia, and, like the plate armor
recalls we'll known forms used in Japan
Hoop armor Is interesting as showing
the reproduction Of the styles of plat
armor in skin. 1t is made Of horizon
tai bands of sealskin instead Of row
of ivory plates, and the rings telescop,
together when the armor Is not in use
The type of armor is to be compared
with the banded mail of the middl
ages. The construction of the uppe
portion of 1t is unique. 1t serves as {
shield and neck fender, and was de
signed probably to protect the warrio
from an attack from behind. TIL