The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-03

dams, who come from Canada into Maine
10 hunt, the art of making a really good
hunting moccasin was first caught by
white men. So well are moccasins made
in Maine that those supplied the Western
Indians by the government are made in
the city of Bangor. The red man of the
plains does not have the skins TO make
moccasns as his fathers made them, and
if he had them it is doubtful if proper
supply for themselves could be furnished
for the agency Indians. In these days
when the noble savage has degenerated to
the agency Indian, receiving the bounty
of the government in red drill overalls and
plug tobacco, his traditional footwear
comes TO him from the factory of a moe
casn maker who learned his business in
Maine from the wood lore handed down
by Woodsmen and Indian hunters. Not
only are moccasins sent from Maine to
the West for the Indians, but Uncle Sans
scouts in the West and in Alaska where
fnoccasins are needed in the service for
use on snow, with snowshoes, get their
footwear from Bangor. The contracts
are made for several thousand pairs al a
time.
None Of these moccasins are made of
moose hide nowadays. the material b ing
chiefly oil tanned meats hide" which is
cownide. This turns the water as well
as moose hide, and wears almost as we'll
The leather is well saturated with fish oil
which gives ii a strong smell, but imparts
virtues that assist in repellng snow wa
ter, which will penetrate ordinary leather
very quickly.
The tannage is known as Indian Tan"
Not only are moccasins made from this
oiled tanned leather but other articles of
footwear that may properly be called off
springs Of the moccasins such as the shoe
pack and the larrigan.
The shoepack is a moccasn with a shoe
ton made of Of al
the bottom, and laced The orig of the
word is not clear, though il is ascrib- d to
the Vernacular Of lumbermen in Jrpper
Canada, around Lake Superior. 1t was
brought into Maine by the Canadians. and
has become a part Of the local vocabulary
in the northern part Of the state. A city
shoedcatr would lie at a loss to know
what customer wanted should he demanl
TO be shown shoepack. In North IN
Maine these useful articles Of footwear
based on the Indians moccasin, are dis
played outside every store where lumber
mems or hunters supplies are sold
The iarrsan is a moccasn with boot
top and Tor wear in the deep snow is
highly esteemed by many. 1t is a Cana
dian article of footwear, and the name
seems to have become as much part Of
the local Maine vocabulary as shoepack
Its origin, however. is not so clear.
While native hunters In Maine wear all
three Of the foot-covering they prefer the
moccasiu for all-round wear 1t is ii ht.
noiseess, easy TO the foot, and wears well
In winter II is Worn over three or four
pairs Of stockings, and pair of leggins.
also knit, This makes a bundle of woolen
stuff covering the fast. and maintains
warmth even IN ;he coolest weather
Not lumbermGn or guide in Maine is
to be seen in winter without leggins. They
are as much a part of his wardrobe as
his hat. They are thick and warm. and
when strapped around the leg below the
knee with a piece Of tape are snow-proof
These leggns are knitted by the women
in the French settlements in Northern
Maine in great numbers. ana retail I'm the
stores at IS cents pair If the amount
of WOODEN yarn In them were employed
in making factory-knit stockings such as
are sold IN the cities the quantity in each
leggin would make dozen pair. With