Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-02-29
Peculiar Ornaments
Worn by the East
ern Tribes
The Plains Indian of To-day
as Original as Their
Bre1hern of
1882

| tho MAIL anu nApTcSS, Is lOOhlub
deeply into the history and habits of
the original inhabitants of the State.
The department had already pub.
| lished, through the University of .the
State of New York, several mono.
graphs by Rev. William NJ. Beau
champ, an Episcopal clergyman of
Coldenham, near Newburg, who is
deeply learned in Indian lore. These
monographs were descriptive of the
occupations of the New York Indians,
their wnmpum and shell articles, their
horn and bone implements, and their
ornaments. The museum now pub
fishes a new report by Mr.. Beau.
champ on the metallic ornaments of
these same Indians. Together, these
monographs would seem to present
about all that is known about the
things that the aboriginal New York.
ers did and knew and possessed; but
Mr.. Beauchamp is still hard at work
in his life study of the lore.
There now exists, in one collection
or another, an immense number of
metallic ornaments that are or have
been in the possession of New York
Indians Mr. Beauchamp gives pic
lures and descriptions of them all in
this book It is a somewhat sad
matter that only a small minority are
genuine examples of native art-that
is, not initiated from the Europeans.
The New York Indians were very
electric in their tastes, and as soon
as the white men came their art
began to show the influence of
European ideas.
The first white men who described
the Indians, dress and ornaments
found them already in the possession
of various things which they had got
from the Europeans even before the
period of permanent settlement in
this part of the world There are few
authentic accounts which go back so
far as Woods New England Pros
pect," of 1884 1t describes a Saga
more. with a humberd cumming
bird0 in his ear for a pendant, a
black hawk on his ocoiput for a
plume, Wowhackees for his gold
chaine, a good store Of wampom-
peage (wampum beads) begirting his
loins, his bow I'm his hand, his quiver
at his back" It also describes the
Indians as having a longing desire
after many kinds Of ornaments, wear
ing pendants in their ears, as formes
of birds. beasts and fishes carved out
of bone, shells and stone, with long
bracelets of their curious wampom-
peago and mowhackees, which they
put about their necks and loynes."
The women at that time wore coats
Of turkey feathers.
Before any white men came the In
dians made ornaments Of native cop
| per But they were very simple. Their
beads were made by rolling together
quite thick chunks or welts of copper
until the finished bead might be as
large as a small hickory nut, They
also made copper bracelets, generally
simple rings and other articles. Their
beautiful silver work however, Of
which they have produced an inn
mense variety Of most charming arti-
cles, Of much originality in design. at
least, was suggested by European in
luonce.
Ero long, by the adoption Of Eu-
ropean art the Indians were able TO
get themselves up in this stunning
fashion-the following description be
ing an account Of a certain Captain
David, in 1885 an Onondaga, at Buf-
falo:
His hair was shaved on, except
little on the top Of his head. TO which
his ornaments were fashioned, and his
head and ears were painted in a
glowing red Round his head was fast
ened fllet Of highly polished silver.
From the left temple hung two straps
OF black velvet covered with silver
beads and brooches. On the top Of his
head was placed a foxtail feather,
which bowed to the wind, as did two
black ones. one in each ear. A pair Of
immense earrings. which hung below
his shoulders. completed his head
dres. His dress was a skirt Of color
ed caheO-the neck and shoulders
covered SO thick with silver brooches
as to have the appearance Of a net;
and his sleeves were fastened about
the arm with a broad bracelet Of high ,
~ polished silver, engraved with the