New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-25
TNDI1N CRADLES.
Care LQUishcd on Their Making
.Squazc'S DeUOtion to Her BABE.

Fancy a tiny. copper colored papoose. buckled
W srugly IN queer buckskn bag that resembles
nothing in nature much as the cosey cocoon era
dc IF baby butterfly. and then draw upon your
.me gination still further pcturng this odd recep-
tace swinging from the leafy canopy of an lndlan
wicklup. brush arbor and you haze before you
an Indian baby and his wonderful cradle says Ahe
Los Angeles Times"
The cocoon cradle proper and its various moaihca-
tons. found among the different tribes OF Nor'n
American Indians, are constructed from the shi'S
of animals. The crude deer hide Is caretulIy
dressed by 4 tedious and secret process known only
these Indians and when finished is as sort ana
plant as the most expensive chainois SKIN Iheh
loving fingers skilfulIy embrolder with quilts beau
uful beadwoTk designs upon the oeEcaleIy llI'eu
deerskin. KiOwa cradles are more ornamental IMAM
those of other tribes, and kiowa squaWs eAcel III
that marvellous Indian beadwork now the popular
fad Of their paleface sisters. Some of this bead
work embroidery is not only very beautiful Dug
very elaborate. The Sioux squaws. who alone rival
their Kiowa sisters ornament the cradles or their
little ones with bands of deerskin, upon which are
wrought in colored beads. gorgeous patterns OF
men. horses. birds. fish and flowers Instead OF
wooden framework. they substitute basketwoTk
grasses instead OF beads.
The cheyenne Apache and Comanche Indians all
use cradles, patterned after the kiowa era
dies bur theirs are not ornamented as deliberately
those OF the Kiowas In truth the grim and
time in decorating the receptacle Of his offspring.
A stout piece Of deerskin. fastened to an equally
stout wooden frame and laced I'D securely with
raWhide thongs, suffices his simple need:
The origin of the cocoon cradle itself. like that
of the redskins. seems wrapped in mystery, though
we might with reason trace this primitive cradle
ba bies sleep in little hoiloWed out affairs swung
from the lower limbs OF trees. They lined with
moss and laced up. and in shape are exactly like
the primitive Indian cocoon cradle from which the
modern cocoon cradle, beautined and improved has
been evolved.
The most popular pattern OF beadwork emhroid
cry among the hiowa squaws. like the famous
he a succession of eeometrica figures whose design
is carried out with vari-colo-ed beads upon back
After the beadwork embroidery is completed the
deerskin pouch or bag is fastened securely upon
jecting above the heAdpiece hood strength
Cd by a crosspiece al the back. These handles are
her many tasks; Z it be warm weather. baby is
swung from the top Of the brush arbor. his round.
pings OF gayly beaded deerskin his bright little
EYES onnklhG an me sunoeams shining through me
tea-E !po-' or me names OF the nightly campfire
leapins up 10 mingle with the moonlight. When
the cradle baby and all against the counter and
goes ssmy a69 9 the important business Of syinS
tobacco for her family in their tepee far out on the
MdfFer love NJ, Tho heart ~ NOR s,,,av &C
paleface sister Her clumsy fingers fashion play
beads, bright pieces of tin, china glass. which
she hangs about the hood Of the cocoon cradle in
TO rattle these primitive playthlngs gleefully.
once saw a commoc shoe buttonhook banging from
the hood Of one Of these cradles
Strange as II may appear. the red skinned Baby
Buntings seem to thrive in their cramped quarters
blankets upon their mothers ok. when the toiline
stretches along the creek TO bring up irewood and
water for the camp.
Many Of these cocoon cradles are treasured heir
looms. valued as high SIS TO 500 Relic hunters
can beg in vain for them. offering whole hatfu
Of the white mans dollars. but the squaw will SOL
from her patient eyes, grunt in low gutturals:
Maybe 50 white man heap much big fool