Indian Cradles, for carrying their pappooses. Lances, Calumets or Pipes of Peace, Ordinary Pipes, Tomahawks, Scalping Knives, and Scalps.
A very full and valuable collection of Men and Women’s Dresses from the different tribes, garnished and fringed with scalp-locks from their enemies’ heads, Bows, Quivers, Spears, Shields, War-Eagle and Raven Head-dresses, Necklaces, Mocassins, Belts, Pouches, War-Clubs, Robes, Mantles, Tobacco-Sacks, Wampums, Whistles, Rattles, Drums, Indian Saddles, Masks for their Mystery Dances, &c. &c.
Amongst the immense collection of Indian curiosities, &c., too numerous to be described in the catalogue, there are Skulls from different tribes, of very great interest; and particularly several from the Flat-heads, showing perfectly the character of this unaccountable custom, and also the Flat-head cradles, illustrating the process by which these artificial distortions are produced.
Indian Cloths, Robes, &c., manufactured by the Indians from the mountain sheep’s wool, and from wild dogs’ hair, beautifully spun, coloured, and woven.
END OF VOL. I.
[1] If the reader has forgotten to read the Preface, it will take him but a moment to run his eye over it, and by turning back to it he will find it an useful key to what follows.—Author.
[2] The reader, by referring to Appendix A of this volume, will see the comments of the Press on this Collection, in England, France, and the United States.
[3] The noble and unaided efforts of my best of friends, Captain Shippard, to bring into existence such an institution, are, I believe, too well known and appreciated by the English public to require more of me here, than barely to refer to his beautifully illustrated lectures on the “Arabians” and the “Ruined Cities of America;” and whilst wishing all success to his noble enterprise, I beg to refer the reader to Appendix B for a synopsis of his design.
[4] The reader will pardon these expressions, and others of a similar nature that may occasionally occur, for they apply to one who now rests with the silent dead, as will be explained in future pages of this work.