Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1876 — War Trappings of an Indian Chief. [ARTICLE]

War Trappings of an Indian Chief.

The Smithsonian Institute received a few days ago a valuable and interesting addition to its museum in the shape of a complete and venr fine outfit of the war trappings of an Indian chief. The contribution comes from west of the Rocky Mountains, but no letter of transmission or description has been as yet received. The suit consists of a very fine headdress of red flannel, trimmed and decorated with beadwork and eaele’s feathers. The long train which descends from the head and over the shoulders is also fringed with eagle’s feathers. There is an undershirt which is worn next the skin It is of red flannel also, with a black and white border, and is sewn over with slk teeth. The suit includes a pair of war leggings of red cloth, highly decorated with thick beadwork in alternate squares of dark blue and light blue beads, and with fringes of buckskin down the sides. The war-shirt, worn outside, is of buckskin, ornamented with beads and human hair, and is painted on the breast and shoulder. In addition to these articles there is a complete flowing shabraque which is worn over the shoulders with the ends falling on each side of the wearer. It is worn only when the chief is mounted, as a chief is not fond of carrying much weighty apparel or accouterment, and is of flannel, faced with otter skin. To this is attached the bowcase and quiver-case, which are both heavily ornamented with bead work in various colofs. There came with the suit a pair of squaw’s leirgings of red flannel, very thickly and tastefully sewn with bea’dwork. These articles could not have cost less than some two hundred dollars in the aggregate, and the thick ornamental beadwork is very costly.— Washington Chronicle: