Chapter 28
M. R. HARRINGTON — SACRED BUNDLES OF THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS. 181
to form a loop for the belt; while three little packets of roots, the remains of a red down feather and a looped piece of sinew, which had once held a number of little bits of root, were fast- ened to the tail at different points. There was no belt loop on the second tail, but a medicine package, wrapped in cloth was tied to the proximal end in such a way as to form a toggle which could be slipped under the belt.
An arm band made from the skin of a buffalo foreleg, provided with buckskin tie strings.
Amulet for the scalp lock, consisting of a long soft brown lock of buffalo hair, a bunch of darker buffalo hair, a piece of a young swan’s downy skin, 7" long, two eagle wing feath- ers, loosely attached, a bunch of eagle down feathers dyed red, a packet of medicine, a piece of sinew with five bits of root knotted in and a thong of buckskin with two, all tied together and provided with buckskin thongs to tie the amulet to the hair. The whole combination measured about 13" in length (PI. XXXI, B).
Another amulet for the scalp lock, comprising a bunch of buffalo hair, a number of eagle down feathers dyed red, some of them 9" long, and two medicine packets, beside the tying thong.
An amulet of buckskin, called for convenience a “war apron,” resembling a short apron in appearance (PI. XXXV, A), but not in use, being worn in back instead of in front. In its present state, doubtless somewhat shrunken, it is approximately 15" from side to side, and 14" from top to bottom. The edge at the top is folded over to form a flap 2 \" wide, which is decorated with crude ribbon applique in red and blue, and which is protracted at both sides to form a belt. From the center of this flap hangs a battered eagle feather, to the prox- imal end of which is tied a little packet of medicine and a green ribbon. A little below the flap, and not far from the edge on both sides is a seven-pointed star or sun figure, in ribbon applique, the left one red, the right blue. The lower edge of the amulet has two deep indentations, forming three
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182 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM — ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS VOL. IV.
points, which are fringed and decorated with copper jinglers. No one could enlighten me as to the special powers of this amulet, but judging from the patterns it may have been credited with sun or star power in addition to that derived from the eagle feather and medicine packet.
War whistle of cane, with dark longitudinal stripes (PI. XXIX, E).
Calico package of eagle down.
Double cloth package, with eight packages of herbs and roots.
Part of fawn skin amulet cover.
A few loose bits of root, and loose jinglers from the apron.
Victor Neal sold us also two small bundles, which he said were “branches” of the bundle just described, No. 2/6376. Their contents seem to bear this out. They are kept tied together with a twisted rope of yam and a buckskin thong. They are:
Bundles 2/6377, A and B.
Bundle A. — Size closed, 15f" x 3j". Buckskin cover much blackened by smoke; ties, buffalo hide, buckskin and cloth strips.
Contents. — Two buffalo tail amulets, one looped over for the belt, the other with a buckskin thong at the proximal end for the same purpose.
Arm band made of skin of buffalo foreleg.
Amulet for the scalp lock made of a strip of the young swan’s downy skin, a few eagle down feathers dyed red, and three packets of medicine.
Amulet similar to the last except for the addition of some undyed eagle down feathers.
Loose strip of downy swan skin.
Loose red down feather.
Remains of a fawn skin amulet case.
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