Chapter 29
M. R. HARRINGTON — SACRED BUNDLES OF THE SAC AND FOX INDIANS. 183
Bundle B. — Size closed, 17j" x 3f". Buckskin cover much blackened by smoke; ties, twisted rope of buckskin, rope of green and red yam, buckskin thong.
Contents. — Two buffalo tail amulets, one with a roll of buckskin at the end of a string as a toggle to slip under the belt, the other with a simple buckskin thong for a tie.
Part of an arm band made from the skin of a buffalo foreleg.
Amulet for the scalp lock consisting of a piece of the downy skin of a young swan, some small eagle feathers dyed red, and three packets of medicine.
Three loose eagle down feathers dyed red.
Remains of two fawn skin covers.
Of the same general sort as the preceding, including the two original Mecabe'kwa bundles, are three from Albert Moore, a Sac and Fox. As in one of the original two, however, the woodpecker takes the place of the hawk. They are:
Bundle 2/8772.
Size closed, 22" x 6§". Outside cover of coarse cotton cloth, much smoke-stained, then the remains of a very old buckskin cover, then a newer one with a cane war whistle tied upon it.
Contents. — Buffalo tail amulet, looped for attachment to the belt, bears fifteen medicine packets.
Two similar looped buffalo tails with only one packet apiece.
Four looped buffalo tails without packets.
Cane war whistle with thong for suspension, medicine packet, eagle down feathers dyed red and bits of gold braid attached.
Bag of coarse cotton fabric, empty. Probably once con- tained cedar leaves or tobacco.
Package containing herb mixture.
Package containing herb seeds.
Package containing magic red paint.
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184 UNIVERSITY MUSEUM — ANTHROPOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS VOL. IV.
Small buckskin bundle containing:
Two head bands made of split woodpecker skins, one, the best preserved, of the ivory-bill woodpecker. This had six medicine packets attached.
Amulet for the scalp lock consisting of a buffalo tail to which are attached two medicine packets, part of a snake rattle and a few eagle down feathers dyed red.
Two empty packages, one of cloth, one buckskin.
Package of cedar twigs and leaves.
Package small seeds.
Calico package containing three buckskin packets, one of magic red paint, one of fine roots and one of the same small seeds noticed elsewhere in the bundle.
Whistle reed of cedar.
Bundle 2/8739.
Size closed, 18" x 5". Cover of buckskin, nearly fallen to pieces. This bundle had not been opened for a long time and the contents were badly damaged in consequence.
Contents. — Head band made of the skin of a pileated wood- pecker, split in the usual way, and bearing nineteen medicine packets.
Buffalo tail arm band (PI. XXXIV, B), decorated with porcu- pine quills, square blocks of brown on a field of white. The quills are wrapped around narrow strips of birch bark, fastened side by side upon the skin forming the band. Such a use of birch bark is rarely seen, strips of buckskin or rawhide being generally used for this purpose. Seventeen medicine packets and a bit of otter fur were attached to the band, while two more strips of the same fur, loose in the bundle, may once have served the same purpose. This amulet can be taken to illustrate an intermediate stage of development between a simpler form of buffalo tail arm band as in bundle No. 2/6373 and the more complex, in bundle No. 2/8591.
Buffalo tail, probably intended for a belt amulet, but apparently little if ever used.
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