other, at the slightest movement of the wearer, a
tinkling sound, resembling that produced by a number
of small thin delicate brass bells; these were the
tender hoofs of the wild deer, dried, scraped, and
otherwise prepared for this ornamental purpose.
Upon his large feet he wore mocassins, made of the
same pliant material with his leggings, and differing
in shape from the foot-gear of his companion in this
particular only, that they had no tongue introduced
into the front: they were puckered together by
a strong sinew of the deer, until they met along the
instep in a seam concealed by the same ornamental
quill-work that decorated the garters: a sort
of flap, fringed like the leggings, was folded back
from the ankle, upon the sides of the foot, and the
whole was confined by a strong though neat leathern
thong, made of smoked deer-skin also, which, after
passing once or twice under the foot, was then tightly
drawn several times round the ankle, where it was
finally secured. Two strips of leather, about
an inch and a half in width, attached to the outer
side of each legging, were made fast at their opposite
extremities to a strong girdle, encircling the loins,
and supporting a piece of coarse blue cloth, which,
after passing completely under the body, fell in short
flaps both before and behind. The remainder of
the dress consisted of a cotton shirt, figured and
sprigged on a dark ground, that fell unconfined over
the person; a close deer-skin hunting-coat, fringed
also at its edges; and a coarse common felt hat, in
the string of which (for there was no band) were twisted
a number of variegated feathers, furnished by the
most beautiful and rare of the American autumnal birds.
Outside this hunting-coat, and across the right shoulder,
was flung an ornamented belt, to which were appended,
on the left side, and in a line with the elbow, a
shot-pouch, made of the untanned hide of some wild
animal, and a flask for powder, formed of the horn
of the buffalo; on which, highly polished for this
purpose, were inscribed, with singular accuracy of
proportion, a variety of figures, both of men, and
birds, and beasts, and fishes; two or three small
horn measures for powder, and a long thin wire, intended
to serve as a pricker for the rifle that reclined
against the outside of the hut, were also attached
to this belt by strips of deer-skin of about six inches
in length. Into another broad leathern belt,
that confined the hunting coat, was thrust a tomahawk,
the glittering head of which was uppermost, and unsheathed:
while at the opposite side, and half supporting the
powder-horn, the huge handle of a knife, whose blade
was buried in a strong leathern sheath, was distinctly
visible.