.MTM1OA.MTE0ODk0

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is the form of Dakota moccisin worn by the Crows of Montana is dissected and the parts shown. the skin: Elk, moose or deer, is cut in a V-shaped upper split in the middle and with a T cut at the instep this is sewed together at the straight upper edges forming the heel and in this case the fourth or tab piece spoken of before is inserted along the line of union. the end trailing on the ground. this tail piece, or tab, is used in pulling the moccisin on the foot and as it is usually cut in a distinctive fashion serves as a ready means of identifying the species of the wearer. The sewing of the muccisin and the securing of the beads and quills is in the indian and genuine muccisin done with sinew - the tendons of the larger animals and dried and then pounded with a [?] of the Pemican mallet till they are seperated into the filliments and with these the indian woman does her sewing such thread never breaks. At present they sew with a steel needle formerly the awl was used. This V shaped upper [?] the beads or other ornament. In this case the ornament is only beads. The first row is white, the second blue then red. in the center is a band of red and yellow triangles running along the tip of the foot flanked by a line of blue beads and the rest of the spaces filled with yellow beads Across the instep is a transverse band of blue, white and red beads arranged in triangles. To the instep is sewed a tongue of an angular shape as to this there is no regularity in shape some meccesins have a forked tongue others a uniform straight piece. The upper ornamented to the fancy of the maker and let us remark that no pair of meccisins have exactly the same ornament upon the two meccsins always some point of variation exists as they work without plan they never get two exactly alike. Is sewed with twisted sinew to a sole cut out of a piece or raw hide cut in conformity with the foot of the wearer almost straight on the inner side and rounded out to conform to the the [?] on the outer side. In the Meccesin in the Billin collection from the Lower Brulé Agency the upper is ornamented with quills in lines radiating from the instep and this meccesin shows a leggin made of buffalo skin a piece of a robe doubtless used to protect the leg in the extreme cold winter of the plains. the indian meccesin and leggin is his shoe and stocking and this is usually donned at the beginning of winter and then remains till spring. This is tied along the side with six thongs of skin and has a height of thirteen inches. Tho not infrequently is antelope rather than buck skin. This leggin being shaggy is very warm and prevents the wearer from

Insert Winter Meccisin & Leggin

taking cold when he gets his feet wet in fact in stormy weather or rain they are generally in that condition but the indian minds it no more than does his dogs. When wet his feet stay wet till nature drys them. This then completes the types of Dakota Mocesins their country seldom experiences snow except in drifts. hence they do no used the snow shoes worn by their neighbors the Ojibway (or Chippeway). It is said that a party of Ojibway set out in the winter