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236

[Two Images]

Dakota. Armlet. or Bracelet. (Haupt Coll. and del.) diameter 3½ inches width. ½ " length of tassle. 9 "

Dakota (Sioux) Iron bracelet. (Haupt coll & del.) diameter 2½ inches width 7/16 " thickness. 1/16 "

From all time it would seem the encircling of the wrist with a band of some kind was a practice very common to all people and it would seem that it was a practice that marked the individual as of an intelectual development over the brute. In history of man [?] we find a description of his life we find a description of the bracelet as a part of his adornment and the indians are not lacking in this peculiarity and we find the Dakota making for himself and her self a great variety of bracelets of beads. and about any other thing that may be [?].

 In the Dakota Armlet or Bracelet we have an illustration of a type. of article worn by the squaws of S. Dakota. at the White River Camp.  It is a band of three strips of raw hide.  Joined at the ends and held in the center. and sides by threads of sinew.  These bands are wound with porcupine quills. dyed. red. gree. and blue the red. predominate and the green. and blue are used to give relief to the color.  The place of union is marked by a tassle of four strips of buckskin wrapped with red porcupine quills and finished with tin cones and brass beads. which tinkle as the wearer moves.  We are often struck with the singular harmony of color which exists in the work of the Dakota indian and are at a loss to explain it.   They use as a rule the complementary colors and the [?] of color is as a rule larger than with the Ojibway yet there is far more conformity to principle and a better result.  Reds are usually associated with green. and yellows with blue. in such a manner that the result is quite brilliant and withal pleasing.  In this bracelet the red and green harmonize well. and the result is good.  The wearing of bracelets is not confined by any means to the Squaws.  The men and boys deck themselves off in such finery but of a different class than that of the squaws.  The bracelet worn by the men is usually of metal or a single strap with no tassle or other appendage.  As a type of the metal bracelet we show one taken