Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/176

Rh the white artistically arranged so as to make an ornament on the breast.

Speaking of tanning and dressing skins, here is the experience of Prof. Dyche of the University of Kansas, when on a hunting expedition in Greenland. Upon his arrival, the first thing he did was to enquire where he could get some clothes made to order, such as the rigorous, winter climate required. He was directed to an old lady, who instructed him what class of pelts to buy. Then the old lady hired several women to drees [sic] them; which was done by each woman chewing the flesh side until it was perfectly pliable, this being the highest class of currying; so may it not be assumed that our ladies of Quivira resorted to the same process? Again while on the subject of tanning, no doubt, you have seen articles of clothing made by Indians from the skins of animals. Always they are of a yellowish tinge, regardless of the animal from which the hide is taken. The reason for this is because the native Indian invariably uses sumac, which Jaramillo states grew wild when he was in the country, and it is very common now. The method to tan with sumac is to gather the leaves which contain all necessary properties, which with- out any other process gives the creamy, yellow color of the chamois skin. And further, it is known that this same plant will yield a red and other colors from its roots if properly treated. Years ago there was a tannery in Nemaha County, Kansas, that paid children for gathering sumac to use to tan calf skins for boots. It left the leather the same color as heretofore described; let it be understood that a small per cent