Traditional Muzzleloading Association
The Center of Camp => People of the Times => Topic started by: RobD on September 02, 2013, 07:17:08 PM
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nor'east native americans are depicted in many drawings and paintings (griffings wonderful work comes first to mind) with heads apparently shaved but left with i think is termed a scalp lock. was it a cultural or warrior practice to shave the hair to this style with most of these native tribes? if so, how did they accomplish this hair shaving? what's the scoop on all this?
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(http://i.imgur.com/4F3JFfR.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lmdtkdY.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/7VOA2jH.jpg)
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For most tribes east of the Appalachians, the scalplock was THE premier men's hairstyle. It was accomplished by shaving and/or plucking hair.
Shaving razors are on various trade lists.
Capt. Pierre Pouchot mentions "razors for the head" as part of the goods for the Indian trade. Sir William Johnson's papers mention them in most lists.
And mentions of "Indian razors" abound. An "Indian razor" was a coil spring that was compressed to get a hold of the hair so it could be plucked out.
James Adair writes of the Choctaw ca. 1735-1744:
"Romancing travelers, and their credulous copyist, report them to be imbarbes, and as persons impuberes, and they appear so to strangers. But both sexes pluck all the hair off their bodies, with a kind of tweezers, made formerly of clam-shells, now of middle-sized wire, in the shape of a gun-worm; which, being twisted around a small sticks, and the eds fastened therein, after being properly tempered, keeps: holding this Indian razor between their fore-finger and thumb, they deplume themselves..."
Even white males that were captured and adopted into a tribe were given the same hairstyle.
"The day after my arrival at the aforesaid town, a number of Indians collected about me, and one of them began to pull the hair out of my head. He had some ashes on a piece of bark, in which he frequently dipped his fingers in order to take the firmer hold, and so he went on, as if he had been plucking a turkey, until he had all the hair clean out of my head, except a small spot about three or four inches square on my crown; this they cut off with a pair of scissors, excepting three locks, which they dressed up in their own mode." James Smith, 1755
This is VERY common and the reason most folks playing an "adopted" Indian don't really look the part.
Mario
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good scoop, thanx mario.
recommendations for literature/sources dealing with 17th and 18th century cultures/lifestyles of nor'east native americans and colonists?
tia!
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Great images...
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good scoop, thanx mario.
recommendations for literature/sources dealing with 17th and 18th century cultures/lifestyles of nor'east native americans and colonists?
tia!
Depends on what you're looking for, but a good start would be "Their Bearing is Noble and Proud" by James F. O'Neil II. It's 2 volumes and is a collection of quotes from period documents on the appearance of the Eastern Indians of the 18th century as well as a bunch of trade lists for same.
If you have a subject more specific in mind, let me know. I should be able to at least point you in the right direction.
I actually grew a scalplock a couple years ago when I was running around "a la Mohawk"
marioambush2.jpg Photo by nytrekker | Photobucket (http://s40.photobucket.com/user/nytrekker/media/2010%20events/marioambush2.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5)
Mario
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Mario, do you know of any references like that , describing voyagers and or fur post employees.? Say 1750-1800 Lake Superior area.
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that's a good enuf start, thanx mario.
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Mario, do you know of any references like that , describing voyagers and or fur post employees.? Say 1750-1800 Lake Superior area.
Describing dress? Customs? Equipment?
Mario
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All the above or as much as possible. Basically a reference that has the most info. I have tons of questions so need and am looking for more resources. Example; could a winterer also be a tradesman,even if it was uncommon?
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All the above or as much as possible. Basically a reference that has the most info. I have tons of questions so need and am looking for more resources. Example; could a winterer also be a tradesman,even if it was uncommon?
Here is a good (and cheap) resource for an English trader ca. 1770s on the Great Lakes:
Voyages and Travels of an Indian Interpreter and Trader: John Long: 9781602060791: Amazon.com: Books (http://www.amazon.com/Voyages-Travels-Indian-Interpreter-Trader/dp/1602060797)
Now, you specified 1750-1800. That presents a few issues, the largest of which being the year 1763. After France losses Canada, the trading "game" changes. The system changes quite a bit and begins to focus around the Hudson's Bay Company and the Northwest Company.
Here is some pre-1763 stuff:
viewtopic.php?f=95&t=18893 (http://traditionalmuzzleloadingassociation.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=95&t=18893)
As far as a winterer (hivernant)/tradesmen, the HBC and NWC had tradesmen at the larger posts (blacksmiths, carpenter, etc) but if a voyageur knew a trade, he probably wouldn't be paddling canoes and carrying heavy stuff for a living. Voyageurs DID do stuff around the post like repair/build canoes, basic carpentry, etc, but the specialized stuff was left to the pros.
Message me with the specifics to what you are looking to do (so as not to completely hijack the thread) and I'll help you out as much as I can.
Mario
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Thanks Mario, will be in touch
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some interesting links concerning 17th-19th century native americans ...
MOUTH of the CAVE (http://bigbearstrading.com/BBD-CAVE_MOUTH.php)
http://www.prickettsfort.org/Resources/ ... dlands.pdf (http://www.prickettsfort.org/Resources/Native%20People%20of%20the%20Eastern%20Woodlands.pdf)
My 17th-19th Century Native American Wardrobe (http://www.squidoo.com/my-17th-19th-century-native-american-wardrobe)
Books (http://www.freewebs.com/1812uk/Books.html)