SW_HJ1830_012

Manners and Customs of the Seneca Nation of Indians, in the year 1800. In their persons, the Senecas are generally of a moderate stature and well proportioned, though instances of dwarfishness and deformity are sometimes to be seen among them. Their complexion is of a cop-per colour, and the hair black - that of the men being generally cut close, excepting a small tuft on the crown of the head, which is suf-fered to grow long, and is tied in a small roll on the top, on which they frequently wear a silver tube, about three inches in length. Some, also, let small locks grow obliquely projecting over their shoulders. They very generally extract their beards by means of a spiral spring ring made of wire, about the common knitting needle size, and about two inches in length; this being applied to the face, and pressed be-tween the thumb and finger, forms a kind of pincers, and takes so fast hold of the beard as readily to extract it. This is also frequently made use of to extract the hair from the head instead of cutting, and some-times the operation is performed between their thumb and the blunt edge of a knife. Their eyes are black, keen, and penetrating - their countenance open and engaging in general, and a great object of their vanity is, to give every possible decoration to their persons, by painting their faces a variety of colours, among which vermilion and charcoal are their favourites. They most generally use the red, but streaks of black are occasion-ally intermixed. Black mostly denotes trouble; but the red, though it makes them look fierce, as in time of disturbance, is expressive of war – so it is also used to denote cheerfulness, and sometimes to hide the true expression of the countenance - and in this way, when rubbed round the eyes, it has a wonderful effect. Their dress is simple and commodious. It consists of tight leggings reaching above the knee, made of cloth or flannel - a strip of cloth about a foot wide and three or four feet long, according to the size of the person, is drawn inwards at each end, and hangs down behind and before, over a belt tied round the waist for that purpose - the outward ends of this are frequently ornamented with silver brooches. A close vest or shirt reaching somewhat below the waist, made of linen or calico, and in some instances a short waistcoat, with an overcoat of cloth, or blanketing, (which they call match-coat,) clumsily made, and the