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Richardson, John, 1796-1852

"Wacousta : a tale of the Pontiac conspiracy (Complete)"

Upon his large feet he wore mocassins,
made of the same pliant material with his leggings, and
differing in shape from the foot-gear of his companion
in this particular only, that they had no tongue introduced
into the front: they were puckered together by a strong
sinew of the deer, until they met along the instep in a
seam concealed by the same ornamental quill-work that
decorated the garters: a sort of flap, fringed like the
leggings, was folded back from the ankle, upon the sides
of the foot, and the whole was confined by a strong though
neat leathern thong, made of smoked deer-skin also, which,
after passing once or twice under the foot, was then
tightly drawn several times round the ankle, where it
was finally secured. Two strips of leather, about an inch
and a half in width, attached to the outer side of each
legging, were made fast at their opposite extremities to
a strong girdle, encircling the loins, and supporting a
piece of coarse blue cloth, which, after passing completely
under the body, fell in short flaps both before and
behind. The remainder of the dress consisted of a cotton
shirt, figured and sprigged on a dark ground, that fell
unconfined over the person; a close deer-skin hunting-coat,
fringed also at its edges; and a coarse common felt hat,
in the string of which (for there was no band) were
twisted a number of variegated feathers, furnished by
the most beautiful and rare of the American autumnal
birds.


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