The "Indian Presents" of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
These items were specifically designed for Indian gifts and do NOT include other things, such as liquor, firearms, a cannon, ammunition, "stove" axes, furs,and articles of Corpsmen clothing, that were also given or traded to the Indians during the Expedition.
METAL WARES
87 Peace Medals of various sizes, featuring Jefferson or Washington 24 Pipe Tomahawks (a specialty of the North American fur trades) 24 Squaw Axes 36 Razors 264 Butcher Knives 156 Other Knives 150 Scissors 22 Files 144 Fire Steels 1152 Moccasin Awls 5 Large Canoe Awls 55 Fish Spears 2800 Fish hooks 4600 Needles 432 Curtain Rings 288 Thimbles (including 111 Tailors' Steel Needles) 1500 Silver Brooches 963 Hawk's Bells, large and small 96 Earrings ("ear bobs") 26 Silver Earrings 33 Lockets 72 Silver Rings 40 Silver Wrist/Arm Bands or Bracelets 8 Silver "Moons" (officers' gorgets) 144 Iron Combs 8 Brass Kettles 2 Corn Mills 14 lbs Knitting Pins 6.5 lbs Sheet Iron (for use in making ax blades) 12 lbs Brass Strips 12 lbs Brass Wire 10 lbs Brads
GLASS GOODS
360 Pocket Mirrors 96 Magnifying Glasses ("Burning Glass"/ Fire-Starters) 33 lbs Assorted Trade Beads, esp. Sky Blue Padres 8 Mock Garnets (Colored Glass faux "Stones")
CLOTH PRODUCTS
15 "Chief Coats" ("9 are Artillery Coats") 11 Hats, 6 with "Circle feathers & 5 Soldier's plumes" 15 Blankets (mostly blue) 44 Ruffled Calico Shirts 18 White Shirts 48 Breachcloths 36 Tinsel Hatbands 40 prs Leggings, mostly Scarlet 13 lbs Handkerchiefs 17 lbs Ribbons and Bindings ("None-So-Pretty") 21 lbs Thread 22 yds Red Flannel 47 yds Scarlet Cloth 40 Skeins of Silk
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
500 lbs Tobacco in 176 "Carrots" 63 lbs Tobacco in 130 "Pigtail" rolls or "Twists" 19 lbs Vermilion (mercury sulfide)--bright red pigment for face painting 10 lbs Verdigris (copper sulfate)--green "copper rust" for face painting 8 lbs Red Lead (for face-painting) 8 Ivory Combs
This itemization is based upon William Clark's longer and most complete List of Presents, found in Original Journals of The Lewis and Clark Expedition, ed.
Reuben Gold Thwaites (New York: Dodd, Mead, & Co., 1904-05), VI: 270-79.
@ Copyright 2002, Dr. J. Frederick Fausz, St. Louis, MO. FredFausz@aol.com * Not to be quoted, copied, or distributed without written permission.
|