A RELIC OF BARBARISM. Human Fingers Joined Together in a Necklace.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 228, 12 November 1887, Page 10

A RELIC OF BARBARISM. Human Fingers Joined Together in a Necklace.

A curious and interesting relic of barbarism was received at the War Department, Washington, a few days ago. It consisted of a necklace of , human fingers. _ Originally thero wero eleven fingers strung together after the manner of necklaces of bears' claws, but three have been lost. This ghastly adornment was captured in an attack on the Northern Cheyennes in 1876, and each finger represented a life taken by the owner, the big medicine man of the tribe. The fingers have been preserved by opening the skin, removing the bones, scraping away all the tissues and fatty substances, replacing the bones and subjecting the skin to some tanning process. The necklace was sent to West Point by Captain Bourke, who is now engaged in preparing some historical matter to the Indians. It was brought from West Point here in order that it may be reproduced in papier macho" at the Smithsonian Institute. The scientists of that institution are quite enthusiastic over it, regarding it as a precious specimen of the barbarous habits of the Indians, who are now fast disappearing, War Department officials, however they are able to summon up sufficient hardihood to take a peep at it.