82 THE GREAT DENE RACE.

certain northern Déné tribes. I know, for instance, a Sékanais woman who to
this day survives three self-inflicted mutilations, whereby she lost two finger-
joints and one ear. Anger or despair occasionally resulted in similar ampu-
tations on oneself, as did jealousy on others. It was formerly quite custo-
mary with the eastern Dénés and the ancient Navahoes — if we are to judge
from one of the latter’s legends! — to cut off the nose of an unfaithful consort,
so as to disfigure her for life and thereby diminish the chances of a new
transgression.

To return to the question of personal adornment. We may now con-
sider extraneous bodily ornaments, by contradistinction to such as partake
more of the nature of dress or costume than of mere adjuncts conducive to
the embellishment of the face or of the head.

Every Day Head Ornaments.

Head ornaments were in vogue among all the tribes. Independently from
such as might be proper to grand occasions or denote rank or transitory
states of health, which do not come
within the scope of this chapter,
these had for their respective seats
the ear, the nose, the lower lip
and the hair.

Ear ornaments were of various
kinds. Figs. 4 and 5 represent
pendants which I have seen in
actual use among the Carriers. The
former is of haliotis, and was at-
tached to the lobe of the ear by
means of a buckskin cord. In the
case of fig. 5 the part of the organ
most affected was the helix, which
was made to support three or four
strings of the same material as
in the preceding case. These pas-
sed through dentalium shells al- As
ternating with glass or bone beads Fig. 5.
in the middle, and small beaver
claws at the bottom. This ornament was proper to the men, while the haliotis
pendant was hardly ever seen elsewhere than amongst the women. The same
pendant as fig. 5, but with some unimportant modifications in pattern or
material, was also worn by the Loucheux men. The Dénés of Portland Inlet,

‘ “Navaho Legends”, p. 143.