Mountain Men and Life in the Rocky

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Mountain West

Malachite’s Big Hole

Personal Adornment:

Regardless of cleanliness, appearances were important to both Indian men and women, and even to some mountain men.  As a result, items for personal adornment were usually included with the supplies packed to the mountains for rendezvous. Beads were an important item in any traders inventory of goods.  Not only were they highly profitable, but were highly desired by the Indians who used them to decorate nearly everything.  Click here to learn more about glass trade beads.  


No.

Units

Item Description

Cost

100

pounds

White Pound [Pony] Beads

35¢/pound

25

pounds

Blue Pound Beads

35¢/pound

25

pounds

Black Pound Beads

30¢/pound

15

pounds

Assorted Colors Pound Beads

30¢/pound

11 ½

pounds

Carnelian Fine Beads

$1.00/pound

100

dozen

Snake Beads

20¢/dozen?

190

dozen

Assorted Colors Cut Beads

25¢/dozen?

10

bunches

Mock Garnet Beads

60¢/bunch

2 ½

pounds

Seed Beads

25¢/pound

72

pounds

Vermillion

$1.08/pound



Verdigras


28

pounds

Cochineal


1

dozens

Red Cock Feathers

$2.50/dozen?

50

papers

Hawk Bells

38¢/pack?

12

packs

Polished Horse Bells

75¢/pack

5

pieces

Riband #4

60¢/pieces?

4

pieces

Riband #3

38¢/pieces?

4

gross

Brass Finger Rings

4¢/dozen

1

gross

Fancy Rings

11¢/dozen

4

papers

Gift Necklaces

$1.50/paper

10

pairs

Wrist Bands 1st Size


10

pairs

Wrist Bands 2nd Size


10

pairs

Wrist Bands 3rd Size


2

dozens

Large Buckles


5 ½

dozens

Small Buckles


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