Tumplines/Burden Straps
The tumpline, also called a burden strap, was used by natives to carry items
and to drag loads. There are a reasonable number of northern tumplines in
collections in the US, Canada, and Europe. From written descriptions and a
few images, most notably one of von Reck's images (Hvidt, Kristian, ed.
Von Reck’s Voyage; Drawings and Journal of Philip Georg Friedrich
von Reck. Savannah, GA: Beehive
Press, 1990), it's apparent that similar items were being used in the south.
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My tumpline-woven by Mssr. Robert Norment of Texas
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The existing tumplines with native provenance seem to have
all been twined in the browband (center section), fingerwoven on the
straps, and either fingerwoven or plaited (braided) on the ties
themselves. They were constructed of basswood, elm, or "indian
hemp" cordage.
From what I've been able to find, most of the straps in collections are
embroidered and even beaded. I assume they were collected because
they are ornate and truly beautiful works of art. See the examples
in the links below for a better idea of what I mean.
I tend to think that there were undecorated straps in use, though I
don't have much evidence except for a few paintings (the one by von Reck
mentioned above, for example) |
I spent months trying to figure out how to do the three things required for a
tumpline correctly: twining, oblique fingerweaving, and plaiting. I have
the first and last down pretty well, but had to be shown how to twine. I
can do the correct fingerweaving, but it looks bad because I haven't done it
enough or am just fumblefingered (probably the latter). As far as I can
tell, there aren't any instructions on the web or in print telling you how to do
either a correct twined strap or an oblique fingerweave. If anyone finds
one, please
email me the URL or
reference...please oh pretty please?
Tara Prindle, on her Native Tech
site, has posted information on twining, specifically as it relates to false
embroidery on twined items. You should read the instructions here
just to understand the complexity of the process. It allows you to
appreciate the cost of reproduction items.
The following are links to images or information on tumplines collected in
the Northeastern and Great Lakes areas of North America. My emphasis in
collecting these links was on images and descriptions rather than the period
they were created.
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Milwaukee Public Museum
http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/24479.html
Iroquois hemp burden strap Collected by S.A. Barrett at Ontario, Canada, 1918.
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Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research
Center, has an example of a tumpline in the Daily Life Gallery off of the Village exhibit. no online image.
The following text discusses an image called "The Four Kings",
painted by Verelst:
"Each of the sachems is also shown with a colorful belt around his waist. In the painting of Etow Oh Koam this belt is shown in its entirety as a sword hanger. There has been much speculation on this one article of attire and most researchers believe that it is a woven tumpline or burden strap decorated with dyed moose hair or porcupine quills - rather than a sword hanger1 . Indeed, there are several of these tumplines in museums around the world and at least one in the British Museum that is attributed to the "four Indian Kings."
The Museum is located at: 110 Pequot Trail, P.O. Box 3180, Mashantucket, CT 06338-3180
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Oracle:
a journey through Canadian history and Culture has an image of a
beautiful Iroquois tumpline on a page about pulling sleds. The fourth image down is Iroquois Tumpline |
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New York State Museum: lists a burden strap in its
collection here.
There is an excellent description of both the construction and use of the
item. Be sure to take a look at the image. It's worked with
both false embroidery and beads.
NYSM catalog number: 36778
Object: Burden strap
Origin: Seneca Iroquois (Tonawanda, NY)
Materials: Bark, elm; Hair, deer or moose; Glass
Short Description: Burden strap (tump line), woven and braided of natural and brown-dyed elm bark cordage, with "false embroidery" using moose hair dyed red, blue, and white; stepped triangle design. White glass beads along edges. ("GUS-HA-AH. Moose hair and bark burden strap")
Maximum dimensions: 157 x 2.5 in; 398.78 x 6.35 cm
Present condition: Fair; some moose hair worn off, beads missing, braided area damaged
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Other styles of tumpline: |
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A Metis leather tump from the virtual museum of Canada is
pictured here
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Traditions/English/metis_games_02.html
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For a description and analysis of tumpline use among the
European/Colonial forces during the Seven Years (French and Indian) War,
see Gary S. Zaboly, "The Use of Tumplines in the French and Indian Wars," Military Collector Historian &, vol. XLVI, No.3 (Summer 1994), pp. 109-113.
This reference comes from the
18th
century New England Life webpage on carrying stuff |
If you are looking for a native tumpline, here are three folks who have web
pages and make correct tumps. I can also refer you to other people who
make correct tumps, but don't have a web page. I have only handled/seen in
person items done by the first two.
Nathan Kobuck: http://www.treatyelmtraders.com/
David Wells: http://www.colonialmarket.com/nita/
Kim Mulder: http://www.middlewaters.com/delruna/index.html
John Howe: http://www.gnarlystuff.com/
I know of other people who don't have websites that sell very nice items as
well. Please contact me for a
direct referral.
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