John Smith described the Red Men as having painted themselves with a red berry mixture. That may be what Rountree is describing. Anita >From: Anne Pemberton <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history > <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: Puccoon >Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2007 09:53:37 -0500 > >I have been reading some of Helen Roundtree's books on the Powhatans and >other Eastern Woodland Tribes. > >Roundtree frequently mentions the use of puccoon as a decoration, >suggesting widespread and lavish use such that it could explain the term >"red men" in early European literature. > >Does anyone know more about what puccoon is and how it was used? At what >age did Indians begin to decorate themselves with it? Was it a grease-based >makeup, or a clay based? Did it wash off when they bathed daily? How >similar was it to rouge used in Europe? How similar is it to the powdered >rouge currently in fashion? > >Thanks for any help. > >Anne > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Anne Pemberton >[log in to unmask] >http://www.erols.com/stevepem >http://www.erols.com/apembert >http://www.educationalsynthesis.org > >To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions >at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html _________________________________________________________________ Play Flexicon: the crossword game that feeds your brain. PLAY now for FREE. http://zone.msn.com/en/flexicon/default.htm?icid=flexicon_hmtagline To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html