Scalping, introduced prior to the French and Indian War by the

English,*confirmed the suspicion that Indians

*Notice, for example the following proclamation: 

Given at the Council Chamber in Boston this third day of

November 1755 in the twenty-ninth year of the Reign

of our Sovereign Lord George the Second by the

Grace of God of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, 

King Defender of the Faith.  

By His Honour's Command

J.Willard, Secry.

God Save the King

Whereas the tribe of Penobscot Indians have repeatedly

in a perfidious manner acted contrary to their solemn

submission unto his Majesty long since made and

frequently renewed.  

I have, therefore, at the desire of the House of

Representatives...thought fit to issue this

proclamation and to declare the Penobscot Tribe

of Indians to be enemies, rebels and traitors to

his Majesty....And I do hereby require his Majesty's

subjects of the Province to embrace all opportunities

of pursuing, captivating, killing and destroy-all and

every of the aforesaid Indians.  

And whereas the General Court of this Province have

voted that a bounty...be granted and allowed to be

paid out of the Province Treasury...the premiums of

bounty following viz: 

For every scalp of a male Indian brought in as evidence

of their being killed as aforesaid, forty pounds. 

For every scalp of such female Indian or male Indian

under the age of twelve years that shall be killed

and brought in as evidence of their being killed as

aforesaid, twenty pounds. 

were wild animals to be hunted and skinned. 

Bounties were set and an Indian scalp became

more valuable than beaver, otter, marten, and

other animal pelts. 

-Custer Died For Your Sins by Vine Deloria, Jr.     pg.14