NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS 



439 



the other hand, seems to have all the before-mentioned traits in full 

 function and for that reason the most typical, whereas the Comanche 

 seem to stand at the other extreme. 



Turning now to the eastern group, we find all of them cultivating 

 maize and in most cases using a more permanent bark, mat, or earth- 





The Indians of the Plains. 



The ranges for the various tribes are approximately indicated by the positions 

 and extents of their respective names. As a rule, these tribes did not respect definite 

 boundaries to their ranges, each tribe claiming certain camping places, but otherwise 

 hunting and roaming where it pleased. The typical Plains tribes are designated by a 

 star and range north and south across the area. To the east of them are the tribes 

 practising some agriculture, perhaps in imitation of the Woodland tribes. On the 

 west are a few tribes whose position is quite uncertain ; hence the boundary for the 

 culture area has been drawn through their range, thus giving them an intermediate 

 position. 



covered house. The most curious thing is that in this area this type of 

 house seems to be associated with agriculture, because the houses are 

 usually placed near the fields and occupied only during the planting 

 season. In many cases, when not engaged with their fields, the whole 

 tribe would take to tipis or other temporary shelters and roam about 

 hunting buffalo. Even in midwinter, the Omaha and Santee-Dakota 



