84 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



ing effects of our artificial indoor existence, in overheated, over- 

 furnished rooms, at luxurious, appetite-destroying tables, and 

 longs for and if possible obtains for himself, during at least a few 

 weeks out of the year, a life mainly on horseback or afoot, at the 

 oar or in the surf; a fine savage hunger, appeased by few and 

 plain dishes ; an apotheosis of sleep on a bed of balsam in the tent, 

 or in a hammock under the stars ! 



So much being granted, it is to be remembered that the Indian 

 can give the white man innumerable " points " on the manner and 

 method of " camping out." Instinctively, or perhaps we should 

 say because of generations of training, he knows the best way to 

 do everything. He is never careless, bungling, or ignorant ; but 

 deliberate, systematic, and exact to a degree which is the despair 

 of the uninstructed pale-face. He shrinks neither from danger 

 nor exertion in the pursuit of his ends, yet he never for a moment 

 submits to unnecessary discomfort. 



In the Dakota lodge we have the perfection of a canvas house, 

 as was practically admitted when it was made the model for the 

 Sibley army tent, now in such general use. Of course, the origi- 

 nal lodge of tanned buffalo-hide was warmer and more durable 

 and more completely water-proof ; but even now that this is unat- 

 tainable, the conical tent of the Dakotas remains the best that has 

 been devised. I have tried them all, and nothing would induce me 

 to use any other. It is more roomy and convenient and a thou- 

 sand times prettier, because of its circular form, than a " wall-tent," 

 besides being less liable to blow over in a high wind. It is per- 

 fectly ventilated as well as warmed by the central fire with its 

 opening above ; and the chimney-flaps, which are regulated accord- 

 ing to the direction of the wind, carry off all the smoke. It can 

 be turned in a few moments into a cool, shady awning in hot 

 weather, and instantly made almost storm-proof in case of a sud- 

 den thunder-shower. The women are adepts at making and 

 breaking camp in the shortest possible time. I have ridden into 

 camp in a cold, drenching rain, at dark ; and almost as soon as I 

 had contrived with stiffened limbs to dismount from my pony, 

 remove the saddle and bridle, and picket him out, the tepee 

 would be up, beds arranged, a fire made, water fetched, and sup- 

 per under way in short, the height of cozy comfort awaiting me. 



The men are equally apt at calculating distances, predicting 

 weather, selecting a camping-ground, discovering water in un- 

 likely places, tracking men or animals in short, in every variety 

 of woodcraft and plainscraft. Both men and women know how 

 to make available a hundred products of nature of which no 

 white man has ever learned the use. They can build a fire in a 

 treeless country, obtain food from the barren wastes in unex- 

 pected forms it may be of a small land-turtle or hidden water- 



