26 The Book of Woodcraft 



sonian Institution usually have absolute and complete 

 evidence to offer. Here is J. O. Dorsey's paragraph on 

 Omaha cleanhness: 



''The Omahas generally bathe (hica) every day in warm 

 weather, early in the morning and at night. Some who wish to 

 do so, bathe also at noon. Jackson, a member of the Elkgens, 

 bathes every day, even in winter. He breaks a hole in the ice 

 on the Missouri River, and bathes, or else he rubs snow over 

 his body. In winter the Omahas heat water in a kettle and wash 

 themselves (kigcija). . . . The Ponkas used to bathe in 

 the Missouri every day." (Dorsey, 3th Ann. Dep. Eth.; 

 p. 269.) 



Every Indian village in the old days had a Turkish bath, 

 as we call it; a ''Sweat Lodge," as they say, used as a 

 cure for inflammatory rheumatism, etc. CatHn de- 

 scribes this in great detail, and says : 



"I allude to their vapor baths, or sudatories, of which 

 each village has several, and which seem to be a kind of 

 public property — accessible to all, and resorted to by all, male 

 and female, old and young, sick and well." (Vol. I., p. 97.) 



The "Sweat Lodge" is usually a low lodge covered with 

 blankets or skins. The patient goes in undressed and sits 

 by a bucket of water. In a fire outside, a number of stones 

 are heated by the attendants. These are rolled in, one or 

 more at a time. The patient pours water on them. This 

 raises a cloud of steam. The lodge becomes very hot. 

 The individual drinks copious draughts of water. After 

 a sufficient sweat, he raises the cover and rushes into the 

 water, beside which, the lodge is always built. After this, 

 he is rubbed down with buckskin, and wrapped in a robe 

 to cool off. 



This was used as a bath, as weU as a religious purification. 



