4 Bulletin Wisconsin Natural History Society. [Vol. 9, Nos. 1-2. 



dor and North Carolina, marking the eastern extent, and North 

 Dakota and Saskatchewan, the western limits of their haunts. Though 

 now restricted to the reservations the Indians number about the same 

 as they did fifty years ago. Civilization has changed their mode of 

 life and many of their customs ; but they retain much of their former 

 culture and observe many of the ceremonies practised previous to the 

 coming of the white man. 



In successive order the lecturer illustrated and explained the 

 following phases of Menominee and Chippewa life : 



Structures : In the winter the Indians live in log and frame 

 houses. But for the summer they return to their aboriginal wigwams. 

 The wigwam consists of a domeshaped skeleton of poles thatched on 

 the sides with matting and above with birch or elm bark. Another 

 structure is the medicine lodge, a long and narrow framework of 

 saplings, covered usually with matting. 



Dbess : Only on festive occasions is a change made from the 

 white man's dress. At such times great quantities of beadwork in 

 the form of belts, necklaces, bags and beaded skirts are donned by 

 the men. The women wear, in addition to belts and necklaces, elab- 

 orately beaded shawls and waists ornamented with silver brooches. 



Canoemaking: The process of building, sewing and pitching 

 canoes was shown by slides. This is one of the most important 

 industries of these tribes. 



Eicing: Wild rice forms the main vegetable food. Two methods 

 of stripping are employed, one being to bind the young stalks and strip 

 when ripe, the other to strip the ripe rice into the canoe bottoms 

 without binding. 



Weaving : Two types of mats are made. The one for thatch has 

 its rushes sewed in parallel lines, while the one for table and bed is 

 of a different species of rush and is made by a process of wicker work. 

 In this latter form intricate patterns are frequently employed. 



Games: Lacrosse: A person who has had a vision of a certain 

 kind sends a messenger to the men of the various communities. The 

 messenger distributes tobacco and delivers at the same time an invi- 

 tation to attend at the games. Upon the appointed day the men 

 assemble and take the side of the locality or faction to which they 

 logically belong. Their racquets are matched on the ground and when 

 all is in readiness they pick them up and move to the center of the 

 field, The ball used is small and is made of buckskin filled with hair. 



