IN THE OLD WEST 173 



appearance and flavor, resembles young pork, but 

 far surpasses it in richness and delicacy. 



The Sioux are very expert in making their 

 lodges comfortable, taking more pains in their 

 construction than most Indians. They are all of 

 conical form : a framework of straight slender 

 poles, resembling hop-poles, and from twenty to 

 twenty-five feet long, is first erected, round which 

 is stretched a sheeting of buffalo-robes, softly 

 dressed, and smoked to render them water-tight. 

 The apex, through which the ends of the poles 

 protrude, is left open to allow the smoke to es- 

 cape. A small opening, sufficient to permit the 

 entrance of a man, is made on one side, over 

 which is hung a door of buffalo-hide. A lodge 

 of the common size contains about twelve or four- 

 teen skins, and contains comfortably a family of 

 twelve in number. The fire is made in the center, 

 immediately under the aperture in the roof, and 

 a flap of the upper skins is closed or extended at 

 pleasure, serving as a cowl or chimney-top to 

 regulate the draught and permit the smoke to 

 escape freely. Round the fire, with their feet 

 towards it, the inmates sleep on skins and buf- 

 falo-rugs, which are rolled up during the day, 

 and stowed at the back of the lodge. 



In traveling, the lodge-poles are secured half 

 on each side a horse, and the skins placed on 

 transversal bars near the ends, which trail along 

 the ground — two or three squaws or children 



