290 772^ Natural History 



These Savages live in Wigwams, or Cabins, built with 

 Poles and the Bark of Trees; their Houses are made oval, 

 or round like an Oven, to prevent any Damage bj hard gales 

 of Wind, which are common in this Country. They make 

 the Fire in the middle of the House, and have a Hole at 

 the top of the Roof, right above the Fire, to let out the 

 Smoak. These Dwellings are as hot as Stoves, where they 

 sweat and sleep all J^ight; the Floors are never paved or 

 swept, so that the Earth is always loose, much resembling 

 the poor Cabbins that are to be met with in several parts of 

 Ir eland y only the Indians having such plenty of Wood, make 

 no earthen Walls to theirs. The Bark they generally make 

 their Cabbins with is Cypress, or red or white Cedar; some- 

 times when they are a great way distant from any of the 

 Woods, they make use of the Pine Barh, which is the worst 

 sort to cover their Houses with. In building these Houses 

 they get long Poles of Pine, Cedar, Ash, HicJcery, or any 

 Wood that will bend; these Poles are generally about the 

 thickness of a Man's Leg at the thickest end, stript of the 

 Bark, and well warmed in the Fire, which makes them tough 

 and pliable. Then they make sharp points on the thickest 

 ends, and stick them fast in the Ground, about two yards 

 asunder, in a circular Form, the distance they design the 

 Cabin, then they bend the tops and bring them together, 

 after which they bind their Ends with Bark of Trees, that 

 is proper for that use, such as Elm, or the long black Moss 

 that grows on Trees, which seldom rots; then they brace 

 them with other Poles to make them strong and firm ; lastly, 

 they cover them all over with Barks of Trees (except a h)le 

 to let out the Smoak) that they are warm and tight, and will 

 keep firm against Wind and Weather. These are all the 

 kind of Dwellings that are to be met with throughout all 



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