96 LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 



on, you devilish beasts tszoo tszoo ! " and belabouring 

 them without mercy, they start them into a gallop, which, 

 once commenced, is generally continued till they reach 

 their destination. 



The Indian dogs are, however, invariably well treated 

 by the squaws, since they assist materially the everyday 

 labours of these patient overworked creatures, in hauling 

 firewood to the lodge, and, on the line of march, carrying 

 many of the household goods and chattels, which other- 

 wise the squaw herself would have to carry on her back. 

 Every lodge possesses from half-a-dozen to a score, some 

 for draught and others for eating for dog-meat forms part 

 and parcel of an Indian feast. The former are stout wiry 

 animals, half wolf half sheep-dog, and are regularly trained 

 to draught ; the latter are of a smaller kind, more inclined 

 to fat, and embrace every variety of the genus cur. Many 

 of the southern tribes possess a breed of dogs entirely di- 

 vested of hair, which evidently have come from South 

 America, and are highly esteemed for the kettle. Their 

 meat, in appearance and flavour, resembles young pork, 

 but far surpasses it in richness and delicacy. 



The Sioux are very expert in making their lodges com- 

 fortable, 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 escape. A small opening, sufficient to per- 

 mit 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 fourteen skins, and contains 

 comfortably a family of twelve in number. The fire is 

 made in the centre, 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 



