LIFE IN THE FAR WEST. 115 



rescue, dealing stalwart blows on the pugnacious curs, and finally 

 restoring something like order to the march. 



" Tszoo — tszoo I" they cry, " wah, kashne, ceitcha — get on, 

 you devihsh beasts — tszoo — tszoo I" and belaboring them Avithout 

 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 every-day labors of these 

 patient, over- worked creatures, in hauling firewood to the lodge, 

 and, on the line of march, carrying many of the household goods 

 and chattels, which otherwise the squaw herself M'ould 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 divested of hair, 

 which evidently have come from South America, and are highly 

 esteemed for the kettle. Their meat, in 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 buflalo 

 robes, softly dressed, and smoked to render them water-tight. 

 The apex, through whi«h the ends of the poles protrude, is left 

 open to allow the smoke to escape. 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 con- 

 tains about twelve or fourteen skins, and contains comfortably a 

 family of twelve in number. The fire is made in the center, im- 



