SOCIAL LIFE. 311 



The home or lodge of the plains Indian is a co/nical 

 covering of dressed buffalo hides, supported on a frame- 

 work of light peeled poles, crossed near the top and 

 spread out at the bottom. It is from twelve to twenty feet 

 in diameter, and about fifteen feet high. The fire is built 

 in the centre, and the smoke escapes through an aperture 

 at the top. Thi? aperture is guarded by a sort of winged 

 cap, capable of being turned in any direction, and which 

 prevents the wind from blowing directly down into the 

 lodge. The draught is, however, very defective, and the 

 lodge is usually in cold weather too full of smoke to be 

 bearable to any one but an Indian. It is, however, admir- 

 ably adapted to their necessities. Its shape secures it 

 from the danger of being overturned by wind-storms, and 

 with very little fuel it can be kept warm and comfortable 

 even in the coldest weather. 



The beds are piles of buffalo robes and blankets, 

 spread on the ground as close to the outer circumference 

 as possible. They serve the double purpose of sleeping- 

 places by night, of seats and lounges by day. They are 

 not ' made up,' though on fine days bedding is taken out 

 of the lodge, shaken, and spread in the sun. In this small 

 space are oftentimes crowded eight or ten persons, possibly 

 of three or four different families ; and since the cook- 

 ing, eating, living, and sleeping are all done in the one 

 room, it soon becomes inconceivably filthy. Except the 

 bedding, the parfleche trunks containing the dried meat 

 and extra clothing and finery, a few pots, kettles, and tin 

 cups, there is no furniture, nor is there any attempt at 

 order in the arrangements of even these few articles. 



The wealth of the Indian is in his horses and mules. 

 He has no taste or desire for the accumulation of more or 

 other things than are necessary for the wants of his family 

 for the time being. The fall hunt supplies him with robes 

 enough to keep him warm during the winter, and still 

 leaves him sufficient for sale so as to supply the necessities 

 to be obtained from white men. 



