CHARACTER AND CONDITION OF THE SIOUX NATIOxV. 67 



smoke emitted from the fire occupyng the centre f^round work. The 

 entrance is at the side, where a large piece of undressed buffalo skin (hung 

 from the top and so placed as to be opened or closed, at pleasure, upon the 

 ingress or egress of the inmate) furnishes the simple substitute for a 

 door. 



These lodges (some of them containing quantities of roofage to the 

 amount of ten or fifteen buffalo skins) are large and commodious ; and, 

 even comfortable, in the severest weather ; the hea,t from the centre fire, 

 being refracted on striking the sloping sides, communicates an agreeable 

 warmth to every part. 



An Indian lodge, in the summer, is admirably adapted to the pleasure of 

 its occupants, — by raising the lower extremeties of the envelope and 

 securing them at a proper elevation, a free passage of air is obtained, 

 which greatly contributes to increase the merits of the delightful shade 

 afforded by the superstructure. 



A lodge of the largest size may easily be made to accommodate fifteen 

 persons. The interior is arranged by placing the fixtures for sleeping at 

 the circumference of the circle, which afford seats to the inmates, and thus 

 a sufficient space is left vacant between them and the centre fire. 



This kind of dwelling is the one almost universally adopted by the 

 mountain and prairie Indians, and is, perhaps, better suited to their con- 

 dition and mode of life than any other that could be devised. 



Dependent solely upon the chase for a subsistence, the various Indian 

 tribes inhabiting the mountains and countries adjacent can occupy no 

 fixed residences. Contrary to the habits of more eastern nations, among 

 whom agriculture commands attention to a greater or less extent, they are 

 continually necessitated to rove from place to place in pursuit of game. 



Give to one of them a bow, arrows, knife, lodge, and running horse, and 

 he is rich, happy and contented. When the erratic propensities of the 

 buffalo (upon which is his almost exclusive dependence) compel him to 

 change his location, he has only to pull down his lodge, saddle his horse, 

 and away. 



So accustomed are they to this incessant rambling, they regard it more 

 as a pleasure than an inconvenience. I have frequently seen lumdrcds of 

 families moving together, — presenting to the unsophisticated beholder a 

 novel and amusing spectacle, — with their horses, mules, dogs, men, 

 squaws, children, and all the paraphernalia of savage domestic economy, 

 and the rude accoutrements of peace and war, commingled indiscrimi- 

 nately. 



The Sioux tribe, to whose country we have now introduced the reader, 

 is, perhaps, the largest Indian nation upon the continent of North America, 

 with the exception of the ancient Mexicans, if indeed they may be called 

 Indians. This tribe occupies a territory extending from the St. Peters, 

 of the Mississippi, to the Missouri, and from thence to the forks of the 

 Platte, and up that river to its head- waters. They are supposed to num- 

 ber not far from eighty thousand men, women, and children, and are divided 

 into many fractional parts, each bearing its own name, yet speaking the 

 same language and claiming a common nationality. 



Of these divisions are the Bruits, Ogl alias, Yanktaus, Piankshaws, 



