MINDELEFF] YEBITCAI HOGAN CONSTRUCTION 511 
others, for the horizontal roof-beams, must be 10 feet long, but without 
forks; and two more, the straightest and longest, are necessary for the 
doorway passage. These ten timbers are called tsd¢i, the same term 
that is applied to the five main timbers of the ordinary hogan. 
The four posts are set firmly in the ground in shallow holes at dis- 
tances apart corresponding to the length of the main roof-beams, and 
so arranged as to describe a square, the sides of which face the cardi- 
nal points. The prescribed position of the doorway is the center of 
the eastern side, and it must face the east exactly. The post at the 
southeastern corner is the first to be set, then the one at the south- 
western corner, with the forks arranged on the same line. The north- 
western post is then set, and finally the one at the northeastern corner, 
and the forks of the last two are also placed on the same line. In the 
ground plan (figure 241) the posts are numbered in the order in which 
they are set up. This sequence is not always strictly followed, but the 
old men say that this is the proper way. 
The beam for the southern side of the roof is next lifted into place 
and laid so as to rest in the forks of the two posts on that side, with 
the ends projecting a little beyond them. The beam on the northern 
side is similarly placed, and the western and the eastern beams are next 
laid so that their ends rest upon.the ends of the beams already in 
place. Another timber is then placed parallel with the eastern beam, 
as shown on the plan. This forms the western side of the smoke-hole 
and also a support for the smaller roof-timbers to rest upon. Some- 
times an additional timber is laid across for this purpose between the 
one last named and the next beam. The two timbers for the sides of 
the doorway passage are then placed in position about 3 feet apart 
and leaning against the eastern roof-beam. The butt ends rest upon 
the ground, and the space between them should be in the center of the 
eastern side. All the main posts and beams are stripped of bark, the 
rough knobs and protuberances are hewn off, and they are finished 
according to the skill of the builders or the exactions of the old men 
who superintend the construction. : 
While this work is in progress a great number of smaller and less 
shapely timbers are procured for the sides and roof. To determine a 
pitch for the sloping sides all the workers arrange themselves so as to 
encompass the square frame, and a few of the longest of the irregular 
‘timbers are placed here and there around it, leaning against the beams. 
They are roughly aligned, and some attempt is made to have the sides 
of the same slope. The floor area thus determined, the outer edge of 
which would fall 4 to 6 feet outside the posts, is then lightly dug over 
to remove all irregularities, and is made as level as possible. 
As in the ordinary hogan, the upright posts of the door-frame are set 
near the lower ends of the doorway timbers, and the roof and sides of 
the doorway are covered in when the sides of the hut are inclosed, which 
is the next step in the construction. Small tree trunks and timbers are 
