DENSMORE] MANDAN AND HIDATSA MUSIC 5 
ings and was located on a high bank or promontory overlooking the 
Missouri River. Two sides of the village were protected by the 
river, which at this point turned at a sharp angle. The third side 
was protected by “a strong piquet, and a ditch inside of it, of 3 or 
4 feet in depth.” Back of the village, on the level prairie, were 
the scaffolds used in disposing of the dead, and at a longer distance 
were the tribal gardens. The earth lodges were close together ex- 
-eept for a “ceremonial space” in the center of the village. In this 
was a primitive structure, called by various writers an “ark” or a 
“big canoe.” To the writer it was described as a paling of slabs 
about 6 feet high, within which was a cedar post said to represent 
“One Man, brother of First Man.”1* When the village in which 
the Mandan and Hidatsa dwelt at Fort Berthold was abandoned, this 
structure was moved to Crow’s Heart’s allotment, as described on 
page 2. 
The tops of the lodges were used for various purposes. They 
served as a place for storing large articles, such as sledges and hide 
boats (“bull boats”), as well as pottery. Buffalo skulls were usu- 
ally to be seen there, and on pleasant days the scalps of the enemy 
were displayed that the entire village might see them. It was not 
unusual for men to play games, warriors to relate their exploits, and 
women to make garments on the tops of the lodges. In the evening 
the entire family gathered there and sang, the custom of singing on 
the lodge tops being a pleasant phase of village life. (See songs 57 
and 110.) 
Hiwarsa.—After taking up their abode with the Mandan it ap- 
pears that the Hidatsa used the same type of house as that tribe. The 
form of their dwellings before that time must be somewhat a matter 
of conjecture, but we note that the communal house, or “ council 
house,” of Old Dog, an Hidatsa, was a log structure similar to that 
of the Sioux and Chippewa, while the Mandan retained the earth 
lodge for their gathering place. 
Porrrery 
Manpan.—The excellent quality of Mandan pottery is the more 
interesting as this tribe lived on the northwestern limit of the pottery 
area. The ware was thin and well made, with characteristic forms 
and decoration. In color it was usually black, though sometimes a 
dull orange or red from firing. The decorations were of two types, 
the incised and the cord-marked patterns.’ 
20 Catlin, op. cit., vol. 1, pp. 81-82. Cf. also Maximilian, Travels, Pt. II, pp. 266-269. 
See analysis of song No. 21. 
2 Will and Spinden, The Mandans, Papers Peabody Mus. Amer. Archaeol, and Ethn., 
Vol. III, no. 4, pp. 173-179. 
