30 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 77 
The circles of earth which indicated the former positions of lodges 
were noticed by Maximilian, and he again mentioned them while at 
Fort Union, at the mouth of the Yellowstone, October 16, 1833. He 
said (p. 305): “ The little prairie fox was so hungry, and, therefore 
so tame, that it often visited the environs of the fort, and we found 
these pretty little animals among the circles of turf which were left 
on the removal of the Indian tents.” . 
Another visit to the Piegan, in the same region, was made just 
20 years later, during the month of September, 1853. J. M. Stanley, 
who accompanied Goy. Stevens as the artist of the expedition, left 
camp on the banks of Marias River and three days later, September 
14, 1853, reached the divide between Milk and Bow Rivers: “ From 
this divide I had a view of the Bull’s Head, forming the base of 
Cypress mountain . . . At 1 o’clock I descended to a deep valley, in 
which flows an affluent of Beaver river. Here was the Piegan camp, 
of ninety lodges, under their chief Low Horn, one hundred and 
sixty-three miles north, 20° west, of Fort Benton. 
“Little Dog conducted me, with my party, to his lodge, and im- 
mediately the chief and braves collected in the ‘council Lodge,’ to 
receive my message .. .” This was conducted with customary for- 
mality, and the next day, September 15, “At an early hour a town 
crier announced the intention of the chief to move camp. The 
horses were immediately brought in and secured around their re- 
spective lodges, and in less than one hour the whole encampment 
was drawn out in two parallel lines on the plains, forming one of 
the most picturesque scenes I have ever witnessed. 
“Preparation for their transportation is made in the following 
manner: The poles of the lodges, which are from twenty to thirty- 
five feet in length, are divided, the small ends being lashed together 
and secured to the shoulders of the horse, allowing the butt-ends to 
drag upon the ground on either side; just behind the horse are se- 
cured to cross-pieces, to keep the poles in their respective places, and 
upon whick are placed the lodge and domestic furniture. This also 
serves for the safe transportation of the children and infirm unable 
to ride on horseback—the lodge being folded so as to allow two or 
more to ride securely. The horses dragging this burden—often of 
three hundred pounds—are also ridden by the squaws, with a child 
astride behind, and one in her arms, embracing a favorite young 
pup. 
“Their dogs (of which they have a large number) are also used in 
transporting their effects in the same manner as the horses, making, 
with ease, twenty miles a day, dragging forty pounds. In this way 
this heterogeneous caravan, comprising of a thousand souls, fell into 
line and trotted quietly until night, while the chiefs and braves rode 
