BUSHNELL | VILLAGES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 79 
use of by the Omaha in recent generations. The earth lodge resem- 
bled those of. other tribes of the upper Missouri, and among the 
Omaha the work of erecting such a structure was shared in by both 
man and woman. 
“The marking out of the site and the cutting of the heavy logs 
were done by the men. When the location was chosen, a stick was 
thrust in the spot where the fireplace was to be, one end of a raw- 
hide rope was fastened to the stick and a circle 20 to 60 feet in diam- 
eter was drawn on the earth to mark where the wall was to be 
arected. The sod within the circle was removed, the ground exca- 
vated about a foot in depth, and the earth thrown around the circle 
like an embankment. Small crotched posts about 10 feet high were 
set 8 or 10 feet apart and 1} feet within the circle, and on these 
were laid beams. Outside this frame split posts were set close to- 
gether, having one end braced against the bottom of the bank and 
the other end leaning against the beams, thus forming a wall of 
timber. The opening generally, though not always, faced the east. 
Midway between the central fireplace and the wall were planted 4 
to 8 large crotched posts about 10 feet in height, on which heavy 
beams rested, these serving to support the roof. This was made of 
long, slender, tapering trees stripped of their bark. These were tied 
at their large ends with cords (made from the inner bark of the 
linden) to the beams at the top of the stockade and at the middle 
to those resting in the crotches of the large posts forming the inner 
circle about the fireplace. The slender ends were cut so as to form 
the circular opening for the smoke, the edges being woven together 
with elm twine, so as to be firm. Outside the woodwork of the walls 
and roof, branches .of willow were laid crosswise and bound tight 
toeach slab and pole. Over the willows a heavy thatch of coarse grass 
was arranged so as to shed water. On the grass was placed a thick 
coating of sod. The sods were cut to lap and be laid like shingles. 
Finally they were tamped with earth and made impervious to rain. 
The entrance way, 6 to 10 feet long, projected from the door and 
was built in the same manner as the lodge and formed a part of it. 
A curtain of skin hung at the inner and one at the outer door of 
this entrance way. Much labor was expended on the floor of the 
lodge. The loose earth was carefully removed and the ground then 
tamped. It was next flooded with water, after which dried grass 
was spread over it and set on fire. Then the ground was tamped 
once again. This wetting and heating was repeated two or three 
times, until the floor became hard and level and could be easily 
swept and kept clean. Brooms were made of brush or twigs tied 
together. Couches were arranged around the wall in the spaces be- 
tween the posts of the framework. These were provided with skins 
