BUSHNELL] VILLAGES WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI 97 
the reserve. He was not only village chief, but head chief of the 
whole tribe also. Fool Chief’s village occupied the central part of 
the reserve, and Al-le-ga-wa-ho’s the southern portion. The latter 
became head chief after Ish-tal-a-sa’s death. There were probably 
about 300 in each band. Their custom was for the entire band to 
camp together in some desirable locality, where wood, water and 
grass for their ponies were accessible, and remain until the pasture 
was eaten: down, and then move to another site. Another reason for 
moving was to get away from the filth that always accumulated in 
an Indian village. Their tents, or tepees, were made of buffalo 
skins ... The lodge, as they usually designated their tepees, was 
easily taken down and removed to another place.” (Spencer, (1), 
p. 313.) 
Of the numerous tribes mentioned at the present time no one 
appears to have erected a greater variety of dwellings than did the 
Kansa, whose habitations were of several distinct forms and were 
constructed of various materials. 
The long mat-covered lodges described by Sibley in 1811, as at that 
time standing in the village at the mouth of the Republican, on the 
left bank of the Kansas River, may be accepted as being the typical 
or primitive form of structure erected by the tribe. Eight years 
later Say and his companions reached another village, a few miles 
eastward from the one preceding, and there found the circular earth 
lodges. Evidently the ruined towns mentioned by Lewis and Clark 
as being visible from the Missouri River were once groups of similar 
earth lodges. But all circular lodges were not covered with earth 
and sod; in some instances the walls and roofs were formed of 
sheets of bark. 
During the month of May, 1834, many small dwellings were 
standing on both banks of the Kansas River which were formed by 
covering a frame composed “ of saplings driven into the ground, bent 
over and tied at top,” with sheets of bark and buffalo skins. And not 
far away was another village of the same tribe but presenting a very 
different appearance. The structures were described as being “ made 
of large and strong timbers, a ridge pole runs along the top, and 
the different pieces are fastened together by leathern thongs. The 
roofs, which are single, make but one angle, are of stout poplar 
bark.” Whether this was of circular or quadrangular base is diffi- 
cult to determine, but probably the latter, resembling the example 
_ shown in plate 19. And in addition to the various structures already 
noted, the conical skin tipis were extensively used by the Kansa, 
probably serving in early days when the people were away from 
their more permanent villages, but later they were more generally 
utilized. 
