oz BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 77 
paces in diameter, in the centre of which (among the Mandans) the 
ark of the first man is set up, of. which we shall speak in the sequel. 
It is a small cylinder, open above, made of planks, about four or 
five feet high, fixed in the ground, and bound with climbing plants, 
or pliable boughs, to hold them together (see the woodcut, p. 342 
| fig. 5]). 
“At the north end of this circular space is the medicine lodge, in 
which festivals are celebrated, and certain customs practised, which 
are connected with the religious notions of this people... At the 
top of a high pole, a figure is here placed, made of skins, with a 
wooden head, the face painted black, and wearing a fur cap and 
feathers, which is intended to represent the evil spirit, Ochkih- 
Hadda ... Other grotesque figures, made of skins and bundles 
of twigs, we saw hanging on high 
poles, most of them being offer- 
ings to the deity. Among the huts 
are many stages of several stories, 
supported by poles, on which they 
dry the maize. The huts them- 
selves are of a circular form, 
shghtly vaulted, having a sort of 
portico entrance. When the in- 
mates are absent the entrance is 
shut up with twigs and thorns; and 
if they wish merely to close the door 
they put up a skin stretched out 
on a frame, which is shoved aside 
on entering. In the centre of the roof is a square opening for the 
smoke to find vent, over which is a circular sort of screen made of 
twigs, as a protection against the wind and rain, and which, when 
necessary, is covered with skins (see woodcut [fig. 6]). 
“The interior of the hut is spacious, tolerably light, and cleanly. 
Four strong pillars towards the middle, with several cross beams, 
support the roof. The inner circumference of the hut is formed by 
eleven or fifteen thick posts, four or five feet in height, between 
which other rather shorter ones are placed close to each other. On 
these shorter posts, which are all of an equal height, are long rafters, 
inclining to the centre; they are placed near each other, and bear the 
roof. On the outside the huts are covered with a kind of mat, made 
of osiers, joined together with bark, and now the skeleton of the hut 
is finished. Over this hay is spread, and the outer covering is of 
earth. The men and women work together in erecting these huts, 
and the relations, neighbours, and friends, assist them in the 
work .. . In the centre of the hut a circular place is dug for the 
fire, over which the kettle is suspended. This fire-place, or hearth, 
ig. 5.—** The ark of the fipst man.” 
