156 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL, 77 
had occupied that region may never be determined, but they had evi- 
dently migrated from the southwest, probably moving slowly, mak- 
ing long stops on the way. As a tribe they were known to the Span- 
iards as early as the first half of the sixteenth century, and appear 
to have been among the first of the plains tribes to be visited by 
French and Spanish traders. 
Unfortunately Pike did not prepare a very extensive account of 
the Pawnee as they appeared during the autumn of 1806, but wrote 
in part: “ Their houses are a perfect circle, (except where the door 
enters) from whence there is a projection of about 15 feet; the 
whole being constructed after the following manner, Viz: 1st. there 
is an excavation of a circular form, made in the ground, of about 
4 feet deep and 60 diameter, where they is a row of posts about 5 
feet high, with crotches at the top. set firmly in all round, and 
horizontal poles from one to the other. There is then a row of 
posts, forming a circle of about 10 feet width in the diameter of the 
others, and 10 feet in height; the crotches of those are so directed, 
that horizontal poles are also laid from one to the other; long poles 
are then laid slanting, perpendicularly from the lower poles over the 
upper, and meeting nearly at the top, leaving only a small aperture 
for the smoke of the fire to pass out, which is made on the ground 
in the middle of the lodge. There is then a number of small poles 
put up round the circle, so as to form the wall, and wicker work 
run through the whole. The roof is then thatched with grass, and 
earth thrown up against the wall until a bank is made to the eves 
of the thatch; and that is also covered with earth one or two feet 
thick, and rendered so tight, as entirely to exclude any storm what- 
soever, and make them extremely warm. The entrance is about 6 
feet wide, with walls on each side, and roofed like our houses in 
shape, but of the same materials as the main building. Inside there 
are numerous little apartments constructed of wicker work against 
the wall with small doors; they have a great appearance of neatness- 
and in them the members of the family sleep and have their little de- 
posits. Their towns are by no means so much crowded as the Osage, 
giving much more space, but they have the same mode of introducing 
all their horses into the village at night, which makes it extremely — 
crowded. ‘They keep guards with the horses during the day. They 
are extremely addicted to gaming, and have: for that purpose a 
smooth piece of ground cleared out on each side of the village for 
about 150 yards in length.” (Pike, (1), Appendix, p. 15.) 
Although Pike’s account of this interesting tribe is very brief and 
unsatisfactory, it was soon to be followed by a more complete and 
comprehensive description. This refers to the notes prepared by 
members of the Long expedition, 14 years later. 
