164 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [ BULL. 77 
well, that, after I had been a few days with them, I could generally 
find our lodge in a new encampment with very little trouble, al- 
though the village consisted of about six hundred of them, all nearly 
similar in appearance. 
“They first unpack and unsaddle the horses, which are given to a 
boy to drive off to their grass and water; they then arrange all their 
bales, saddles, &c. in a semi-circular form, and pile them from two 
to three feet high. Around the exterior of these they drive into the 
ground eight or ten curved willow rods, from two to three feet dis- 
tant from each other, but all firmly bound by leather thongs to four 
large upright poles, that form the front of the lodge, and along 
which run transverse willow rods, to which the extremities of the 
curved ones are fastened. When the frame, or skeleton, is thus 
finished, they stretch the cover (made of buffalo hides, sewed to- 
gether) tight over the whole, leaving an aperture for entrance and 
egress in the centre of the front; and in fine weather, the whole 
front open. 
“This is an accurate description of a Pawnee summer-lodge; but, 
of course, the dimensions vary according to the number and wealth 
of the families residing therein; in some tents I have observed the 
front consisting of six or eight upright poles, to which were fixed 
more skins, for additional shelter or shade. On the grass, in the 
interior, are spread mats, made by the squaws from reeds, and skins 
of buffalo or bear. 
“From the foregoing it will be easily understood that the bales 
of cloth, maize, skins, and whatever other property they possess, 
form the back of the tent. Each occupant, from the chief to the 
lowest in rank, has his assigned place; sleeps upon his own blanket, 
or buffalo robe; has his bow and quiver suspended over his head; | 
his saddle, bridle, and laryettes, &c. behind his back: and thus little 
confusion prevails, although each individual has only just room to 
sit or he at full length. 
“ Before the tent a kind of shield is raised, upon three poles pyra- 
midically placed, on which is the device of the chief, by which his 
tent is to be recognised . . . In the interior of the tent, and gen- 
erally about the centre of its concave, is suspended the ‘ medicine,’ 
which is most carefully and religiously preserved . . . Under the 
head of ‘medicine,’ the Indians comprise not only its own healing 
department, but everything connected with religion of superstition ; 
all omens, all relics, and everything extraordinary or supernatural.” 
(Murray (1), I, pp. 282-286.) 
Late in the year 1835 Murray left the Pawnee encampment to 
return to Fort Leavenworth, but, meeting with an accident, was not 
able to proceed on his way. The Pawnee were likewise moving, and 
in moving over the prairie made a well-defined trail. Retracing his 
