578 TRIBES OF THE LTppER MISSOURI [ETH. ANN. 46 



sewed and laid on the ground it is in shape nearly three-quarters of 

 a circle, with the two wings of skins at the small end to serve as 

 vanes, which are changed by moving the outside poles with the wind, 

 to prevent the lodge from smoking. The tent is stretched on poles 

 fi - om 12 to 20 feet in length according to the size of it, each family 

 making one to suit the number of persons to be accommodated or 

 their means of transporting it; therefore their sizes vary from 6 to 

 23 skins each, the one being the smallest, and the other the largest 

 size in general use, the common or medium size being 12 skins, which 

 will lodge a family of eight persons with their baggage, and also 

 have space to entertain two or three guests. The area of a lodge of 

 12 skins when well pitched is a circumference of 31 feet, and the 

 space each grown inmate requires for bed and seat would be about 3 

 feet in width. People seldom stand upright in a lodge. They enter 

 in a stooping posture, and moving forward in this way to the seat 

 opposite, sit there until they leave. (Pis. 74, 75.) 



When sleeping the feet of every one is turned toward the center 

 of the lodge, where the fire is made, the smoke escaping at the open- 

 ing in the top. The material will last with some repairs about three 

 years, not longer. They usually make new lodges every third sum- 

 mer and cut up their old ones for leggings and moccasins. Their 

 lodges are always carried along when they travel with the camp, 

 being packed on a horse in summer, or on a travaille in winter, in 

 default of horses, and when the snow is deep they keep out wind and 

 rain and answer all their purposes, but are cold, smoky, and confined. 

 Families of from 2 to 10 persons, large and small, occupy tents of 

 different dimensions, say, one of 6 skins for the former and one of 

 16 skins for the latter number. Lodges of 36 skins are sometimes 

 found among the Sioux, owned by chiefs or soldiers. These when 

 carried are taken apart in the middle in two halves and each half 

 packed on a separate horse. When erected, the halves are again 

 joined by wooden transverse pins, the poles are dragged on the 

 ground, being tied together in equal-sized bundles, and slung to each 

 side of the horses. A tent of this size will accommodate 50 to 80 

 people on an occasion of feast or council, as they can sit in rows three 

 or four deep ; about 30 persons, however, could sleep therein with ease, 

 independent of the space required for baggage, provisions, and uten- 

 sils. The females, young and old, aid in making them, and the eldest 

 of them erects, removes, and arranges the locations of the interior 

 in the manner described in a former answer. 



They are never vacated and left standing, but are needed wherever 

 they go to protect themselves and property from the weather. The 

 skins are put up when sewed together in proper form without being 

 smoked, as the smoke from the fire in the inside soon penetrates them 



