oenig] THE ASSINIBOIN 579 



and renders them impervious to rain. The men have nothing to do 

 with the construction, erection, removal, or internal arrangement, of 

 the lodges. 



The Mandan, Gros Ventres, and Ankara live in dirt cabins made 

 by planting four posts in the ground, with joists on the top. From 

 this square descend rafters to the ground in angular and circular 

 shape, the interstices being filled with smaller sticks and willows; 

 then grass is laid on, which is covered with mud, over which is thrown 

 earth, and the whole beaten solid. An opening is left in the top for 

 the smoke and a door in the side, which is extended into a covered 

 passage of a few steps and will admit a man upright. These are 

 large and roomy huts, will accommodate 30 or 40 persons each, but 

 are generally occupied by one family, who frequently have their 

 beds and bedsteads, corn cellar, provision room, and often a horse 

 or two under the same roof. They are said to be damp and unhealthy. 



The figures and representations of animals, etc., painted on their 

 skin lodges are those of monsters seen by them in their dreams; 

 also the hand is dipped in red paint mixed with grease and its im- 

 pression made in many places over the tent. This denotes the master 

 of the lodge to have struck an enemy. The same impression is also 

 made on their naked bodies in some of their dances and has the same 

 signification. 



Canoes 



Skin canoes are the only watercraft used by these tribes, and 

 these are only to be found among the Mandan, Gros Ventres, and 

 Ankara. They are made of the skins of one or two buffaloes with 

 the hair on, not dressed, and stretched over a basketwork of willows. 

 The women make, carry, and propel them with paddles, one person 

 only paddling in front. A canoe of one buffalo skin will contain 

 four persons and cross the Missouri, but they must sit very quiet 

 or they will upset. The women carry these canoes on their backs 

 along the bank to the place where they wish to cross, and on their 

 return bring them to the village and turn them upside down to dry. 

 A canoe of this kind is made in two or three hours and will last a 

 year. Bark canoes are used by the Chippewa, but we are not well 

 enough acquainted with their construction to describe them. When 

 no skin can be found to make a boat war parties will cross any river 

 on a raft. 



Mental and Ethical Advancement 



There is no doubt but most of these nations are disposed to ad- 

 vance from the barbaric type, though as yet they have made but little 

 progress. Indeed, when we consider their mode of life, wants, and 

 situation with regard to each other we can not imagine how they 



