154 



THE PIMA INDIANS 



[ETH. ANN. '26 



old custom of destro}"ing the tniildiii<^s at the death of their owners 

 has practically disappeared, but its retardinj^ influence upon archi- 

 tectural development continued throughout the aboriginal period. 



Usually but one family occupies a single dwelling, though some- 

 times two and even three related families live together. If there 

 are two, their sleeping mats are placed on each side of the entrance, 

 so that in sleeping the heads may be toward the east, the door being 

 on that side in order that the inmates may rise early to greet the 

 Day god as he appears over the distant summits of the Sierra Tor- 

 tilla. A more practical motive for placing the doors on the east 

 side is to avoid the southwest winds which blow in the afternoon 

 during nearly the entire year and which are especially strong during 

 the montli of March. The wind usually begins to blow at about 10 

 in the morning and increases to a velocity of 10 miles an hour by mid- 

 afternoon, after which it decreases 

 until midnight. 



Types 



The general plan of the liouse 

 is shown in the accompanying 

 diagram (fig. 76). The central 

 sup])<)rting framework is usually 

 entirely of cottonwood, though 

 other timber is sometimes used. 

 The lighter framework shown in 

 plate XXXV, a, is of willow, on 

 which is laid the arrowwood, cat- 

 tail reeds, wheat straw, cornstalks, 

 or similar material that supports 

 the outer layer of earth. 

 The roof is supported by four crotched posts set in the ground 

 3 or 4 m. apart, witl. two heavy beams in the crotches." Lighter 

 cross poles are laid on the last, completing the central framework. 

 Ijight willow poles are set half a meter in the ground around the 

 j)eriphery of the circle, their tops are bent in to lap over the central 

 roof poles, and horizontal stays are lashed to tlicm with willow bark. 

 The frame is then ready for the covering of brush or straw. Although 

 cartli is heaped upon the roof to a depth of 15 or 20 cm. it does not 

 rciulci- it entirely waterproof. When finished tlie ki is very strong 

 and capal)le of withstanding heavy gales or supporting the weight of 

 the people who may gather on the roof during festivals. 



Fig 



Diagram of house, 

 feet. 



Scale: 1 inch ^ 



o " For the larger dwellings nine are used— three on each side and one in the center.' 



Bonal Narrative, ii, 233. 



Bartlett, Per- 



