DORSET) 



SMOKE-HOLES OF SKIN TENTS. 



273 



generally opposite the quarter from which the wind was blowing. A 

 door flap (|ije,beg(J-a"7 — ) hung over the entrance; it was made of skin 

 with the hair outside, so as to turn water, and was held taut by a stick 

 fastened to it transversely. The bottom of the door flap was loose, but 

 the top was fastened to the tent. 



The sniokehole was formed by the two 'jihngabfi"(j'a(9), or triangular 

 ends of tent skins, immediately above the entrance and !|if uma"ha"'. 

 When there was no wind both of the :jihugab(f'i"(f-a were kept open by 

 means of the c^ihmf'ubaji" (8) or exterior tent poles, which were thrust 

 through the ujiha, or small sacks, in the corners of the '|ihugabfi"([-a. 

 When the wind blew one of the ^ihnfubaji" was raised to the wind- 



Fig. :i09.— Exterior parts of au Omaha tent. 



ward and the other was lowered, pulling its skin close to the tent and 

 leaving an opening for the escape of the smoke; but if the wind came 

 directly against the entrance both the flaps were raised, closing the 

 sniokehole to prevent the wind from blowing down it. When the wind 

 blew the people used nandicf'.agaspe to keep the bottom of each tent 

 skin in place. These consisted of twisted grass, sticks, stones, or other 

 heavy objects. 



Figure 310 represents the tent of jejequde, an Omaha. The banners 

 or standards, which were carried by the leaders of a war party or a 

 party going on a dancing tour, are depicted with their decorations of 

 strips of red and blue Indian cloth. Sometimes these standards were 

 ornamented with feathers instead of with cloth. Eaeh standard could 

 be used in four war expeditions. 

 13 ETH 18 



