DORSET] SWEAT LODGES. 275 



and then water from the kettle was poured on them, creating steam. 

 Cedar fronds were dropped on the stones, causing a perfume to arise. 



FURNITURE AND IMPLEMENTS. 



Fiii?;i"i.ACES. 



Within the tent, in the center, was the fireplace (unec/'c), formed by 

 excavating- a small hollow. Beside this was erected a forked i)ost 

 (isag(j!e), on which was hung the apparatus for suspending a kettle 

 over the fire. This apparatus was called (J^exe mj'ugacke by the Ponka, 

 literally, " that by means of which the kettle is hung." Tlie Omaha 

 have two names for it, uha" u(|'ngacke, and nfugackegif-e, the last syllable 

 of the latter name referring to the attitude of the post. Around the 

 fireplace was a circular space for the fset of the people as they sat 

 about the fire. The couches of the occupants of the tent were arranged 

 outside of and all around this circular space. 



Beds and Bedding. 



A couch was formed by laying down two or three winter hides dried 

 with the hair on. These hides were, placed around the fireplace at a 

 safe distance. In the earth lodges, according to Joseph La Fleche, the 

 Omaha used sahi, or grass mats, for seats, as is the present custom of 

 the Winnebago; but at night they reclined on dressed hides with thick 

 hair on them, and covered themselves with similar hides. 



For pillows they used ibehi" or i"behi". When the vegetation 

 was about 3 inches high in the spring, the Indians killed deer and 

 pidled off the hair in order to remove the thin skin or tissue next 

 to it. This latter, when thoroughly dried, is smooth and white, resem- 

 bling parchment. It was used for iiillows and moccasin-strings. When 

 used for pillows the case was filled with goose feathers or the hair of 

 the deer until it was about 2 feet long and 9 inches high. During the 

 day, and whenever there was occasion, they were used as seats ; but if 

 none could be had, the people siit on winter robes or hides forming the 

 couches.' Back of the couches and next to the interior tent-poles were 

 placed the baggage, sacks of corn, and other household properties. 



The upright tent is one form of the Dakota "'wake'ya,'' the plunilof 

 which, "wake'yapi," undoubtedly gave rise to the familiar "wick'iup" 

 of the plains, and also to "wii ka'-yo" of Morgan.^ 



Cradles. 



A board of convenient size, usually about a yard long and a foot wide, 

 was selected to form a cradle or u^uhe. No pillow was needed. A 



1 Hammocks and bedsteads were unloiown prior to their introduction by the traders and other white 

 people. 



2 Contributions to North American Ethnology, vol. iv., 1881, p. 114. 



