Primitive Architecture in America. 295 



Sre ascribed. But they most abound and are best known in the 

 loealities to whicb they are referred. 



We maintain that, whatever races built the separate works, the 

 grades of architecture are so unlike as to show an entirely difiEer- 

 ent social status. The mode of life and the social status corre- 

 sponded, and the architectural grades partook of each. 



We proceed, then, to consider the house architecture of the 

 uncivilized races. We do not need to refer to the Indian Wigwam, 

 to show that this style of building was very primitive. There 

 were many different methods of building houses among the 

 Indians. It is difficult to say whether, under certain circum- 

 stances, they did not build even in the same style with the Cliff 

 Dwellers, and if the Mound Builders' house was not an interme- 

 diate link between them. The primitive character is, however, no- 

 ticeable. " Mr. Stephen Powers, in his work on the California Tribes, 

 enumerates seven varieties of the lodge, constructed by these tribes, 

 adapted to the different climates of the state. One form was 

 adapted to the raw and foggy climate of the California coast, con- 

 structed with redwood poles over an excavated pit ; another to the 

 snow-belt of the coast range and the Sierras ; another to the high 

 ranges of the Sierras ; another to the warm coast valleys ; 

 another, limited to a small area, constructed of interlaced willow 

 poles, the interstices being open ; another to the woodless plains 

 of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin, dome-shaped and cov- 

 ered with earth ; and another to the hot and nearly rainless region 

 of the Kern and Tulare valleys, made of tule. * * ^ The 

 round, domed-shaped, earth-covered lodge, is considered the char- 

 acteristic one of California ; and probably two-thirds of its im- 

 mense, aboriginal population lived in dwellings of this 

 description. The doorway is sometimes directly on top, 

 sometimes on the ground, at one side." We give a cut 

 of this form of lodge, and would call attention to the resemblance 

 between it and the Maudan lodge. The Mundans occupied the 

 country on the Missouri river, and their lodges have been de- 

 scribed by Catlin in his North American Indians. The remains 

 of similar lodges are found in quite considerable numbers in 

 southwestern Iowa, many small circles of earth having been dis- 



