SIOUX MOVING. 47 



pack away among these their puppies and papooses, (of both which 

 they seem to have a goodly number ;) the women, when tired of 

 walking, get upon them to rest and take care of their babies. The 

 elasticity of the poles makes the motion easy and pleasant. I 

 afterward saw an old Indian, that had been crippled in one of the 

 skirmishes which so often occur among these tribes, whose only 

 mode of locomotion was a contrivance of this kind, from which 

 he could not move without assistance. 



The dogs also are made to perform an important part in this 

 shifting of quarters. Two short, light lodge-poles are fastened 

 together at the small end, and made to rest at the angle upon the 

 animal's neck, the other end of course, trailing upon the ground. 

 Over his shoulders is placed a sort of pad, or small saddle, the 

 girth of which fastens the poles to his sides, and connects with a 

 little collar or breast-strap. Behind the dog, a small platform or 

 frame is fastened to the poles, similar to that used for the horses, 

 upon which are placed lighter articles, generally puppies, which 

 are considered quite valuable, being raised for beasts of burden as 

 well as for food and the chase. I was informed by Mr. Bissonette, 

 that many tribes, having no horses or mules, use dogs altogether 

 in moving their villages. We saw a large number of these animals, 

 with their sharp noses and wolflike ears, thus harnessed, and 

 trotting along as if it were an occupation to which they were per- 

 fectly accustomed. The whole duty of taking down and putting 

 up the lodges, packing up, loading the horses, arranging the lodge- 

 poles, and leading or driving the animals, devolves upon the squaws, 

 while the men stalk along at their leisure ; even the boys of larger 

 growth deeming it beneath their dignity to lighten the toils of their 

 own mothers. 



The whole band halted about ten o'clock on the bank of the 

 river, but several of the old men and the chief of the village con- 

 tinued with us until our noon halt. I invited the latter to lunch 

 with us, which he did to his entire satisfaction, devouring as much 

 meat as the whole mess beside, and I afterward espied him seated 

 at one of the messes of the men, as earnestly engaged in laying in 

 an additional supply as if he had not eaten for a week. The In- 

 dian, in fact, from his wandering habits and uncertain mode of 

 existence, acquires the faculty of laying in, when opportunity offers 

 itself, a store of food against the fast that may follow, thus approxi- 

 mating the instincts of other wild denizens of the forest. 



After crossing a few running streams, we encamped near a num- 



