HOLMES ANNIVERSARY VOLUME 



by its maker, preferably over that particular part of the dance house 

 where her near male relatives were regularly located. Upon this was 

 placed a layer of dried grass, and upon this a layer of mud, over which 

 the loose earth covering of the house was thrown. The mud rendered 

 the roof especially water-tight, and, at least partially, fireproof. Be- 

 ginning at the bottom of the roof, the earth was thrown on it with 

 the hands, with openwork sifters, and with plate-form baskets. This 

 earth was that taken from the pit, but if additional earth was needed, 

 it was dug from immediately around the outside of the dance house. 



There were two regular openings in the dance house, the door and 

 the smoke-hole, neither of which was covered at any time. The smoke- 

 hole was from a third to half way down from the apex of the roof and 

 directly in line with the tunnel. It was immediately over the fire and 

 served primarily to conduct the smoke out of the house, though it 

 was used as an opening through which to throw firewood into the 

 house and as an entrance for dancers at certain ceremonies. 



The tunnel varied in length, according to the size of the house and 

 the topography of its situation, from perhaps ten to twenty feet, and 

 in height from four feet at its outer extremity to five or seven feet 

 at the inner opening. It was usually from three to six feet in width. 



There was at least one, and sometimes as many as four, openings, 

 which might properly be termed emergency doors, near the edge of the 

 roof. These were about the size of the smoke-hole but were covered 

 as was the rest of the roof, except that the short special sections of the 

 rafters and other poles used were not bound in any way but were 

 simply held in place by the weight of the earth. Just below each 

 opening, where necessary, was bound a bar at the proper distance to 

 permit a man to swing himself up onto it and kick or push the cover 

 away so as to open the exit. This was used especially in case of fire 

 or in event of a surprise attack. Similar openings were placed in the 

 roofs of the sweat house and of the earth-lodge dwelling. 



The dancing area, in the center of the house, was covered with a 

 layer, perhaps an inch thick, of rich black earth and adobe, in the 

 proportions of two to one. This was carefully mixed and spread over 

 the floor, being smoothed evenly while wet, and then covered with a 

 layer of coarse sand. All these materials were procured and used by 

 the fire-tenders only. 



The large dance house shown in plates vi to XI was situated in 

 1902 at Sulphur Bank. Its details were as follows: The pit was fifty 

 feet in diameter and five feet deep. The center-pole measured about 

 twenty inches in diameter and eighteen feet high. There were seven 

 side posts, each set about four feet out from the wall of the pit. A 



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