HOLMES ANNIVERSARY VOLUME 



The baking-pit was centrally located at x, directly under the smoke 

 slot, since a big fire was required in baking bread, meat, or fish. As a 

 rule the baking was done by the women of the house jointly and the 

 bread shared by all. Between bakings this central space was used as 

 a general storage place or for any other purpose desired. This was 

 not suitable for permanent storage, however, on account of the leak 

 through the smoke slot during a heavy storm. The one mortar stone 

 of this house was permanently located at L, and was covered, when 

 not in use, with an old mat. The inmates slept each near his own 

 fire, the children sleeping behind their elders, thus saving covers. 

 Small trenches were hollowed in the ground to fit the body to a 

 certain extent. In each was placed a small amount of soft tule or 

 grass over which was spread a sleeping mat. 1 Upon this bed a person 

 usually slept naked and protected only by a rabbit-skin blanket or 

 other covering, though as a rule the part of the body toward the fire 

 was exposed directly to its warmth. 



In the dry summer many of the Indians camped temporarily near 

 the larger streams and lakes, or moved about, to a limited extent, in 

 hunting and in search of certain bulbs, seeds, and other vegetal foods 

 and medicines. As temporary summer homes they built simple brush 

 shelters called balo'tltca (N), and xa'iga (E). These were of various 

 forms, such as the very crude shelter shown in plate II, figure 2, and 

 built by a very old couple on the bank of Russian river in Ukiah 

 valley. A more carefully constructed brush house is the one shown in 

 plate in, figure 2. This was built very much as was the grass-thatched 

 house. 



The brush-covered sun shelter, or canopy, called see' tea (SE), 

 consists of four posts, about seven feet high, set vertically in the 

 ground at from eight to fifteen feet apart. These support horizontal 

 poles which hold the green boughs serving as a canopy. Such a shelter 

 is even yet erected near almost any type of dwelling and serves as a 

 working and lounging place for the family. Having no sides, the 

 breezes blow freely through it and its shade contributes greatly to 

 the comfort of its occupants. 



The lake region is characterized by its great quantities of rush or 

 tule. Three species are used in house building. One is Scirpus lacu- 

 stris var. occi&entalis, called bago' (E) ; another is Scirpus robustus, 

 called guca'l (£); and the third is the cat-tail rush, Typha latifolia, 

 called hal (E). The first, and least desirable for thatching purposes, 

 has stems which are circular in cross-section, while the stem of the 



1 No raised bed was used by the Pomo, though myths mention its use among the bird people, 

 before the creation of human beings. 



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