8 1M)I INS < >l l Hi. PL \l\> 



of the Cree and tribes formerly established in eastern 

 Canada and New England. Even the Eastern Dakota 

 in early days used birchbark for tipi covers. A tipi-like 

 skin-covered tenl was in general use among the Indians 



of Labrador and westward throughout the entire 

 Mackenzie area of Canada. To the west, the Plains 

 tipi was found among thc'Xez Perce*, Flathead, ( !ayuse, 

 and Umatilla; to the southwest, among the Apache. 

 It is well-high impossible to determine what tribes firsi 

 originated this type of shelter, though a comparison 

 of the detail- of structure might give some definite 

 clues. Yet, one thing is clear; viz., that it was espe- 

 cially adapted to the roving life of the Plain< tribes 

 when pursuing the buffalo. 



Earth=Lodges. Before going further, we must need- 

 recall that the tipi was not the only type of shelter used 

 by these Indians. The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Ankara 

 lived in more or less permanent villages of curious 

 earth-covered lodges. The following description of a 

 Hidatsa house may serve as a type: — 



On the site of a proposed lodge, they often dig down a foot or mare 

 in order to find earth compact enough to form a good floor: so. in -« >inv 

 lodges, the floors are lower than the general surface of the ground OD 

 which the village stands. The floor is of earth, and has in it- center a 

 circular depression, for a Ore-place, aboul a foot deep, and threeorfour 

 feet wide, with an edging of flat rocks. These dwellings, being from 

 thirty to forty feet in diameter, from ten to fifteen feet high in the 

 center, and from five to -even feet high at the eaves, are quite com- 

 modious. 



The frame of a lodge is thus made: — A number i>\ stout posts, from 

 ten to fifteen, according to the size o\ the lodge, and rising to the height 

 <>t about five feet above the surface of the earth, are set about ten feet 

 tpart m a circle. On the top- of these posts, -olid beams arc laid, ex- 

 tending from one to another. Then, toward tin center of the lodge, 



