ABORIGINAL USE OF WOOD IN NEW YORK 



97 



This reverses the order in New England Prospect, where the 

 winter house is largest. In fact, the New England writers differ 

 much in many things. Daniel Gookin wrote of the Indians there 

 in 1674, and described their dancing houses, such as Roger Williams 

 saw: 



These houses are of various sizes, according to their activity and 

 abilities ;• some 20, some 40 feet long and broad. Some I have seen 

 of 60 or 100 feet long, and 30 broad ... In the greater houses 

 they make two, three, or four fires, at a distance one from another. 

 Gookin, p. 1 50 



They also had raised couches, 7 to 8 feet broad, along the sides. 

 This account may be compared with a plan of the Iroquois long 

 house. 



Loskiel wrote late in the 18th century, and is made responsible 

 for the common statement that the circular lodge is not Iroquois, 

 while the long house is characteristic of that family. His words 

 do not quite bear out the inference made. He said: 



The difference in the huts of the Delawares and Iroquois consists 

 in the form of the roofs, the former being angular, and the latter 

 round or arched. The Delaware families prefer living separately, 

 and their houses therefore are but small, but the Iroquois build long 

 houses, with three or four fireplaces, for as many families, who are 

 related and live together. Loskiel, 1:53 



He described the building of a bark house, for which basswood 

 was preferred. The bark was cut from 6 feet to 9 feet long and 

 laid under stones to make it flat. The frame was of poles, strength- 

 ened by crossbeams and covered within and without with bark, 

 sewed on with hickory cord. The roof was ridged and covered 

 with bark. There was an opening in the side for an entrance, and 

 one in the roof for a chimney. Sliding shutters on the sides were 

 the windows, and the fireplace was in the center. Benches along 

 the sides served for tables and bedsteads, and provisions were placed 

 overhead. Champlain had windows in his figure. 



As Van der Donck was conversant with both the Iroquois and 

 Algonquins, his description of houses does not determine between 

 these, but probably belongs to the former or both. He said: 



Sometimes they build their houses about 100 feet long; 

 but never more than 20 feet wide. When they build a house, 



