102 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Romer's map of 1700 shows both kinds of roof, but this may be 

 a fancy of the draftsman. Figure 16 is Morgan's picture of an 

 Iroquois long house with five fires. This has also the modern roof 

 and not the early one. Figure 19 is from a map attached to a peti- 

 tion of the Schoharie Indians, regarding some land stolen from 

 them in 1734. The petition was addressed to the governor of the 

 province of New York. The wigwam has an angular roof, an 

 opening for smoke, and two doors in the side, another modern 

 feature, but Cammerhoff said, in 1750, that the Cayuga cabins had 

 " small entrance buildings on both sides." He may have meant 

 ends. Figure 15 is from Morgan's plan of the interior of a bark 

 house, showing the berths. 



Mr Herbert M. Lloyd, in editing the new edition of the League 

 of the Iroquois, adds some valuable notes on the long house, with 

 a translation of Lafitau's description of one, perhaps the fullest in 

 detail ever published. Like all progressive observers, Mr Morgan 

 was v not always consistent with himself, and Mr Lloyd judiciously 

 points out the reasons for this, ending with a new plan founded on 

 Lafitau's description. This makes the apartments longer, gives a 

 wider space in the center, and has storerooms for barrels, as well 

 as bunks for children. It is the most satisfactory plan yet pub- 

 lished, but the essential differences are in the greater width of the 

 building and the larger rooms on each side. 



Lafitau's account may be summarized here. The cabins were 

 from 30 feet to 36 feet wide and high in proportion, having vaulted 

 roofs. A cabin with a single fire was from 30 feet to 40 feet long, 

 adding 20 feet to 25 feet for each additional fire. The rounded roof 

 was made of poles fastened to the square frame below. Along each 

 side was a low platform, and above this another about 13 feet long, 

 5 or 6 feet wide, and as many high. These spaces were inclosed 

 on all sides but one and served as beds. The bark shelves above 

 served for storage, and at intervals below were places for large 

 chests of corn. A vestibule at each end served for storage or sleep- 

 ing, and the doors of these were doubled in winter to keep out the 

 cold. There was an outside frame to protect the bark. Mr Lloyd 

 says : " The roof of the main house was usually a round arch, but 



