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for coursing forest paths or climbing rocks. The snowshoe, as the winter supplement to or accompaniment of the moccasin, enabled the Indian to go upon the warpath or to chase down the beleagured game when the earth was covered with its fleecy mantle piled in mounts and drifts.

The

This simple device exercised the wilderness skill of its inventor, and practically tested his apt intelligence to apply materials, proportions, and disposals of parts and measurements in ways which science can not mend. It resembled in shape a miniature skiff, two feet or more in length and more than a foot in breadth, pointed at the toe, and running back with elliptical sides to a square in the rear. frame was slight but strong, of some well-seasoned wood, like the handles of a large basket. A network of sinewy thongs was united with the frame, for bearing on the snow without heavy pressure and releasing the snow as the foot was lifted. It was confined to the foot behind by a cord tied over the instep, so that the heel could readily act freely in rising and resting. A small hoop near the point of the shoe received the toes, and retained the shoe on the foot.

Of course the whole pressure of the weight of the body came upon the front of the foot and over the line of junction of the toes. The more rapidly the wearer would walk or run, the easier was it for him to bear his light burden, and the less did he sink into the drift. When the snowsurface was glazed by ice, the simple moccasin was preferable as a covering, and the snow shoes were carried upon the back. Only practice could give facility and comfort in the use of this native invention for travel, without which a struggling wanderer would often sink to his neck at every attempt to step forward. The Indian would go like a deer when thus shod.

CHAPTER XIV.

DAKOTA HOMES.

The villages of the Dakota's were the nearest approach to the Huron town of which Brebeuf says: "They covered a space of from one to ten acres, the dwellings clustered together with little or no pretension to order. In general, these singular structures were about thirty or thirty-five feet in length, breadth and height; but many were much larger, and a few were of prodigious length. In some of the villages there were dwellings two hundred and forty feet long, through in breadth and height, they did not much exceed the others. In shape they were much like an arbor overarching a garden walk. Their frame was of tall and strong sapplings, planted in a double row to form the two sides of the house, bent till they met, and lashed together at the top. To these other poles were bound transversely and the whole was covered with large sheets of bark from the oak, elm, spruce or white cedar, overlapping like shingles of a roof, upon which for their better security, split poles were made fast with cords of linden bark. At the crown of the arch, along the entire length of the house, an opening a foot wide was left for the admission of light and the escape of smoke. At each end was a close porch of similar construction; and here were stowed casks of bark, filled with smoked fish, Indian corn and other stores not liable to injury from frost.

"Within on both sides, were wide scaffolds four feet from the floor, and extending the entire length of the house, like the seats of a collossal omnibus. These were formed of thick sheets of bark, supported by transverse poles, and covered with mats and skins. Here in summer was the sleeping place of the inmates, and the place beneath served for storage. The fires were on the ground, in a line down the middle of the house. Each fire was sufficient for two families, who in winter slept closely packed around them. Above, just under the vaulted roof,

were a great number of poles, like the perches of a henroost, and here were suspended weapons, clothing, skins and ornaments. Here too in harvest time, the squaws hung the ears of unshelled corn, till the rude abode, through all its length, seemed decked with a golden tapestry. In general, however, its only lining was a thick coat of soot

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from the smokes of fire with neither draught, chimney nor window. So pungent was the smoke that it produced inflamation of the eyes, attended in old age with frequent blind

ness.

"Another annoyance was the fleas, and a third, the unbridled children. Privacy there was none. The house was one chamber, sometimes lodging more than twenty

families. He who entered at a winter night beheld a strange spectacle, the vista of fires lighting the smoky concave; the bronzed groups encircling each cooking, eating, gambling, or amusing themselves with idle badinage; shrivelled squaws, hideous with three-score years of hardship; grizly old warriors, scared with the enemies war clubs; young aspirants whose honors were yet to be won; damsels gay with ochre and wampun; restless children pellmell with restless dogs. Now a tongue of resinous flame painted each wild feature in vivid lights, now the fitful gleam expired and the groups vanished from sight, as they vanished from the country they once inhabited."

Such is their wigwam. The tepee or lodge is built in the same manner but smaller, to afford room to but one family; often it has a circular form, and instead of bark or earth is covered with skins. These skins, after being dressed, are sewed together and made into the form of a tent, supported within by some twenty or thirty poles of twenty-five feet in length with an apex or apperture at the top, through which the smoke escapes and the light is admitted. These lodges or tents can be taken down in a few minutes by the squaws when they wish to change their location, and easily transported to any part of the country where they wish to encamp. In by-gone times they often moved five or six times during the summer, following the game. Sometimes from five to six hundred of these lodges would be built together forming a regular village. When the hour was determined upon for moving and the necessary preparations made, the signal would be given by the chief. His lodge would be seen flapping in the wind, a part of the poles having been taken out from under it. Now the moving begins. The poles of each lodge are divided into two bunches, and the little end of each bunch fastened upon the shoulders or withers of a horse, leaving the butt end to drag behind on the ground on either side. Just behind the horse a brace or pole is tied across, which keeps the poles in their respective places. Upon the brace and the poles behind the horse is

placed the lodge or tent, which is rolled up, and also numerous other articles of household goods such as an Indian has. On the top of this baggage the old women and children are placed. Each horse has its own conductress, who sometimes walks before and leads it, with a tremendous pack on her own back, and at others she sits astride of its back with a child, perhaps at her breast, and another astride the horse at her back, clinging to her waist with one arm, while it affectionately embraces a sneaking dog-pup in the other. In this way five or six hundred tepees with all their furniture, may be seen drawn out for miles, creeping over the grass-covered plains of the country, and three times that number of men on good horses, strolling along in front or on the flank; to this may be added five times that number of dogs, which fall into rank, and follow the train and company of the women, and every cur of them which is large enough and not too cunning to be enslaved, is encumbered with a car or sled (or whatever it may be better called) on which it patiently drags it load, a part of the household goods and furniture of the lodge to which it belongs. Two poles about fiften feet long, are placed upon the dog's shoulder, in the same manner as the lodge poles are attached to the horses, leaving the larger ends to drag upon the ground behind it; on which is placed a bundle or wallet which is allotted to the animal to carry, and with which it trots off amidst the throng of dogs and squaws, faithfully and cheerfully dragging its load till night, and by the way loitering and occasionally

"Catching at little bits of fun and glee

That's played on dogs enslaved by dogs that's free."

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