Many persons seem to think that the Indian never changes; that he cannot
invent or devise new things. This is a mistake. Long ago the Dakotas lived
in houses much like those of the Sacs and Foxes. At that time they lived
in Minnesota, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River. From the white
man they received horses, and by him they were gradually crowded out of
their old home. After getting horses they had a much better chance to hunt
buffalo, and began to move about much more than before. They then invented
the beautiful tent now so widely used among Plains Indians. The framework
consists of thirteen poles from fifteen to eighteen feet long. The smaller
ends are tied together and then raised and spread out so as to cover a
circle on the ground about ten feet across. Over this framework of poles
are spread buffalo skins which have been sewed together so as to fit it.
The lower end of this skin covering is then pegged down and the sides are
laced together with cords, so that everything is neat and tight. There is
a doorway below to creep through, over which hangs a flap of skin as a
door. The smoke-hole at the top has a sort of collar-like flap, which can
be adjusted when the wind changes so as to insure a good draught of air at
all times.
This sort of tent is easily put up and taken down. It is also easily
transported. The poles are divided into two bunches, and these are
fastened by one end to the horse, near his neck—one bunch on either side.
The other ends are left to drag upon the ground. The skin covering is tied
up into a bundle which may be fastened to the dragging poles. Sometimes
dogs, instead of horses, were used to drag the tent poles.
Among many tribes who used these tents, the camp was made in a circle. If
the space was too small for one great circle, the tents might be pitched
in two or three smaller circles, one within another. These camp circles
were not chance arrangements. Each group of persons who were related had
its own proper place in the circle. Even the proper place for each tent
was fixed. Every woman knew, as soon as the place for a camp was chosen,
just where she must erect her tent. She would never think of putting it
elsewhere. After the camp circle was complete, the horses would be placed
within it for the night to prevent their being lost or stolen.
LEWIS H. MORGAN.—Lawyer. One of America’s earliest eminent
ethnologists. A special student of society and institutions.
Author of important books, among them, _Houses and House-life of
the American Aborigines_, and _The League of the Iroquois_.
STEPHEN POWERS.—Author of _The Indians of California_.